Sarah Davis and her fellow team-mates aboard Challenger II sailed their way into the history books after winning the first ever all women’s Bermuda Fitted Dinghy race in Mangrove Bay on Sunday.

The Sandys Boat Club team came from behind to win the inaugural race for the Leatrice Oatley Trophy, which was donated by the Frith family to promote and celebrate the accomplishments of women in the class.

“It felt absolutely amazing and when we crossed that line my heart rate was so high, it was exciting,” an elated Davis told The Royal Gazette.

“I didn’t think I was going to win the all women’s race because I had done one practice driving and we never flew the spinnaker or gybed, and it was also quite windy.

“I proved myself wrong when I won because there were great helms out there like Rachael Betschart and Paula Lewin, who is an Olympian. I was definitely shocked.”

Royal Hospital School student Davis and team-mates Pat Young, Alisa Bernardo and Macey Aicardi had their work cut out after not enjoying the best of starts.

The fleet split heading up the first beat with Davis and her team-mates on starboard tack and rivals Elizabeth II, Contest III and Victory IV all on port having broken away in search of fresher breeze.

Davis’s gamble not to follow suit ultimately paid off as she and her team-mates sailed into more pressure on the left side of the course and took the lead for good when the fleet came back together higher up the windward leg.

“We were last and all the other boats stacked off to the right,” Davis said. “We kept going left while all the other boats kept going right and we just pulled something out of the left-hand side and crossed ahead of all of them.

“It was a wonderful feeling because we were not doing so well but we went left and it paid off.

“I am very happy and very proud of my team and myself for pulling it through and not giving up after starting in last place.”

Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club entry Elizabeth II took second and Royal Bermuda Yacht’s Club’s Contest III completed the podium in third.

Regatta hosts St George’s Dinghy & Sports Club’s Victory IV was the remaining boat in the fleet.

The new trophy is dedicated to experienced sailor and past Royal Bermuda Yacht Club commodore, Leatrice Oatley, in honour of her long-time support of Bermuda Fitted Dinghy racing and the Victory Syndicate and promoting women’s sailing on island.

“There is no greater advocate for women’s Bermuda Fitted Dinghy racing, and this trophy will serve to recognise her longstanding contributions to the sport,” said Victory VI men’s helmsman Alan Frith.

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club were the first to compete in a Fitted Dinghy race with an all-female crew two years ago in Mangrove Bay.

Meanwhile, Davis had double cause for celebration after also steering a mixed team aboard Challenger II to victory in the race for the Masters Cup.

“That one felt amazing because this was my first time driving and being useful in a fitted dinghy, so I was probably the most inexperienced in the boat,” she said.

Sandys Boat Club dominated the regatta, winning the Middleton Shield with experienced sailor Martin Siese at the helm.

“Overall, it was a very pleasing day and I think we benefited from making the right choice for the set of sails,” Siese said.

Victory VI, helmed by Frith, won the remaining race for the ER Williams Cup to deny Sandys Boat Club a clean sweep of honours.