News Archives

1st Pacific Northwest Women's Sailing Conference a Success

PORT TOWNSEND, WA -- The first Pacific Northwest Women's Sailing Conference sponsored by BoatUS and organized by National Women's Sailing Association went off without a hitch in beautiful, rain-free weather Aug. 2. Limited in space for its first year, the event drew some 50 women, from novices to seasoned sailors, for a day of pressure-free hands-on learning and fun. Read More...

Women’s Navigation Class on a Tall Ship - Sept 5-7
Women looking to hone their navigation skills and enjoy the thrill of taking the wheel of a 110-foot schooner can sign up for the fall cruise of the Mystic Whaler, departing from NewLondon, CT, for a weekend navigation class.

The weekend trip is set for September 5-7 with a limit of 20 students. No experience is necessary, just a healthy thirst for adventure. The crewed ship, Mystic Whaler, will ply the waters of Long Island Sound with two veteran bluewater sailors providing instruction in navigation basics. Fee is $600 per person including berth, meals and instruction. The event is sponsored by the National Women’s Sailing Association. For more info. go to womensailing.org.

Hone Your Skills at Two Women’s Summer Seminars
BoatUS is again sponsoring the 7th Annual Women’s Sailing Conference in Marblehead, MA, June 7 at the Corinthian Yacht Club, organized by the National Women’s Sailing Association. This unique day-long series of classroom and on-the-water clinics is a fun, pressure-free event for picking up knowledge and skills, and networking with other women sailors and instructors.

In addition, for women on the West Coast a new, similar event is set for August 2 in Port Townsend, WA, also sponsored by BoatUS and organized by NWSA. The Pacific Northwest Women’s Sailing Conference will debut at the Port Townsend Yacht Club, Boat Haven Marina. For its first year, attendance is limited to 50 participants. For more info, contact Linda Newland at newlan2dl@aol.com.Go to womensailing.org.

Women’s Sailing Convention Another Sell-Out
The Southern California Yachting Association held yet another stellar Women’s Sailing Convention — for the 19th year running — this time at the Del Rey Yacht Club in Marina del Rey, CA. (Renovation work kept the event from its usual home the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Corona del Mar, CA). Convention Director Gail Hine said 204 women sailors attended the sold out BoatUS - sponsored event on February 2. Much of the success is credited to organizers -- Hine and a committee of volunteers, who annually put together the one-day multi-workshop program, which is led by 25 top women sailors, 15 of whom are USCG licensed captains. The evening speaker was Linda Newland, a veteran bluewater racer who sailed singlehanded from the U.S. to Japan, among other voyages. Click here to read more.

Power & Sail Learning Cruises Set for ’08 by Colgates
For women who like to learn in a fun and supportive setting, the Colgate’s Power Cruise School is launching a Women’s Fast Track to Power Cruising in Abaco, Bahamas, Jan. 13-19, 2008. The all-inclusive learning vacation is on Moorings 46 powercats out of Marsh Harbor and provides students with powerboat certification.

For sailors, a Fast Track to Cruising in the BVIs is offered June 18-29 and again next October out of Road Town, Tortola. Instruction begins on the Colgate 26s and students then take the helm of 44-49-footers for liveaboard cruising and instruction. Get from “want-to-cruise” to “ready-to-cruise” in 10 days, plus students receive Basic Keelboat certification.

BoatUS members get a special $200 discount on these programs. For these and several other Offshore Sailing special women’s programs visit www.Offshore-Sailing.com.

Women-Only Cruise in the Grenadines
For six stellar days of sailing in the Grenadines, the National Women’s Sailing Association has an all-women’s cruise set for March 8-15, 2008 out of Canuoan, St. Vincent. The boats will be in the 46- to 50-foot range with all the amenities — snorkeling gear, linens, barbeques and more. The trip includes first and last night hotel stays with welcome reception and farewell dinner.

Basic sailing skills and sailing resume are required. The cruise will be led by NWSA President Val Cook and board member Linda Newland, both veteran bluewater sailors. A $500 deposit reserves your spot.

US SAILOR Of The Week - Joan Thayer
As a banker in Boston, MA, Joan Thayer balances a busy job and a passion for sailing well. She likes the challenge of a demanding job as much as she enjoys the challenge of racing on the water. Growing up in Marblehead, MA, Joan learned to sail in an after-school program in the 4th grade and soon joined her parents on the race course, but it wasn't until 1966 when she competed in the U.S. Women's Championship that she became involved with US SAILING. A strong advocate for getting more women involved in the sport, Joan is the co-founder of Adventure Sail's Boston branch which helps girls-at-risk learn the skills of sailing. Now, 40 years later, Joan is still actively involved in the sport and she still teaches that "can do" attitude she first learned when she competed in the national women's championship. “Sailing has taught me so much – teamwork, management, preparedness, and communication." Click here for past US SAILORS of the week.

Women’s 2007 Sailing Conference A Sellout; Janet Baxter Honored For Leadership

In Women’s Sailing
With near-perfect weather and a capacity crowd, the sixth annual Women’s Sailing Conference sponsored by BoatUS filled the Corinthian Yacht Club in scenic Marblehead, MA, with a lively day-long series of classes and workshops. The conference organized by the National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) gives women sailors, from novices to experts, an opportunity to network with other women while learning new skills or brushing up on old ones.

A highlight of the day’s events was the presentation of the Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award to Janet Baxter, a Chicago-based racer, sailing judge and the first woman to be elected president of United States Sailing Association, the national governing body of the sport in the U.S. Baxter was instrumental in preparing US SAILING for the 21st century with a comprehensive reorganization of the group. In accepting the award, Baxter spoke graciously about how sailing has enriched her life and cemented friendships that last a lifetime. She’s raced in 27 Chicago-to-Mackinac races and excelled in racing Lasers, Etchells, as well as offshore boats. She is a member of the Chicago Yacht Club.

United States' Sally Barkow Takes 2007 BoatUS Santa Maria Cup

June 2 - Annapolis, MD - After Friday's final round robin series that ended with Sally Barkow (USA) leading by 17-1 against Leroy (FR), who had come roaring back to a perfect day but still down at 15-3, Saturday's semis were a USA vs. France event.  Liz Baylis ended up third going in with a 13-5 score against Christelle Philippe (FR) in fourth place with 11-7 going into the final four.

Barkow had an outstanding performance going into the round robin portion of the competition with 17 wins to only 1 loss, but that was against Leroy, who had posted a perfect score with an exciting last-minute spinnaker douse to a 360 penalty turn at the last finish ahead of Barkow.  Then in the first race of the semi-finals, sailed at the end of Friday's matches, Philippe beat Barkow in a fading breeze to make them rethink their performance and tactics for the final day of racing.  “We definitely got a little slack toward the end of Friday.  It was a long day on the water and we were happy about winning the round robin and I think we let up a little,” Barkow said. The loss to Philippe definitely shook us up and made us realize that there still was work to be done.”

6th Annual Women’s Sailing Conference is June 2
This unique, day-long conference for women to introduce them to or enhance their skills in sailing through on-the-water and land-based workshops will take place again on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at the Corinthian Yacht Club in scenic Marblehead, MA. The event is organized by the National Women’s Sailing Association; BoatUS is the primary sponsor.

Seminar topics include introduction to sailing and racing, cruise preparation, knots, navigation, spinnakers, sail trim, crew overboard, diesel engine troubleshooting, suddenly single-handed, flares and life rafts. A continental breakfast, lunch, dinner, raffles, and special guest speaker complete the day. Every year has been a sell out, with more than 150 women attending. The conference fee is $115 for NWSA members, and $150 non-NWSA members. There is a $15 surcharge after May 15. For more information contact Joan Thayer at jtthayer@comcast.net or call toll-free 1-866-631-NWSA; e-mail: wsf@womensailing.org or visit www.womensailing.org.

"Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!" Honored by National Week of the Ocean

May 2007 - The "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!" seminar series received the Individual of the Year award from Week of the Ocean, Inc., a marine education program based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Citing LLGF as an inspirational opportunity to invite women into fishing, Week of the Ocean selected LLGF and its founder, Betty Bauman, for leading the country when it comes to producing programs that welcome women into the sports of fishing and boating.

Recognized by the National Marine Educators Association, National Week of the Ocean is a grassroots program designed to promote appreciation, protection and responsible use of the ocean.  Cynthia Hancock, President, quoted, "The South Florida Community joins us in saluting LLGF for its contributions through teaching women to fish and for incorporating the catch and release ethic.”

Commented LLGF Founder, Betty Bauman, "We are honored to receive this award, which recognizes our efforts with this underserved segment of the population - women - who can make the difference when it comes to practicing conservation efforts and becoming stewards of the marine resources."

For ten years, the "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!" seminar series has served to open the door to fishing for women, teaching conservation skills to anglers as they learn to fish. This unique program has received national, regional and local coverage, including Inside Edition, NBC's Nightly News and more.  To expand their scope, the group has partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission through the Sport Fish Restoration Program, as well as corporate partners such as Mercury Outboards, Bass Pro Shops, Ranger, BoatUS Marine Insurance, Gulfstream Int'l Airlines, Shimano, Sebago and Lowrance.  Other partners, such as Magic Tilt Trailers, Eagle Claw Hooks, Maxima fishing line and more, have joined the efforts to teach fishing and conservation skills to this new audience of anglers..  For more information, call (954) 475-9068, email billfishbetty@hotmail.com or visit www.ladiesletsgofishing.com.

Women’s Sailing Loses Longtime Advocate
Elizabeth S. ("Sue”) Corl, 62, of Marblehead, MA, co-chair of the Women’s Sailing Conference and secretary of the National Women’s Sailing Association, died Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007 in Salem Hospital, MA, following a lengthy illness.

Corl helped launch the first women’s conference in Marblehead with NWSA and BoatUS and co-chaired this highly successful event every year since it began in 2002. “Much of the success of the conference was due to Sue’s tireless efforts, from lining up boats to bringing in sponsorships,” said Elaine Dickinson of BoatUS “She was not only dedicated, but a lot of fun to work with.” As an officer of NWSA, Corl was a supportive board member who took the initiative on many NWSA key programs. She also volunteered as national co-coordinator of the AdventureSail® program, a program to introduce sailing to young girls at risk. To read more go to www.womensailing.org/news1.htm.

Friday, Feb. 9, 2007, is LA Boat Show's "Women On the Water" Day
This Friday at the 51st annual Los Angeles Boat Show is Women on the Water Day (WOW) with special events, workshops, and demonstrations for women boaters or those interested in Kentia Hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Events will run from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Best of all, for that day, women get in to the show free! Other offerings include representatives and seminars by women from the LA area’s many women’s boating organizations and skin care treatments from Nordstrom’s Spa. For more information contact Suzanne O’Rourke at Suzanne@WOWBoating.com or call 949-280-2312.

US SAILING Awards Herreshoff Trophy to Susie Trotman
Newport, R.I. (Nov. 18, 2006) - US SAILING, national governing body of the sport, has awarded its Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy to Susie Trotman (Syosset, N.Y.) for her outstanding contribution to the sport of sailing in the U.S. Trotman was presented with the Trophy, US SAILING's most prestigious award, by US SAILING's President Janet Baxter this evening at an awards banquet at US SAILING's Annual Meeting in Newport, R.I. To a standing ovation, Trotman accepted the award.

Susie Trotman has played a major role in the development of the national certification program for sailing instructors when the small boat program was first created in the early 1980s. She was instrumental in the cultivation of US SAILING's Training Department and Training's Small Boat Instructor Training and Certification Program. Her enthusiasm, dedication, and commitment helped foster the program's growth by promoting and managing 20 annual Small Boat courses with 300 instructor candidates in the North East and around the country.

When the Small Boat Instructor Training program was complete and running on its own, Trotman jumped right into other projects. She has helped to create the Keelboat Certification System and to keep the Windsurfing program up and running, has supported the coaching program and championed the training program for competent and safe powerboating. Beyond Trotman's involvement with US SAILING, she has been a pillar of one the most successful junior sail training programs, the Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound. Click Here to Read More

Deb Capozzi Leads Team to U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship
Title Newport Beach, CA (Nov. 12, 2006) - By the time the teams for the finals of the U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship were lined up on Saturday, spectators were in for a treat and the finalists didn't disappoint. The finals put the team led by Deb Capozzi up against another very strong team led by Katie Pilley-Lovell. Capozzi won the first race, but Lovell dug back in the second race to tie the series. Race 3 saw a great battle between the two, with Capozzi barely taking the win. After changing boats, the two teams went back at it.
After a very exciting pre-start, Capozzi was able to control off the line, then used great boat speed to stay out in front, even with Lovell and her team finding some great pressure and advantageous lifts. Capozzi cruised across the line to take the fourth match and win the title. Capozzi, who was on the winning boat last year and this year sailed with Kelly Hand, Chantal Ledger, and Lindsay Bartel, took home US SAILING's Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophy as the 2006 U.S. Women's Match Racing Champions. For the second year in a row, Pilley-Lovell won the Mrs. Charles Adams Trophy. Courtesy of U.S. Sailing

Register Now to Fish in '07 in Costa Rica!
"Ladies Let's Go Fishing" is planning its third fabulous trip to Costa Rica for some superior sportfishing on the Pacific Coast Jan 25-29, 2007. Accommodations are at the Parrot Bay Village, on the Oso Peninsula, Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica (www.parrotbayvillage.com). Male guests are welcome.

The tranquil resort is located on the beach where you can catch rooster fish, snook, mackerel, and more. Two days of guided fishing from the resort's custom boats are off the west coast where sailfish, marlin, tuna and more are caught and released. Non-fishing activities include rain forest tours, horseback riding, kayaking and birdwatching.

Space is first-come, first-served for those who reserve by Nov. 15, 2006! Package includes airfare to and from San Jose, airport transfers, five nights lodging, all meals and beverages and 2 days of fishing. More more details, go to www.BoatUS.com/women/fishing.asp.

BoatUS Staffer Sails to 7th Place at Worlds
In early July 2006, BoatUS Vice President Margaret Podlich, with teammate Kim Couranz and skipper Carol Cronin, placed 7th in the Yngling Womens World Sailing Championship. The Yngling is a 20-foot keelboat with main, jib, and spinnaker sails, that are raced in the Olympics.

The Worlds featured 37 teams from 17 countries competing in 10 races over six days in the Atlantic Ocean, off of La Rochelle, France.

Each team was vying to ramp up their world ranking with the goal of being chosen to represent their country at the August 2008 Olympics in China.

“Competition was stiff, and one bad move could easily cost 10 boat lengths,” said Podlich.

Young Girls Get a Taste of Uncharted Waters
by Cailin Brophy, Southampton West Newspaper, July 13, 2006
This past Saturday was far from a typical one for the more than 30 girls who took part in the Adventuresail program at the Breakwater Yacht Club in Sag Harbor.

Outfitted with life jackets and brimming with enthusiasm and curiosity, these young teens came from groups across Long Island such as the Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Little Flower—a children’s home in Wading River—to peer over the fence at a side of the world that has never been accessible to them.

Several members of the club volunteered their time, knowledge and vessels to give the girls a taste of sailing, participating in a race in the nearby waters while giving the teens a brief introduction to sailing terminology and operating a sailboat. But even if the girls don’t remember the difference between starboard and port or bow and stern, it was obvious by the expressions on their faces and the excited chatter on the docks after the race that it wasn’t an experience any of them would soon forget.
Click Here to read more

Spithill Wins 2006 BoatUS Santa Maria
Katie Spithill of Sydney, Australia is the champion of the 16th annual BoatUS Santa Maria Cup Women's Match Racing Championship, hosted by Eastport Yacht Club. The Grade 1 event was held in Annapolis, MD, May 31 – June 3. Traditional light winds delayed racing Thursday afternoon and Friday, but Saturday's high winds made the competition exciting.

The semi-finals were shortened to first to win two points. Giulia Conti, World Rank 31 (ITA) and Katie Spithill, World Rank 12 (AUS) advanced to the finals with Liz Baylis, 2003 Cup winner, World Rank 39 (USA) and Christelle Philippe, World Rank 8 (FRA) in the petit-finals. Baylis won the petit-finals giving her third place overall.

The final races on Saturday were to be determined by the first team to win three races and were full of suspense. Winds ranged from 14-20 knots, gusting to 25, challenging the skills of all racers and umpires. The first two races were very close with Spithill in the lead. Conti took the next two, requiring a fifth race to decide the winner. Race 5 score was thrown out due to a committee boat breakdown causing contact with Conti. In the re-match race 6, Spithill defeated Conti, making a remarkable recovery, even after serving a penalty turn.

Katie Spithill, age 24, is only the fourth non-American to win the title.   Spithill's winning crew included Stacey Jackson (main and tactics), Angela Farrell (jib), and Nina Curtis (bow). Photos and full race results can be found at www.SantaMariaCup.org

BoatUS/Genmar Women's Survey Finds Astute Shoppers
Nearly one-third of women buying a boat did so on their own without their spouse or significant other, according to the final results of a year-long Web survey by BoatUS and Genmar, a major boat manufacturer. Women boat-buyers also did their homework prior to purchasing a boat by visiting boat shows, reading boating magazines and company literature and interviewing friends who own boats.
Click here to read more

Dee Caffari & Aviva Challenge - Caffari triumphs as first woman to complete solo non-stop round-the-world voyage against prevailing winds and currents.
Dee Caffari onboard Aviva crossed the official finish line at 17:55:42 (BST) on 18 May 2006

Yachtswoman Dee Caffari, 33, has triumphed over extreme isolation, lethal icebergs, mountainous waves, vicious storms and hurricane force winds to set a new world record as the first woman to sail round the world solo, non-stop against the prevailing winds and currents.

Caffari's record-breaking 29,100 mile voyage lasted 178 days, 3 hours, 6 minutes and 15 seconds*. She crossed the official finish line in sight of the observer from the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC)** off Lizard Point, UK, and completed a passage which ensures her a place in maritime history.
Click Here to Read More

Former Arkansan takes honors in first bass competition
Former Fort Smith resident Sharon Rushton is certainly no novice when it comes to fishing. She is, however, a neophyte in bass tournament competition.

So she entered her first competition, a national tournament, and won it. She's ready for more now.

Rushton now lives at Kimberling City, Mo., just across the border from Arkansas and on fish-rich Table Rock Lake.

She entered the first Women's Bassmaster Tour event of Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS) as a co-angler, mainly because she didn't have confidence in her boat-handling abilities. This tournament was on Lewisville Lake in northern Texas, and Rushton came in first among the co-anglers.

Now the Women's Bassmaster Tour is headed for its second competition, this one on Neely Henry Lake in Alabama, east of Birmingham and site of past Bassmaster Classic competition. Click Here to Read More...

For more information on theWomen's Bassmaster Tour Click Here

Cory Sertl Awarded Leadership In Women's Sailing Honors

January 2006 - Cory Sertl, a world-class sailor and youth coach, was presented with the Leadership in Women's Sailing Award for 2005 for her outstanding contributions to the sport.   Sponsored by the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) and the National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA), the award honors a male or female who has leveraged their name, skills, or position in the sailing world to reach out and enrich women's lives through sailing .

“Not only has Cory Sertl competed and won at the highest levels of the sport, she's donated countless hours and travel time to represent the U.S. in the world sailing forum,” said Elaine Dickinson of BoatUS, who presented the award in December. “She's not just a role model, but an instructor and mentor to many young women interested in sailing.”

Among Sertl's many accomplishments: 

• Member of US SAILING's delegation to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF)

• Coaches high school sailing at Rochester Yacht Club, Rochester, NY

• Skipper of the team that won the 2004 U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship.

• Two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, a former Olympian, and a winner of the Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship.

• Winner with Jody Swanson of the Women's Open Doublehanded Championship in 1990 and the U.S. Women's Championship for the Adams Cup in 1992.

• Served on US SAILING's Women's Sailing Committee

Cory Sertl joins a distinguished list of past awardees who have also contributed in unique ways including Bernadette Bernon, Betsy Alison, Gail Hine, Dawn Riley and Doris Colgate.

For more information on NWSA, go to http://www.WomenSailing.org

Look Out Now, Mama's Run Off To Sea! Meet five women and the sailboats they captain
by Alice Snively
What do you mean Mama's run off to sea?

Just that. And she's only one of a growing number of women who are taking up the sea as a profession. Don’t conjure up images of a dining room server on a giant cruise ship. These women are not the marine equivalent of airline stewardess. Women captains on Chesapeake Bay in the 21st century are an intrepid group of sailors.

Captain Mary Ann Albright proved the stuff that sisterhood is made of when, on her maiden voyage, she sailed up the Atlantic coast into a storm. "I was stuck in that 50-knot gale for 12 hours, and my radar was knocked out."

Was she scared? "No," she said. "It was tense, but I wasn’t scared. I've never really been scared."
Click Here to read more

Women's Sailing Conference A Sellout
With picture-perfect weather and a capacity crowd, the fourth annual Women's Sailing Conference sponsored by BoatUS filled the Corinthian Yacht Club in scenic Marblehead, MA, with a lively day-long series of classes and workshops. The conference organized by the National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) gives women sailors, from novices to experts, an opportunity to network with other women while learning new skills or brushing up on old ones.
Click here to read more.

Barkow Wins U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship And 8th Major Championship Title in 2005
Fort Worth, TX (November 21, 2005) - Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.) has done it again: she has won another major Championship title, one of eight she has earned this year.   This time, it's US SAILING's U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship, which she sailed with crew Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.), Anna Tunnicliffe (Norfolk, Va.) and Lee Icyda (Newport, R.I.). Hosted by Fort Worth Boat Club, the event was raced in J/22s.

Just two months ago, Barkow won the Women's World Match Racing Championship title and climbed to third place in the International Sailing Federation's Women's World Match Race Rankings. The impressive list of Championships Barkow has won this year also includes the Yngling Women's World Championship, US SAILING's Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship, Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères, and US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR. A member of the 2005 US Sailing Team, Barkow is campaigning for a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team - Sailing in the Yngling class.

To view the complete results and photos of the event, go to http://www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/women/uswmrc.

Women’s Match Racing Regatta On, Despite Wilma World Champion Leroy Defends No. 1 Ranking
St. Petersburg, FL (Oct. 25, 2005) – Though St. Petersburg, Fla. has had to deal with the effects of the Hurricane Wilma, organizers of the Rolex Osprey Cup confirmed today that the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 1 women’s match racing regatta will go on as scheduled, October 27-30. The St. Petersburg Yacht Club, host to the regatta, has not sustained damage to its clubhouse or sailing center where the club’s fleet of Sonar class keelboats, slated for service in the Rolex Osprey Cup, are located.

British Sailing Icons Bring Gipsy Moth IV H
Three women sailors of modern fame had a chance to skipper the record-setting wooden ketch Gipsy Moth IV on her first trip out of an English shipyard. The honorary skippers included ‘round the world champion Dame Ellen McArthur, double Olympic Gold medallist Shirley Robertson and Ginnie Chichester, daughter-in law of Sir Francis Chichester. The three women sailed the famous yacht up the Thames River in London prior to her departure for another world cruise.

The 53-foot Gipsy Moth IV captivated world attention when skipper Francis Chichester set an around-the-world solo record in 1966-67. Knighted by the Queen, Sir Francis died in 1972 at age 71, two months after abandoning a transatlantic race in Gipsy Moth IV . The storied boat has been on display in Greenwich for decades, but fell into disrepair. Now that the sailboat has just enjoyed a $550,000 restoration, she set sail Sept. 25 on a second world cruise, the Blue Water Rally. Gipsy Moth IV is scheduled to return to Plymouth, England, on May 28, 2006, 40 years to the day Chichester completed his feat at age 65.

Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship
Day 5: Day of Waiting, Not Racing Brings Regatta to Conclusion
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND (Sept. 23, 2005) - After a day of waiting on the Chesapeake Bay for wind that never materialized, the Annapolis Yacht Club Race Committee concluded the 11th biennial Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship shortly before 2:00pm. Upon the completion of racing yesterday, it was determined that Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.) did not need to sail the 11th and final race today as she had a low enough total score in to win the regatta. Racing took place Sept. 19-23 in Annapolis, Md. At the gala Rolex Awards ceremony held this evening at the Annapolis Yacht Club, Barkow and her crew of Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.), Carrie Howe (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) and Annie Lush (Poole, England) were presented with US SAILING's Bengt Julin Trophy and a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Stainless Steel & 18k gold Ladies Datejust.

First Woman Sailor Among Hall of Fame Inductees
June 24, 2005 Courtesy Soundings Trade Only Today

Sailing World magazine has named the newest inductees into its Hall of Fame, including the first-ever woman to be added to the roster.

In its July/August issue, the magazine names JJ Isler as the first woman to be included in its list of the sport's best racing sailors, designers and innovators. Other inductees are Carl Eichenlaub, Torban Grael, and Valentin Mankin.

Isler, 41, raced at Yale University, making the All-America team at a time when it was a rarity for women. She has sailed in Olympic and America's Cup regattas and is a four-time winner of the Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. With her husband, Peter, she co-wrote a book, "Sailing for Dummies."

Eichenlaub, 75, was known as an outstanding racer in his day and a boatbuilder who helped the U.S. sailing team as its shipwright at Pan Am and Olympic Games since 1979.

Five-time Olympic medalist Grael, 44, is perhaps best known as the tactician of the winning Louis Vuitton Cup America's Cup boat in 2000, Luna Rossa.  Mankin, 67, was born in the Ukraine and raced full-time for the Soviet Union from 1955 until 1988. An Olympic medalist, Mankin emigrated to Italy in 1988, where he remains active in the sport as an Olympic-class coach.

Sweden's Marie Bjorling Wins 2005 BoatUS Santa Maria Cup

Swedish skipper Marie Bjorling was declared champion of the 15th annual BoatUS Santa Maria Cup women's match racing regatta, hosted by Eastport Yacht Club, after dying winds on Saturday forced the cancellation of both the semifinals and final races. The final results of the Grade 1 event sailing in Annapolis, MD, June 1-4 were based on the best records compiled during the double round-robin series of the regatta with each team racing 18 races over three days. Click here to read more.

Elizabeth Kratzig Wins Rolex Women's Match, an ISAF Grade 4 Women's Event
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (April 12, 2005) - Elizabeth Kratzig (Miami Beach, Fla./Corpus Christi, Texas) won the Rolex Women's Match, hosted by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club (St. Petersburg, Fla.) from April 7-10 on Tampa Bay. Sailing with Kratzig in the International Sailing Federation Grade 4 match racing event were 2004 Olympic Silver Medallist Lenka Smidova (Czech Republic), Carrie Howe (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) and Liz Hall (Bristol, R.I). Ten teams completed 79 matches in two and one half days of round robin racing in Sonar keelboats, which was preceded by a two-day skills and rules clinic with match racing expert Henry Menin (St. Thomas, USVI). Kratzig and second-place finisher Chafee Emory (Newport, R.I.) gain automatic invitations to the Rolex Osprey Cup, an ISAF Grade 1 match racing event scheduled for October 27 - November 1, 2005.

Ellen MacArthur Smashes Solo 'Round the World Record

Twenty-eight-year-old Briton Ellen MacArthur smashed the solo non-stop round-the-world sailing record on Feb. 7, crossing the finish line near Falmouth, England, after 71 days at sea, plus 14:18:33, smashing the previous world non-stop record of 72 days, 22:54:22 set by Francis Joyon in February 2004. MacArthur endured savage seas, huge waves, 65 mph winds and a close encounter with a whale aboard her 75-foot trimaran B&Q during the race. She also had some close shaves with a broken sail, burns and bruises, sleeping only four hours a day at 1/2-hour intervals throughout the grueling 26,000-mile race. "It's been an absolutely unbelievable journey both physically and mentally," she said on her Web site. She was greeted with champagne at the finish line along with congratulations from Prince Charles and sailing great Robin Knox-Johnston, as well as her Falmouth-based control team.

Swanson Named 2004 Rolex Yachtswoman Of The Year

News Courtesy of U.S. Sailing

Jody Swanson, of Buffalo, N.Y., was named 2004 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, selected from nine nominees. This is her second time achieving the award. She was the winner of the 1995 BoatUS Santa Maria Cup. Click here to read more

Read about the 2004 nominees by clicking here.

Openings for Sarasota and Islamorada, FL Seminars

"Ladies Let's Go Fishing!" invites you to become an angler in just one weekend! Even if you've never fished before, LLGF offers training and real hands-on experience to learn how to fish, and a chance to go fishing on the water! For the Intermediate/ Advanced anglers, we also provide classes geared to their instructional level . Also, check out our special events, where the emphasis is on the fishing! Go to www.BoatUS.com/women/fishing.asp.

BoatUS/Genmar Women's Survey Finds Astute Shoppers
Nearly one-third of women buying a boat did so on their own without their spouse or significant other, according to the final results of a year-long Web survey by BoatUS and Genmar, a major boat manufacturer. Women boat-buyers also did their homework prior to purchasing a boat by visiting boat shows, reading boating magazines and company literature and interviewing friends who own boats. Click here to read more

Bermuda leads fight to change Olympic format

News courtesy of The Royal Gazette October 22, 2004

Bermuda is spearheading a campaign to have women's keelboat sailing changed from fleet to match racing in the Olympics.

Should this succeed, it could have far-reaching implications for the sport's growth among women.

The primary reason for such a move, explained president of Bermuda Sailing Association (BSA) Tim Patton, is that it would significantly reduce participant expenses thereby opening up competitive sailing to women in many more countries.

UNDERDOG BARKOW WINS BoatUS 2004 ISAF
WOMEN'S MATCH RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, USA --- In a stunning upset, American Sally Barkow took first place this Saturday at the BoatUS 2004 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship. Sailing with Barkow were the other two members of her Yngling team, Long Islander Debbie Capozzi and Carrie Howe from Detroit, along with Briton Annie Lush; this team also had won last year's Rolex International Keelboat Championship. Click here to read more

U.S. SAILING ELECTS FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT
St. Louis, MO – U.S. SAILING, national governing body of the sport, has elected its first woman president: Janet C. Baxter of Chicago, IL. Immediate past president Dave Rosekrans passed the helm to Baxter at the organization’s annual general meeting in St. Louis Oct. 19. Click here to read more

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