Newland holds the fastest woman, singlehanded San Francisco-to-Japan record and has sailed and raced extensively on the West Coast. She is a two-time, 2,025-mile Los Angeles-to-Honolulu Transpac competitor as well as a Pacific Cup veteran. In the 1997 Transpac aboard her own boat, Newland skippered an all-women crew to a second-place division finish.

A 100-ton merchant marine license holder, Newland teaches sailing and is a certified American Sailing Association instructor. She has served as secretary for Recreational Boaters of Washington, which represents recreational boaters’ interests in Washington legislative and regulatory actions, and is a past commander and now assistant squadron education officer of the Point Wilson Sail and Power Squadron in Port Townsend, Washington. She is a long-standing board member of NWSA, having served as vice president, president and co-chair of the AdventureSail committee. read more and watch the video

Marie was the second woman in 118 years, the second black person, and the first black woman to be the commodore of the historic Los Angeles Yacht Club (LAYC). In fact, when she looked in 2019 to see if there were any other black women at the lead of a major club in the US, she found none, certainly not on the west coast. Marie races avidly. She was able to race last year in the 50th Transpacific race. She told me she didn’t see another black person, let alone another black female, in the fleet. Marie also races close to home on her J 29, Rush Street, and does coastal racing on Marie, a Nelson Marek 55, that she shares with Bill, her husband. Besides all this, she loves doing deliveries, cruising, and teaching sailing at LAYC and other yacht clubs.

Marie has fully dedicated herself to increasing equity in sailing. In doing so she joined NWSA’s board of directors. She works with US Sailing and Yacht Clubs around the nation to help them sailors recognize barriers and to increase inclusion. Rogers firmly believes sailing is for everyone. She actively spreads the idea inclusion is not only a healthy direction for the sport, it will bring a new vitality to clubs which embrace equity. read more and watch the video

Pommert is a Pacific Northwest native, who has sailed in many parts of the world’s top cruising destinations including the Caribbean, South Pacific, and Greece. For several years Pommert taught sailing in California, on dinghies and keelboats, monohulls and catamarans. She began her formal certifications in 2006 when she became an ASA certified instructor. She is also a US Sailing certified instructor, and holds a 50 ton U.S. Coast Guard Master’s License. Pommert teaches at numerous locations and captains several trips annually. She has also written several articles on various subjects addressing specifically women and girls as well as articles for all sailors. She developed a website, www.seattleonthewater.com to promote programs and opportunities for women to learn more sailing and boating skills. Pommert is a skipper of an all women J/105 where she enjoys sharing the fun of racing fast boats and flying spinnakers.  read more and watch the video

“Pat Dieselman exemplifies leadership in sailing, serving as a mentor, teacher and role model, working to get more women sailing and sailing their own vessels,” said Huntsman who presented the award at the 18th Women’s Sailing Conference. “Through her own experiences as an adult woman entering the sport, she saw learning to sail had challenges. Acting on that recognition, Pat has worked to encourage and educate women in the art of sailing.” read more

“Sheila McCurdy exemplifies a leader in the sailing world by serving as a mentor, teacher and role model for women entering the sport and also for those expanding their sailing skills.” said Newland.

McCurdy grew up in a sailing family in Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island and from a young age, sailing became part of her life. “It’s just what I do,” said McCurdy.  She has sailed big boats and small boats with family, friends, strangers and professionals, and skippers her own boat, Selkie, a 38-foot sloop designed by her father, Jim McCurdy.  read more

Linda Lindquist-Bishop who was a member of the first and only all-women’s America’s Cup team was honored at the conference for her contribution to women in the sport. Lindquist-Bishop was awarded the 2017 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award. Lindquist-Bishop became the first female sailing master at her yacht club. She achieved a leadership role on the SC70 team setting records on the Great Lakes. She was also a member of the first all-women’s America’s Cup sailing team. Lindquist-Bishop has sailed with more than 100 teams and won two world championships. “Linda has made a significant impact on improving the confidence of young women through international sailing competitions,” NWSA President Linda Newland said. “She is a role model for what can be. We are pleased to recognize her commitment to women in sailing with this award.” Lindquist-Bishop is a co-founder of Rising Tide Leadership Institute, a non-profit organization. She also helped to develop the NWSA and is on the advisory board. We are always grateful to our sponsors Boat/US and Black Rock Sailing School together with the Corinthian Yacht Club who help us bring great women to the conference each year.

“Kathie exemplifies the Corinthian spirit in her endless enthusiasm for the sport of sailing and her generosity in sharing her time and many talents with others,” said Hine. “She does it all – cruising, racing, coaching and boat repair while also pitching in onshore with the volunteering, planning and organizing aspects of club activities. She is a role model that demonstrates that women can participate at the highest levels in sailing and is always ready to give encouragement and instruction.” read more

“Sally is a widely recognized leader in the sailing industry and she has effectively supported women in all aspects of sailing throughout her life,” said NWSA President Linda Newland. “She has made a significant impact on the business of sailing and how the roles of women in sailing are viewed. We are pleased to recognize her commitment to women in sailing with this award.”

Added Newland, “As a young woman, Sally sailed for her college team and subsequently began to get more involved, eventually earning seats on several boards and committees that support and promote sailing, particularly for women.” Helme also worked with Offshore Sailing School CEO Doris Colgate to create and sponsor NWSA’s Take the Helm series read more

A life-long sailor, Elaine Dickinson was honored Saturday, June 2, 2012 with the National Women’s Sailing Association/BoatUS 2012 Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award at the 11th Women’s Sailing Conference held in Marblehead MA and hosted by the Corinthian Yacht Club. This award is given to an individual who had built up a record of achievement in inspiring, educating, and enriching the lives of women through sailing. Dickinson learned to sail at age 25 by taking an Outward Bound course and immersed herself in the world of boating, both personally and professionally as journalist and lobbyist for BoatUS. She served on the National Safe Boating Council, a three-year appointment the US Coast Guard Boating Safety Advisory Council, and NOAA’s Hydrographic Services Review Panel which advises NOAA leadership on navigation issues. She raised awareness about women’s sailing educational events and women in maritime fields in articles for BoatUS Magazine, started the BoatUS Women in Boating website and served as a dedicated National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) board member for ten years.  Retired in 2010 after 26 years with BoatUS’ Government, Public Affairs and Publications departments, Dickinson now enjoys cruising the Atlantic coast with her husband, Naval Architect Jack Hornor, on their Catalina 42. “Elaine took the initiative to encourage women of all ages to try sailing,” said NWSA President Joan Thayer. “As a sailor herself and a journalist writing about boating legislation and news, Elaine contributed her own boating safety experience to workshops and readers, including writing about women boaters in maritime fields and women-only events. She conducted informal surveys of women asking them about boating topics and how they like to learn, finding many women feel more comfortable learning from women instructors and speakers. Our event still follows that format today.”

June 4, 2011 — Dawn Santamaria – Recipient of the 2011 Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award, accepted her honor June 4th at the 10th Annual Women’s Sailing Conference held at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Photo Caption: Dawn Santamaria and  NWSA President Joan Thayer. When Dawn and her husband Jay purchased their tall ship, she witnessed first hand how their four young daughters enjoyed learning how to sail the ship while gaining confidence and leadership skills. She wanted other young girls to have the opportunity to have the same experiences so she developed a program and created the non-profit organization, Sisters Under Sail, in 2005. The mission of Sisters Under Sail is to build confidence, enhance self-esteem, develop social conscience and teach women of all ages the value of sisters working together towards a common goal through sail training. Its classroom is the 110-foot, square topsail, gaff-rigged schooner STV Unicorn, said to be the only all-female crewed tall ship in the world. This unique leadership program has taken nearly 400 girls aboard from all over the United States and Canada to learn new skills on the ship and expand their lives with accomplished sailors. Unicorn sails in alternate years on the Long Island-Maine route and in the Great Lakes. Santamaria grew up in Chicago, Illinois and attended Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana – an all women’s college.  Three of her four daughters have also gone to Saint Mary’s, making a family that understands the value of the “Sisters” mission and its impact on teenage girls. Her adult program has brought aboard nearly 200 women who have enjoyed the experience as much as the teenage girls. Sisters Under Sail has worked with the generous support of communities, individuals and many organizations such as Girl Scouts of America wishing to sponsor teenagers to participate. Dawn, still connected to her college community, is on the Alumnae Board of Directors at her alma mater, and is Saint Mary’s New Jersey Alumnae Club President. She serves as the Chairwoman of the Sisters Under Sail Board of Trustees. You can follow the travels of Unicorn on the website sistersundersail.org anytime. In 2012, Unicorn will be sailing in OpSail 2012, with the daughters of deployed American service men and women next summer, from New York City to Norfolk and from Baltimore to Boston, commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the birth of The Star-Spangled Banner, working with a Washington, DC based military strategic partner.

ALEXANDRIA, VA, June 9, 2009 — Proving that despite a major setback, the will to sail and compete at the highest level can prevail, Maureen McKinnon-Tucker was honored with the annual Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award at ceremonies capping the day-long Women’s Sailing Conference held June 6 at Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA. The award is co-sponsored by BoatU.S. and the National Women’s Sailing Association. The award honors a male or female who has a record of achievement in giving something back to the sailing community as well as inspiring and educating women. McKinnon-Tucker was featured in the “Top Women in American Boating” article in the May 2009 issue of BoatU.S. Magazine. Over a decade ago she fell off a seawall and the injuries left her partially paralyzed. Despite using a wheelchair, she has doggedly pursued competitive sailing. After being the first woman named to the U.S. Disabled Sailing Team and winning a silver medal in the 2007 world championship, McKinnon-Tucker went even further in 2008 and won a gold medal in the Beijing Paralympic Games, along with the late Nick Scandone in the SKUD-18 class. In presenting the award at the conference, Elaine Dickinson, coordinator of BoatU.S.’s Women in Boating initiative, said, “Maureen’s indomitable spirit and upbeat attitude are the essence of what leadership is all about. She turned adversity into achievement and inspires everyone who meets her or hears her story.” She has also served on numerous boards and committees advocating for those with spinal cord injuries and is a peer mentor for those recently disabled; she is the adaptive sailing coordinator at the Piers Park Sailing Center in Boston, MA. The mother of two has also managed two businesses. McKinnon-Tucker was not able to accept the 2009 leadership award in person at Marblehead as she was competing in a race the same day in New York, but sent a videotaped message expressing her gratitude for the recognition and those who helped her get back into her chosen sport. She is a Marblehead, MA, resident and her web site is SailChallengeInspire.org.

Pat Seidenspinner holds the award, second from right, along with NWSA President Valli Cook, at left, BoatU.S.’s Susan Shingledecker, second from left, and Conference Chair Joan Thayer, at right. Underscoring that volunteer race managers are the backbone of competitive sailing, Patricia Harvey Seidenspinner of St. Petersburg, FL, was honored with the annual Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award at ceremonies capping the day-long Women’s Sailing Conference held June 7, 2008, at Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA. Both the award and the conference are sponsored by BoatUS and the National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA). The award 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. “Pat Seidenspinner has such an impressive list of ‘firsts’ in her sailing resume,” said BoatUS Assistant Vice President Susan Shingledecker in presenting the award with NWSA President Valli Cook. “She has given an extraordinary amount of her time and expertise to grow the sport and inspire more women and girls to get involved in racing. Beyond the local level, she’s also volunteered for national leadership positions to improve race management across the board,” added Shingledecker. Seidenspinner is a native of New York City who grew up in Rochester, NY, and enjoyed a career as a flight attendant with TWA. She and her husband sailed in their time off, but upon retirement to St. Petersburg, Seidenspinner became very active in race management and eventually managed many national and world sailing championships. She is a member of US SAILING’s Race Management Committee and is the editor of its Race Management Handbook. She served as Chairman of the Race Administration Committee, and as a member of both the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Among some of her “firsts” in her sailing career, she was: 1st female Principal Race Officer, Southern Ocean Racing Conference and many other championships at St. Petersburg Yacht Club 1st female appointed as International Race Officer by the International Sailing Federation 1st female Principal Race Officer at an Olympic Games 1st female Commodore of St. Petersburg Yacht Club.

Sadly, in June 2014, after a series of illnesses, Pat Seidenspinner passed away. She will be greatly missed.

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.”

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 at the fifth annual Women’s Sailing Conference held at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA. “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.

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. “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.

“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.” read more

Dawn Riley, is a world champion sailor who has made great strides in developing sailing outreach programs for young people. 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. She is currently the Executive Director of Oakcliff Sailing Center, dedicated to building American leaders through sailing.

Gail Hine, is one of the first female sailors in the U.S. to organize large-scale training events just for women. Thousands of women in California have either been introduced to sailing or improved their skills because of Gail’s efforts. She has a truly remarkable combination of sailing knowledge, organizational skills and, boundless energy. For over three decades Gail has volunteered her time to expand the sailing arena for women. Hine was one of the first women in California to be elected commodore of a yacht club, Palos Verdes, which later named a perpetual trophy for her. In 1990, she was the first woman to be named “Yachtsman of the Year” — the Peggy Slater Award — by the Southern California Yachting Association. She has served on boards and committees too numerous to list and has made a significant contribution to improving boating in California through legislative advocacy work when she served as president of Recreational Boaters of California, a statewide organization. She also served on the BoatUS National Advisory Council. Gail raced her Nightingale 24 in local regattas.

Betsy is the top-ranked U.S. women’s match racer holding 22 national and international titles, and mentor to young people in numerous sailing programs. As coach, Alison led the U.S. Disabled/ Paralympic sailing team to a Bronze medal. With her is Doris Colgate, at left, president of the National Women’s Sailing Association, and Becky Squires, director of public relations for BoatUS The annual award is jointly sponsored by NWSA and BoatUS. The 2000 recipient is Betsy Alison, one of the top-ranked women sailors in the U.S. and the world. She has the number one ranking in the U.S. for women’s match racing and is ranked second in the world. Her current goal is to win an Olympic medal in 2004 in the new women’s keelboat discipline in the Olympic Games to be held in Athens, Greece. But Betsy has done much more than race and much of her leadership has been in advising and coaching disabled sailors. She recently coached the U.S. Disabled/Paralympic Sailing Team to a bronze medal in Sydney. She has also volunteered her time to the National Women’s Sailing Association’s AdventureSail® program which reaches out to inner city and at-risk young women. Alison holds 22 national, international and world sailing titles.

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. 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