Next AdventureSail® Day is Sat. August 8, 2026
Or a date you choose!
ABOUT ADVENTURESAIL®
MAKING CHANGES COME ABOUT®
AdventureSail, a cornerstone of WSF/NWSA for over two decades, aims to nurture the next generation of female sailors. Recognizing the importance of early sailing opportunities and overcoming barriers preventing young women and girls from accessing the water, NWSA partners with US Sailing to expand the program nationwide.
We offer guidance on making sailing more accessible to young women ages 9-14. Every girl deserves the chance to discover the joy of sailing.
AdventureSail® Day Goals
To enrich the lives of America’s young underserved girls through sailing, with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion. To open girls’ eyes to a multitude of life’s positive possibilities, and through continued participation in sailing:
- Provide a positive activity that will encourage affirmative life choices
- Develop self-confidence to overcome adverse living conditions
- Introduce career paths and opportunities that involve the marine industry, marine related sciences and their local waters.
- Boats, qualified volunteer instructors as mentors on board, and other sailing-related activities are arranged by the local organization. The activities are fun, educational and the instructors and volunteers for the most part are young women, providing positive female role models.
- Program is free to participants
- Unique to each location. The boats and the agenda are provided by the host organization. Some events have a guest speaker. Some use small boats while other locations use cruising boats. Some engage in spirited competition. It all depends on what the organizer arranges. Current and past AdventureSail events demonstrate the variety of types of events. Each will show the enthusiasm and smiles of the girls, who may be getting on the water for the first time in their lives.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
- Identify and make an agreement with a venue for the event
- Fill out the Host Questionnaire
- Questionnaire
- Complete The AdventureSail Memorandam of Understanding (MOU) Guidelines To Host.
- MOU guidelines to host.
- Download suggested checklist for an AdventureSail® Daychecklist
- Downlaod graphic for social media
- Social media
- All girls and volunteers must complete an online waiver and photo release
- All girls and volunteers must complete an online waiver and photo release
- Sow a seed on career paths and opportunities that involve the marine industry, marine related sciences
- Provide positive role models on and off the water
- Share team building activities
- Offer application for learn-to-sail scholarships to participating girls
Click here to fill out learn-to-sail scholarship application
- Submit Expense Reimbursement form after the event
- Expense Form
Waivers are mandatory for all participants, including girls and volunteers.
Click on the state where your event will be held to find and complete the waiver.
California
Dana Point Harbor
Florida
Illinois
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Couagous, Boston Mass
New York
Rhode Island
Texas
Virgina
Wisconsin
HISTORY OF ADVENTURESAIL®
In 1996, Doris Colgate introduced AdventureSail®, a mentoring program for at-risk girls aged 9-14 through the National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA). Since then, over 150 girls nationwide have been introduced to sailing annually. Local sailing clubs, yacht clubs, and partnering associations volunteer to offer sailing to girls who wouldn’t otherwise have the chance. The program’s flexibility allows host facilities to determine activities and boats.
Skills like teamwork, environmental stewardship, leadership, responsibility, self-esteem, authority respect, and education are emphasized to help girls succeed. AdventureSail® continues to expand to new areas and involve more girl-serving organizations.
In 1996, the Women’s Sailing Foundation (WSF) was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization, serving as the legal and parent company of AdventureSail®.
FUNDING ADVENTURESAIL®
- 100% of the program is funded through Individual donations
- Funds are also raised at the AdventureSail fundraiser silent auction and raffle held at the NWSA national conference
- Donations of product (such as food or swag) at the event
- Everyone who works with the program is a volunteer
For Tax-deductible contributions click on the "Donate" button above.
AdventureSail® is a program of the Women’s Sailing Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. The program is sustained by charitable donations of any amount.