Leadership Award

Leadership in Women's Sailing Award Sponsored by BoatUS and National Women’s Sailing Association

Begun in 1999, this award honors an individual who has built up a record of achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women though sailing.

June 2, Marblehead, MA ‹ Janet Baxter, center, is presented with the 2007 Leadership in Women's Sailing Award by Elaine Dickinson of BoatU.S., at left, and Valli Cook president of the National Women's Sailing Association, at right, co-sponsors of the award. Baxter is an avid racer, racing judge and served as the first female president of the US SAILING.

Janet Baxter Honored For Leadership In Women’s Sailing

June 6, 2007 Marblehead , MA - The Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award was presented to Janet Baxter, a Chicago-based racer, sailing judge and the first woman elected president of United States Sailing Association, the national governing body of the sport in the US. The award was given during evening festivities at the sixth annual Women’s Sailing Conference hosted by the Corinthian Yacht Club. The event is organized by the National Women’s Sailing Association with BoatUS as primary sponsor.

Janet Baxter was instrumental in preparing US SAILING for the future, leading 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.

“Janet Baxter, in taking such a high-profile leadership position at US SAILING, shows that women can excel at every level — both on the water and in the board rooms,” said Elaine Dickinson of BoatUS in presenting the award with NWSA President Valli Cook. The award is co-sponsored by BoatUS and NWSA and honors a male or female who has a record of achievement in giving something back to the sport of sailing as well as inspiring and educating women.

The day-long conference of on-the-water and classroom workshops, seminars and demonstrations, gives women sailors, from novices to experts, an opportunity to network with other women while learning new skills or brushing up on old ones.

Nancy Erley Awarded Leadership In Women's Sailing Honors

June 2006 - Nancy Erley, a Seattle-based sailing instructor and two-time circumnavigator, was presented with the Leadership in Women's Sailing Award for 2006 this weekend at the fifth annual Women's Sailing Conference held at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA.   Sponsored by the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) and the National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA), the award honors a male or female who has built a record of achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing.

  “Good instruction is the key to getting into sailing and Nancy Erley has set a high standard in the boating education arena,” said Elaine Dickinson of BoatU.S., who presented the award June 3, along with NWSA President Val Cook and Conference Co-Chair Joan Thayer. “Her ocean voyaging, circumnavigations and women's sailing school have brought unique learning opportunities — as well as inspiration — to hundreds of women. She's living proof that one can live their dream with hard work and clear focus.”

Erley holds a 50-ton Master of Oceans and 100-ton Master Near Coastal license and is an instructor-evaluator for the International Sail and Power Association. She led two all-women voyages from Seattle around the world aboard her Orca 38 sailboat Tethys , which one boating writer called a voyage “that should go down in the record books as one of the soundest, most seamanlike journeys of the modern cruising era.”

As founder of the Tethys Offshore Sailing for Women in Seattle (www.tethysoffshore.com) Erley teaches women beginning sailing up to captaining skills, either on learning cruises or individually. She's a Ham operator as well as advanced SCUBA diver, and delivery captain.

At the June 3, 2006 Women's Sailing Conference, over 100 women – from college students to grandmothers – braved stormy conditions and 20-knot winds to participate in on-the-water sailing clinics, as well as numerous land-based classes. The Conference is one of many events that BoatU.S. – with 650,000 members – sponsors that promotes boating opportunities for women.   Others include the BoatU.S. Santa Maria Cup Women's Matching Racing Championship, the annual Women's Sailing Convention in Southern California, “Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!” seminars. And a Women in Boating Web site at http:// www.BoatUS.com/women

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 (BoatU.S.) 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 BoatU.S., 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

Doris Colgate Awarded Leadership In Women's Sailing Honors

June 8, 2004 - Doris Colgate, President and CEO of Offshore Sailing School was presented with the Leadership in Women's Sailing Award for 2004 this weekend at the 3rd annual Women's Sailing Conference held at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA. 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 other's lives through sailing.

"Doris has been a true pioneer in women's sailing and was well ahead of her time in launching new programs for women that have brought literally thousands of new participants into boating," said Elaine Dickinson of BoatUS, who helped present the award June 5. "Never content to focus only on a successful business, Doris has consistently sought new ways to bring women and girls into sailing, as well as promote sailing as a lifestyle. She's not just been a role model, but a mentor to many women in the industry."

Doris has also been on the BoatUS National Advisory Council since 1997 and a member of the board of directors of Sail America, the sailing industry association, since 2000.

Colgate joined Offshore Sailing School as its vice president in 1970, became president in 1978 and CEO in 2001. Now in its 40th year, Offshore Sailing School has grown from a one-branch, two-boat operation to 10 sailing schools and a retail sales division for their Colgate 26 training boat. Within the schools' offerings, Doris created innovative women's educational courses and cruises.

In 1990, she founded the National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) to create more sailing opportunities for women and educational offerings for women to build confidence and skills. Doris also helped NWSA launch AdventureSail in 1991, a sailing-mentoring program for at-risk girls. In 1997, she established the Women's Sailing Foundation (WSF) a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of women and girls through education and access to the sport of sailing. Author of SAILING: A Woman's Guide (International Marine/McGraw Hill), Colgate received the 2000 Southam Award in the book category.

Colgate received the Betty Cook Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award from Boating magazine and International Women in Boating for her work in the marine industry. In 1996 she shared with Steve Colgate, the Sail Magazine Industry Award for Leadership. And in 2003, US SAILING, the national governing body of sailing in the U.S., awarded Steve and Doris the Timothea Larr Trophy for their leadership and excellence in sailing education.

At the Women's Sailing Conference over 100 women - from college students to grandmothers - learned new skills as well as brushed up on old ones and networked with other women sailors. The Conference is one of many events that BoatUS - with 565,000 members - sponsors that promotes boating opportunities for women. Others include the BoatUS Santa Maria Cup/ISAF Women's World Matching Racing Championship, the annual Women's Sailing Convention in Southern California, and "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!" seminars. BoatUS also features a Women in Boating Web site at http://www.BoatUS.com/women.

World class sailor Dawn Riley (center) accepts the 2003 Leadership in Women's Sailing Award from Elaine Dickinson of BoatUS (at left) and Diana Smith of National Women's Sailing Association during a gala dinner at the Women Sailing Conference June 7 in Marblehead, MA.

The 2003 recipient is Dawn Riley. Dawn Riley, the world champion sailor who has made great strides in developing sailing outreach programs for young people, was presented with the Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award this weekend at the 2nd annual Women’s Sailing Conference held at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA. 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 gone beyond competitive racing and leveraged their name, skills, or position in the sailing world to reach out and enrich other’s lives through sailing.

"No one is more deserving of this honor than Dawn Riley," said Elaine Dickinson of BoatUS, who presented the award along with NWSA President Diana Smith. "Her racing career has been extraordinary, breaking numerous barriers for women. But she’s also gone beyond winning trophies to give something back to the sport and to society at large through her America True Foundation."

Riley founded and leads the America True Foundation, whose goal is to bring the joy of sailing to youth nationwide. Other accomplishments include being the first woman to head up an America’s Cup Syndicate (2000) as well as team captain of the first all-women’s America’s Cup team, America3 (1995). She was the only female crew member on an America’s Cup team in 1992 and she led the Heineken team, the all-women’s entry in the Whitbread Round the World Race (1993-94). Riley was the first two-time winner of the world-class BoatUS Santa Maria Cup women’s match race regatta; the first sailor to be named President of the Women’s Sports Foundation; and also the 1999 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.

At the Women’s Sailing Conference over 110 women – from college students to grandmothers – learned new skills as well as brushed up on old ones and networked with other women sailors. The Conference is one of many events that BoatUS – with 540,000 members – sponsors that promotes boating opportunities for women. Others include the BoatUS Santa Maria Cup, the annual Women’s Sailing Convention in Southern California, and “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” seminars. BoatUS also features a Women in Boating Web site at http://www.BoatUS.com/women.

The Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award for 2001 was presented to Gail Hine, a southern California grassroots organizer who founded the Women’s Sailing Convention over a decade ago. Hine was also president of Recreational Boaters of California and has worked for 30 years to expand sailing opportunities for women. With her at the awards ceremony in Sail Expo, Atlantic City, on Jan. 25 is Doris Colgate, at left, founder of the National Women’s Sailing Association, and Elaine Dickinson, at right, managing editor of BoatUS Magazine. The annual award is jointly sponsored by NWSA and BoatUS

The 2001 recipient is Gail Hine, a leader in women’s sailing programs for over 30 years in Southern California. Gail is one of the first women sailors in the U.S. to organize large-scale training events just for women and her annual Women’s Sailing Convention is in its 13th year. Held at Corona del Mar, CA, the convention involves 330 participants led by women expert instructors in both classroom and on-the-water seminars. Hine was the first female commodore of her yacht club, served as president of Recreational Boaters of California as well as on the BoatUS National Advisory Council, and was named "Yachtsman of the Year" in 1990 — "the Peggy Slater Award" — by the Southern California Yachting Association. She still finds time to race her Nightingale 24 in local regattas.

Click here to read the press release on the 2001 winner.

The first recipient of the Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award, Bernadette Bernon, center, received the trophy at Sail Expo in Atlantic City in January. Bernadette is the editor of Cruising World magazine and has sponsored numerous outreach efforts to make sailing and cruising more accessible to women. With her is Doris Colgate, at left, president of the National Women’s Sailing Association, and Jim Ellis, at right, executive vice president of BoatUS The annual award is jointly sponsored by BoatUS and NWSA.

The 1999 recipient was Bernadette Bernon, former editor of Cruising World magazine and founding director of the Cruising World Safety at Sea Institute which has educated over 15,000 sailors at their seminars. She has served on the BoatUS National Advisory Council, and the boards of the National Women’s Sailing Association, Sail Expo and Sail America.

Click here to read press release on 1999 winner.