BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award

Congratulations to the 2020 honoree, Margaret Pommert

Margaret Pommert of Seattle, WA, was named the 2020 BoatUS/National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award recipient. The award recognizes an individual with a record of achievement in inspiring, educating, and enriching the lives of women through sailing. Pommert was honored at the June 6th OLÉ by NWSA President Debbie Huntsman. The award was presented to Margaret in a social distancing, virtual manner by Nancy Erley via Zoom. (Watch video below).

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.

Pommert has been called a force of nature for her unending enthusiasm for the sport and getting more women on the water, whether it be in a sailboat or a power boat, in a classroom, or just in conversation. She has been leading the Seattle Sailing Women’s Program since 2013, with monthly sails introducing a wide variety of boats, destinations, and fun adventures. Pommert encourages women to step up to new responsibilities, to expand their capabilities and confidence, and thus their horizons. NWSA President Debbie Huntsman adds ”In addition, Pommert has developed impressive, forward thinking on-line learning opportunities for bringing more women sailors into the fold as instructors and licensed mariners. In doing so she has truly shown exceptional leadership in women’s sailing and is most deserving of this award.”

The Leadership in Women’ s Sailing Award, co-sponsored by NWSA and BoatU.S.®, the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters, began in 1990. 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.

Award Recipients

 
The award will be made at the National Women’s Sailing Expo in 2021. Visit the Leadership Archives for photos and presentation articles on all our recipients.

Guidelines for Nominations

Objective: To encourage and recognise individuals who have made a lasting contribution to the interest of women’s sailing.

Guidelines & Procedures: Contributions must have long-range, national impact and encompass numerous years of involvement. 

1. The recipient can be a man or a woman who has made a lasting impact on women and sailing.
2. The recipient has multiple accomplishments which include sailing endeavours, over a period of years in the US.
3. Her/his work can be local, regional, or national, and should have a significant impact beyond a local area.
4. Her/his work should have advanced the sport of sailing and expanded opportunities for women, helped educate women or otherwise enriched women’s lives through sailing in the US.
5. This award is to be considered (a sort of) “lifetime achievement award.” Her/his impact on supporting or educating women in the sport of sailing is more than a personal accomplishment in competitive racing.

An NWSA member or organisation contact representative in good standing nominates an individual. The nomination is to be approved by a majority vote of the NSBC Board of Directors during any Board of Directors meeting where a quorum is present.

Application form (fill out entirely) must accompany the nomination. If you have any questions about the Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award, email [email protected]

Leadership in Womens Sailing Award Nomination Form

Nominations for the 2021 award are being accepted begining November 1 until Feb. 1, 2021.