2025 National Women’s Sailing Association Annual Conference
Presented by
Friday, June 6 optional conference offerings
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How to Drive a Dinghy • Capt. Missy Jaeger
Friday • 9am - 4pm • University of Southern Florida—St. Pete • Dockside
Walk through the primary elements of using a dinghy safely. Key items needed on board. Light requirements, Simple engine checklist and fun ideas for dinghy adventures. We will also briefly cover electric motor options that are growing in popularity. Don’t miss this fun, educational session!
Lunch, Mastry and Island Packet Factory Tours and transportation to/from USF and sites included.
Diesel Engine Maintenance • Beth Burlingame
Friday • 9am - noon • Mastry Engine Center
Learn the basics about your marine diesel engine: — maintenance — components and what they do — basic troubleshooting — when to call a mechanic.
Mastry Factory and Island Packet Factory Tours
Friday • 9am - 4pm • University of Southern Florida—St. Pete for trolley transfer
Enjoy a trolly ride through a historic area to the at Mastry Engine Center for lunch and a tour the Mastry facility followed by a tour of the Island Packet Factory.
Saturday, June 7 Conference Offerings
Morning half-day on-the-water
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Beginning Sailing — Take the Helm • Captains Beth Berry, Erica Trejo, Charlie Arms, Jodi Weinbecker
Saturday • 9:30am - 12:15 • waterside Colgate 26
If you take this class you cannot sign up for another morning class. You will be on the water all morning.
Experience sailing. You will learn to tie knots, how sails work, parts of the boat, sail and control lines, balancing with crew, raising/lowering sails, departing/approaching dock, steering, points of sail, tacking, gybing, trimming, safety, communication and teamwork, situational awareness, and basic rules of the road and much more. Take turns at the helm and controlling sails aboard the "designed for teaching" keelboat Colgate 26 with a female instructor by your side.
Anchoring • Capt. Kimberly Walther
Saturday • 9:30am - 12:15 • waterside s/v Opal
If you take this class you cannot sign up for another morning class. You will be on the water all morning.
Practice steps to streamline reaction time during emergency anchoring on any boat you sail. Review best practices, equipment familiarization, and hand signals. At the dock, to eliminate distractions and master the moves to successfully anchor rapidly, we will time each other, and calculate drift rates based on current speed. Confidence building to become comfortable to deploy an anchor in an emergency situation. Stress the need know locations of and use of safety equipment in depth before ever getting underway. Stress the need to practice adding external factors as confidence grows. Learn to handle critical dynamic situations on the boat — what might happen, safest reactions, crew safety.
If you take this class you cannot sign up for another morning class. You will be on the water all morning.
Ready to turn your passion into a side hustle? If you are an experienced sailor, who is thinking about getting US Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructor Certification, this session with Charlie Arms, a US Sailing Instructor Trainer will get you practice with the practical skills needed to pass the in-person, on the water exam. Such skills include sailing on and off the dock, overboard recovery maneuvers, and reefing. If you think you are ready to take the next step, this session will give you practice and coaching to get you there. US Sailing Exam course content for reference.
If you take this class you cannot sign up for another morning class. You will be on the water all morning.
Symmetrical Spinnaker Handling • Captain Kathleen Seero
Saturday • 9:30am–10:45am • waterside Colgate 26
If you take this class you cannot sign up for another morning class. You will be on the water all morning.
Students will be preparing the spinnaker for flying, rigging control lines, setting, trimming, and dousing a spinnaker. We will discuss points of sail and no-go points. How to get the chute up and down efficiently and safely with best communications. Sailed on the "made for teaching" Colgate 26. Bring sailing gloves.
Saturday morning 1st session
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Avoiding Mishaps & Mayhem + Life Raft Deployment • Capt. Debbie Huntsman
Saturday • 9:30am–10:45am • waterside s/v Ten Forward
For all sailors both crew and skippers. Sailing is inherently a safe sport. Yet S*** happens when we are on the water, in an unnatural and unforgiving element. Prepare to reduce or eliminate known hazards so you keep sailing fun and enjoyable, even when things go wrong. This workshop is focused on accident prevention and development of a safety ethos. Learn hands-on methods to: stay on the boat, use line handling skills for safe docking. Practice using a fire blanket and extinguisher, learn how to receive and how to make a Mayday call and more. Watch a life raft deploy with discussion.
Boat Buying and Ownership • Capt. Melanie Neale
Saturday • 9:30am - 10:45am • Ballroom 3
The journey towards boat ownership doesn't end when you find the right boat. There are many steps between the offer and closing. Learn how it works from the nitty gritty details of survey, trial run, renegotiation, common pitfalls, and the steps leading up to the closing. This process can be daunting but is also paved with opportunities to learn about your boat and establish your cruising plans. Topics covered include: choosing a surveyor, setting parameters for a trial run, specifics to look for on survey day, the role of the brokers, how to use the survey as a learning experience, the difference between a hull, a rigging, and an engine survey, how to read survey reports, how to use the information to renegotiate the deal if appropriate, and a summary of the closing process.
Boat Systems • Capt. Deborah Marlor
Saturday • 9:30am - 10:45am • Ballroom 1
Overview and location of: Fuel system - tank venting, fuel to filters, when to change filters, when to clean tank, treat fuel, etc. Water system - air loop requirements, gravity systems, pumps and their positions in system, cleaning pumps, pump placement Electrical system - importance of ABYC standards and proper wire length and diameter, checking for corrosion, heat venting, grounding, neatness and avoid abrasion, inverters role and safety, electrical leakage check, battery check and maintenance & protection, etc. Plumbing systems — head basics, valves, best routes to holding tank, emptying tank and flushing, mention variety of systems (macerator, chemical treatments, composting), avoiding smell. How to inspect each system and trouble-shoot.
Damage Control Hands on Leak Training • Capt. Lisa Goodwin
Saturday • 9:30am - 10:45am • outside parking lot
Thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard, NWSA has been granted use of the Coast Guard Damage Control Wet Trainer which allows your instructor to provide realistic boat and life emergency scenarios that need a solution fast. Learn as individuals and as a team to prepare for, find and evaluate dangers then act in a safe manner to keep the boat from sinking. Creatively use tools and items you have on hand to buy time until help arrives. Examples include mitigating compromises in pipes, valves, hoses, hull breach, prop shaft damage, and more. You may get wet on this technical trainer trailer. Foul weather gear or fast drying clothes and shoes are suggested. No bare feet. Here is a video about the class.
Electrical and Battery Systems • Guenevere Rae
Saturday • 9:30am - 10:45am • Ballroom 2
The Power is Yours: How to set up and maintain your own electrical system on your boat. Beginner and intermediate boaters. Probably realistically up to 30 people since I plan to have small group activities. Takeaways: how to set up charging mechanisms for a house and starter battery, how to choose the appropriate type and size battery for your needs, how to physically put terminals on all types of wires, how to check systems with electronic devices to measure volts and resistance, what common issues arise with electrical systems that you can diagnose and fix yourself.
2nd session Saturday morning
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Converting your Sailboat to Electric Propulsion • Nancy Frainetti
Saturday • 11am - 12:15am • Ballroom 2
Does electric propulsion intrigue you? If so, please join my classroom voyage into the abundant attributes of electric motor systems, LiFePO4 battery and photovoltaic regeneration advancements. Geared towards all learning levels ~ because electric propulsion is not rocket science ~ but rather a clean, quiet and low maintenance option for everyone to explore. *Classroom presentation with motor, battery and solar displays. Availability of electric sailing vessel for demo rides TBD.
No prior experience is required. Participants should come dressed for outdoor activity and bring (inflatable preferred) USCG or SOLAS approved personal floatation device typically used.
Fiberglass and Gelcoat Repairs • Monica Morgan
Saturday • 11am - 12:15am • outside Deck 1
Keep your boat looking great. Step by Step fiberglass and gelcoat repair procedures. How to approach a small or large repair and what is involved with color matching and wet sanding techniques. Repair material choices such as epoxy, vinylester or polyester resins. Materials and conditions needed for best results and strength.
Saturday • 11am - 12:15am • Ballroom 1
Be prepared for a medical emergency by stocking your first aid kit well and knowing how to use it for crew aboard your boat or others. This course will cover typical medical issues that one can find both offshore and near shore and how to think about what to do when they occur. Review guidelines for when to call for help and if an injured person should be treated on board or returned to land as quickly as possible. Learn how to communicate with your crew, other boats and first responders.
Saturday • 11am - 12:15am • Ballroom 3
Learn Aqua Map settings for your boat and units of measure, how to identify aids to navigation in the real world versus what is shown on Aqua Map, displaying winds and currents, Plotting a course from point A to point B. The student is encouraged to have a tablet with Aqua Map App Loaded and preferably an Aqua Map membership suitable for beginner and intermediate sailor. Prerequisite recommended: Basic Chart Navigation. A limited number of free Aqua Map licenses will be available for participant use in this class.
Damage Control Hands on Leak Training • Capt. Lisa Goodwin
Saturday • 11am - 12:15am • outside parking lot
NWSA has been granted use of the U. S Coast Guard Damage Control Wet Trainer allowing students to experience realistic boat and life emergency scenarios that need a solution fast. Learn as individuals and as a team to prepare for, find and evaluate dangers, then act in a safe manner to keep the boat from sinking. Creatively use tools and items you have on hand to buy time until help arrives. Examples include mitigating compromises in pipes, valves, hoses, hull breach, prop shaft damage, and more. You may get wet on this technical trainer trailer. Foul weather gear or fast drying clothes and shoes are suggested. No bare feet. Here is a video about the class.
Wind Strategy on the Race Course • Guenevere Rae
Saturday • 11am - 12:15am • Ocean Room
Up your game by learning to predict which way the wind will blow. Learn the basics on what weather is relevant to sailors, how to find available data of an area, how to predict sailing conditions, how to make adjustments based on race course changes.
Mid-day — all hands
2025 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award
Conference Luncheon and Speakers
Saturday 12:30pm to 1:50pm
Saturday afternoon half-day on-the-water
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Anchoring • Capt. Darcy Jensen
Saturday • 2pm - 4:45pm • waterside s/v Ten Forward
If you take this class you cannot sign up for another afternoon class. You will be on the water all afternoon.
Practice steps to streamline reaction time during emergency anchoring on any boat you sail. Review best practices, equipment familiarization, and hand signals. At the dock, to eliminate distractions and master the moves to successfully anchor rapidly, we will time each other, and calculate drift rates based on current speed. Confidence building to become comfortable to deploy an anchor in an emergency situation. Stress the need know locations of and use of safety equipment in depth before ever getting underway. Stress the need to practice adding external factors as confidence grows. Learn to handle critical dynamic situations on the boat — what might happen, safest reactions, crew safety.
Saturday • 2pm-4:45pm • s/v Serenity
If you take this class you cannot sign up for another afternoon class. You will be on the water all afternoon.
Get familiar with an asymmetrical spinnaker. At the dock demonstrate packing, rigging the chute and the sprit pole. Set sail to plan, hoist, gybe, and douse. During sailing we will focus on the basics of main, jib and asymmetrical spinnaker sail trim communicating as a team.
Beginning Sailing — Take the Helm • Captains Beth Berry, Erica Trejo, Charlie Arms, Kathleen Seero
Saturday • 2pm-4:45pm • waterside Colgate 26
If you take this class you cannot sign up for another afternoon class. You will be on the water all afternoon.
Experience sailing. You will learn to tie knots, how sails work, parts of the boat, sail and control lines, balancing with crew, raising/lowering sails, departing/approaching dock, steering, points of sail, tacking, gybing, trimming, safety, communication and teamwork, situational awareness, and basic rules of the road and much more. Take turns at the helm and controlling sails aboard the "designed for teaching" keelboat Colgate 26 with a female instructor by your side.
Saturday • 2pm-5:45pm • waterside s/v Initium
If you take this class you cannot sign up for another afternoon class. You will be on the water all afternoon.
Docking skills take practice, but we'll cover tools, techniques and communications to use as a team or shorthanded. You will learn dockline planning and placement, springline and fender use, steering in forward and reverse under power, approaching and departing the dock on a keelboat. Discussion of using current and wind to your advantage. How to be a great dockhand aboard and on the dock.
• Saturday •2pm-4:45pm • waterside s/v Initium
If you take this class you cannot sign up for another afternoon class. You will be on the water all afternoon.
Get comfortable reefing a sailing vessel at the dock with practice of body position, line handling, hand signals and best practices. Everyone will learn the roles in reefing without the stress of traffic, channels and depths. Participants will concentrate on a skill, then switch roles to fully not only what each role requires; but how to make the procedure easiest for the reefing team. Takeaways: 1) Become familiar with every step for reefing a sailing vessel. 2) Learn how to avoid slowing down the process. 3) Learn the need to practice basic maneuvers under a low-stress environment before moving off the dock adding additional complications. 4) How to handle critical dynamic situations on the boat — what might happen, safest reactions, crew safety.
If you take this class you cannot sign up for another afternoon class. You will be on the water all afternoon.
Saturday • 2pm-3:15pm • Ocean Room
The understanding and ability to use the vast amount of information on paper charts is essential to safe on the water navigation. It enhances our understanding and safety while using our electronic equipment. This is a hands-on experience using common navigation tools and paper charts.
Cruising Comfortably • Capt. Deborah Marlor
Saturday • 2pm-3:15pm • Ocean Room
What truly defines comfort for you on the water? How can you achieve it without compromise? In this thoughtfully designed course, Captain Deb provides a wealth of insights and strategies for creating a comfortable, enjoyable cruising experience. From organizational techniques to practical tips for onboard living, this course empowers sailors to optimize every aspect of life at sea. Discussions include Planning and Preparation Essentials, Storage and Space Management, Navigating Nature and Conditions, Cruising Beyond U.S. Waters, Setting Realistic Expectations.
Fiberglass and Gelcoat Repairs • Monica Morgan
Saturday • 2pm-3:15pm • outside Deck 1
Keep your boat looking great. Step by Step fiberglass and gelcoat repair procedures. How to approach a small or large repair and what is involved with color matching and wet sanding techniques. Repair material choices such as epoxy, vinylester or polyester resins. Materials and conditions needed for best results and strength.
Damage Control Hands on Leak Training • Capt. Lisa Goodwin
Saturday • 2pm-3:15pm • outside parking lot
Thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard, NWSA has been granted use of the Coast Guard Damage Control Wet Trainer which allows your instructor to provide realistic boat and life emergency scenarios that need a solution fast. Learn as individuals and as a team to prepare for, find and evaluate dangers then act in a safe manner to keep the boat from sinking. Creatively use tools and items you have on hand to buy time until help arrives. Examples include mitigating compromises in pipes, valves, hoses, hull breach, prop shaft damage, and more. You may get wet on this technical trainer trailer. Foul weather gear or fast drying clothes and shoes are suggested. No bare feet. Here is a video about the class.
Racing Across an Ocean + the Delivery Back • Capt. Marie Rogers
Saturday • 2pm-3:15pm • Ballroom 1
How to put together an ocean racing team. How to choose team members with sufficient experience, skill sets and compatibility. What to know before you leave: efficiency of packing by individuals and supplies for the team, division of responsibilities and shift watches. Weather, navigation methods, Insurance, safety training and communications. Special considerations for women. Basic steps necessary to get there and back safely.
2nd session Saturday afternoon
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Saturday • 3:30pm-4:45pm • Ballroom 3
Learn Aqua Map settings for your boat and units of measure, how to identify aids to navigation in the real world versus what is shown on Aqua Map, displaying winds and currents, Plotting a course from point A to point B. The student is encouraged to have a tablet with Aqua Map App Loaded and preferably an Aqua Map membership suitable for beginner and intermediate sailor.
Prerequisite recommended: Basic Chart Navigation. A limited number of free Aqua Map licenses will be available for participant use in this class.
Saturday • 3:30pm-4:45pm • Ballroom 1
Be prepared for a medical emergency by stocking your first aid kit well and knowing how to use it for crew aboard your boat or others. This course will cover typical medical issues that one can find both offshore and near shore and how to think about what to do when they occur. Review guidelines for when to call for help and if an injured person should be treated on board or returned to land as quickly as possible. Learn how to communicate with your crew, other boats and first responders.
Damage Control Hands on Leak Training • Capt. Lisa Goodwin
Saturday • 2pm-3:15pm • outside parking lot
Thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard, NWSA has been granted use of the Coast Guard Damage Control Wet Trainer which allows your instructor to provide realistic boat and life emergency scenarios that need a solution fast. Learn as individuals and as a team to prepare for, find and evaluate dangers then act in a safe manner to keep the boat from sinking. Creatively use tools and items you have on hand to buy time until help arrives. Examples include mitigating compromises in pipes, valves, hoses, hull breach, prop shaft damage, and more. You may get wet on this technical trainer trailer. Foul weather gear or fast drying clothes and shoes are suggested. No bare feet. Here is a video about the class.
Pre-requisite: Beginning charting. Two instructors offer personal instruction.
Wanna Race? • Dr. Debby Grimm
Saturday • 2pm-3:15pm • Ballroom 2
How to select races/regattas, prep your boat and get ready to race. Students learn about the preparation required to get to a race. How to find out about events happening. What to do to get the boat in racing shape. What to do to get the crew ready to race, what to do the day of the race and what to do on the way to the race course. Both skippers and crew can learn something during this seminar. Sneak peak — planning is key!
Saturday, June 7 optional evening events
Women's Sailing Associations Leadership Forum
Saturday • 5:15pm-6pm • Ocean Room
Join other leaders of Women’s Sailing Associations or groups to network and share some advice. Share your missions, potential meeting topics/events and learn about how organizations are structured and run. While the meeting is brief, the main goal is to network!
AdventureSail Social Fundraiser, Keynote Speaker
Meet evening keynote speaker Doris Colgate, National Sailing Hall of Fame member and founder of NWSA and the AdventureSail program. Celebrate 35 years of sharing sailing with women and girls. A fun raffle and silent auction will raise funds for scholarship and AdventureSail programs. Music and refreshments.
Sunday, June 8 optional offerings
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Sunday, 9am - 10:45am • Room TBA
Weather on the Water • Laura Kee
Sunday, 9am - 10:45am • Room TBA
From crossing the Gulf Stream to understanding sea breezes along the Florida Coast, understanding weather patterns is important for a safe and pleasant trip. Learn how offshore buoys provide real-time weather information and how reading clouds help predict arrival of thunderstorms. Add to your toolkit by learning about how to access weather information and various forecast models for severe thunderstorms and hurricanes, as well as for more typical day-to-day life.
Weekend Cruising in Tampa Bay • Kris Self
Sunday, 9am - 10:45am • Room TBA
Do you have two or three days free and want to go cruising? Join us for information about some of our favorite local spots
Gaining Speed on Racing + Mustang Survival Gear Fashion Show
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Monica Morgan's "Murphy's Law of Regatta Preparedness" will be told through her 2023 Lightning Masters Worlds and World Championship experience in Colombia.
Fashion Show • Lili Colby
Mark the end of the conference with Mustang representative, Lili Colby, leading a team of models picked from the audience to show new practical and life-saving products made for women with inflatable demonstrations.