Welcome to the National Women’s Sailing Association! We invite you to explore the many events, programs and scholarships we offer for women sailors of all levels, ages and interests. Enjoy!
TAKE THE HELM ISSUE OCTOBER 2024 OUT NOW!
It’s been a tough month for Florida and the Appalachians as far as extreme weather. The National Women’s Sailing Association is firmly planning on coming to St. Petersburg, FL in June for our 2025 conference. We expect things to be much improved by that time and want to bring our support and dollars to the community. In the meantime, though, please know our thoughts and prayers are with all these communities as they rebuild. You have new executive members serving on our board: Debby Grimm — President Claire Wyngaard — Vice-President Erica Trejo— Secretary Ame Flynn— Treasurer Thank you Naomi Emmerson for serving on the board and as Secretary for the past few years. Debbie Huntsman also ended her service on the executive committee, but will continue as a Director and chair of the Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award and editor of your newsletter. Linda Newland, Barbara Morris, Jodie Weinbecker, Kris Self and Marie Rogers also continue as hard working Directors. We look forward to another successful year of doing the work to get more women sailing.
Member Of The Month
Tara Macaulay
NWSA’s October 2024 Member of The Month, Tara Macaulay, hails from Halifax NS Canada. She gained interest in sailing as an 8-year-old. Her older brother started a sailing program but she was not old enough to attend. She begged and pleaded until the program allowed her to attend. Now she is a third generation sailor. Her grandparents were sailors and her dad sailed as a kid. But Tara’s not the last generation of sailors in her family. Macaulay’s three children are sailors and have competed internationally in Optimist, International 420, 29er, Waszp and SSL. Two of her children are racing on Farr 30 and Farr 40 and are sometimes on the start line competing against each other. Mom says, “Super fun.” The Macaulay family had the luxury of spending lots of time on Tara’s parent’s keelboat where husband Bruce and kids; Jackson, Finlay and Riley acquired a love for the sport. read more
SHE SAILOR “SPOOKY” SEA STORY!
The She Sailor Sea Story episode Whooo! is sponsored by Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Join NWSA for a social evening of spooky sea stories for a fun-filled evening with sailors and an open mic giving giving sailing members and friends a chance to socialize — Whooo!
Have a hair-raising sailing tale? Sign up below to tell it.
IT’S TIME TO NOMINATE YOUR HERO!
The Leadership in Women’ s Sailing Award, presented by NWSA and BoatU.S.® began in 1999
The award is given annually to honor an individual who has a record of achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing. Nominations are open now through February 1, 2025.
For more information visit our LIWSA page. read more
CONGRATULATIONS TO JERELYN BIEHL
Awarded the 2024 Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award, co-sponsored by NWSA and BoatU.S.
A wonderful video was presented at the Conference in New Orleans in June 2024 which includes congratulatory messages and an acceptance speech by Jerelyn.
Jerelyn Biehl was awarded the 2024 BoatU.S. / NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing award in-person at her home club the San Diego Yacht Club. The yacht club’s women’s group hosted the presentation of the award during a festive luau. Congratulations to Jerelyn!
Pictured in the photo: NWSA Vice President, Debbie Huntsman with Jerelyn in August 2024 in San Diego.
Call for presenters & instructors
Share Sailing at the National Women’s Sailing Association Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida June 6-8, 2025.
The National Women’s Sailing Association is currently accepting applications to present and instruct at the annual National Women’s Sailing Association Conference. We are excited to share sailing with women in Florida! We need a great crew to make our ship sail smoothly. We need your help to safely navigate to a successful event. We hope to welcome you aboard. Please, fill out the application to instruct below.
2024 AdventureSail®
August 10th was our official AdventureSail Day for 2024 but clubs and organizations are still hosting whenever is convenient for them! Reports and photos are coming in!
What is AdventureSail? Underserved girls in sailing grounds across the country get a chance to take the helm and give sailing a try! Graduates of AdventureSail then become eligible to apply for a Learn To Sail Youth Scholarship from NWSA
For highlights from the participating organizations in 2023 read more
To learn more about AdventureSail click here
Photo by Jim Orchard.
International Safety at Sea
Attend a US Sailing sanctioned International Safety at Sea program designed by women for women (and couples) October 5 & 6 2025 through the Southern California Yachting Association at the Del Mar Yacht Club. Register now and start learning prevention practices and how to prepare if things do go wrong.
NWSA is committed to aiding women in gaining high-level seamanship, learning safety skills by cooperation with US Sailing to present the excellent offshore safety course. While doing this we are fostering female presenters and moderators for the Safety at Sea program.
If your club or women’s organization would like to host a US Sailing Safety at Sea program with a focus on women or sailing couples contact us.
We are thankful for the support of companies, organizations, foundations and individuals who have helped us bring this conference to the New Orleans women’s sailing community. Through their financial contributions, the donation of silent auction & raffle items or in-kind services, we can make this event possible and continue our scholarships and AdventureSail® program.
To donate to silent auction items, contact Sponsorships@womensailing.org