Helen Mary Wilkes

An active committee member of World Sailing for over 35 years, she also served as the first president of the Women's International Match Racing Association (WIMRA).

[1] Despite the fact that the harbour was undergoing redevelopment, the Optimist Worlds brought 130 boats from 26 nations;[5] at the time, it was the most international sailing event to have taken place in Ireland.

[6] Other initiatives included providing support for continental championships and Optimist development programs across Asia, Oceania, Africa, and other regions.

[6] Within twenty years of her taking the helm as president of the IODA, the number of countries participating in the Under-16 Optimist class more than doubled, from 49 to 105.

[10] In 1996, Wilkes, together with Dawn Riley, a member of two America's Cup teams, and Hannah Swett, a member of the Mighty Mary all-female America's Cup team, made a series of presentations at an International Sailing Federation meeting in Brighton, England.

[10] International participation in the sport increased,[1] and in 2000, it appeared that women's match racing would be included in the 2004 Summer Olympics.

[16] Since 2017, the cup for the Top Girl at the annual Optimist World Championship has been called the Helen Mary Wilkes Trophy.