Finding Confidence on the Water with Wild Chix Boating Bootcamp
- isabell8785
- Sep 1
- 2 min read
I’ve always wanted to be able to confidently dock our Rayglass, but let’s just say that having my hubby as the teacher doesn’t always go smoothly! I regularly fish with a fellow fisherchick (let’s call her Sandy), and we’re always up for a laugh and a challenge. When Sandy spotted the Wild Chix Boating Bootcamp advertised, she convinced me to join her—and honestly, it was a no-brainer.
The Auckland Outboard Boating Club was the perfect venue, and thanks to Issy’s planning, we had the far launch lane free to practice as much as we needed. The bonus of having access to Skipperi boats made it even easier to jump on the water.
The day started with introductions and sharing our fishing backgrounds. Hearing about the previous day’s course trip out to Rakino gave me serious FOMO—it sounded amazing! But soon enough, it was our turn to get hands-on. We ran through boat essentials, practiced knots (the Bowline and Clove Hitch—who knew knot-tying could be so fun?), and then enjoyed a delicious BBQ lunch on the deck.
Then came the real game-changers: handling the boat and backing the trailer. Shanel was brilliant at breaking things down—her calm way of explaining docking and maneuvering gave me confidence I didn’t know I had. She even taught us how to do a three-point turn on the water (hubby’s going to be impressed!) and how to dock solo. Backing the trailer was a bit more challenging for me, but with the tips and encouragement I picked up, I know it’s just a matter of practice.
If you’ve ever wanted the freedom to take your boat out with friends, to fish where you want to go, or to learn the skills without the stress of “couples’ teaching moments,” I cannot recommend Wild Chix Boating Bootcamp enough. These women are knowledgeable, supportive, and make the whole experience fun. I’m already planning my next Wild Chix adventure!
By Sue Denby
