Women’s ranks growing in Coastguard

It used to be an all-male domain but the Coastguard is fast becoming one with plenty of females.

At a training day on Lake Wakatipu last weekend 10 women took part, learning some of the fundamentals of Coastguard work.

Queenstown Coastguard volunteer Sarah McGuinness said the day involved some work on the water and then a Search and Rescue operation on the lake.

She said the camaraderie between the women was great.

Master Sharyn Gingell-Kent, who became the first female captain at the Wānaka Coastguard last year, helped guide the team throughout the day.

Similar all-female training initiatives had taken place in Auckland and Picton earlier this year.

There were still more males than females in the Coastguard across the country but females numbers were rising.

Coastguard was quieter in the winter months compared to the summer. — Allied Media