Inaugural Northwest Take the Helm® Women’s
Sailing Conference
Gets Off to a Great Start
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On August 2, 2008 75 women
from Oregon, Washington, California, Texas, New York, Arkansas and Massachusetts
descended on Port Townsend Yacht Club in Washington State for the Inaugural
Women’s Sailing Conference on the West Coast. The 51 participants, 15 workshop
leaders and 10 other volunteers enjoyed a continental breakfast and were
welcomed by Event Chair Linda Newland and Commodore Dave Weeding of Port
Townsend Yacht Club. Workshop leaders came from local areas as well as
California. Many are US Coast Guard licensed and are certified as professional
sailing educators.
NWSA President Valli Cook
(NY) and Vice President Joan Thayer (MA) flew in to support the event. Val
welcomed the participants. She thanked BoatU.S. for providing the primary
sponsorship.
Participants gave high
marks to the various workshops which included charting, knot tying, GPS
navigation, sail trim at the dock and on the water, helming a boat, learning
crew overboard recovery procedures in 10 knot winds on picturesque Port Townsend
Bay surrounded by the Olympic Mountains to the West and Cascades to the East.

Nancy Erley, locally and
nationally known as a two time circumnavigator, was the keynote speaker in
addition to leading several workshops. She showed video clips from her
circumnavigations that were crewed solely by women. Interspersing the video with
compelling stories of the challenges met and conquered by the crew, Nancy
mesmerized the women. In 2006 Nancy received the Leadership in Women’s Sailing
award sponsored by NWSA and BoatU.S. She has taught sailing and seamanship
skills widely throughout the Northwest.
The day ended with a wine
and cheese reception. Seafaring music was played by “Tuesday Morning” with Betty
Sleeth on guitar and Marilyn Bruner on keyboard. Both women were also workshop
leaders. Raffle prize winners were announced during the reception. All
proceeds fund the NWSA AdventureSail® program for at risk girls ages 9-14.
The enthusiastic women
enjoyed the skill-building classes, but of equal importance was the confidence
building they acquired working with other women and the ability to network for
future sailing opportunities.
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Congratulations
to Maureen McKinnon-Tucker, of
Marblehead, MA, the first female to win the gold in the
sailing arena at the 2009 Paralympics in China recently.
Maureen teamed up with Nick Scandone in the SKUD.
>READ
MORE
Congratulations
to
Vicki Sodaro , of Tiburon,
CA, on her win for the Adams Cup, the US SAILING Women’s Sailing
Championship. This is Vicki’s 3rd win for the
prestigious trophy.
>READ MORE

Mystic Whaler Learn to Navigate, Sept 5-7 was
wonderful. Twelve women had the full attention of
instructor, Sue LaVoie, and the run of the schooner helping
Capt. John Eginton and his crew. photos and more details
later. We'll keep the registration form up for a while.
Click here for the Registration Form.

AdventureSail® in Sag Harbor brings
more smiles! >read more
The 12th AdventureSail® at
Courageous Sailing Center was held June 14th with the Big and
Little Sisters of Greater Boston.
Click here for photos and summary
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ALL SMILES FOR THE 7th
Women's Sailing Conference at the Corinthian
Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA, on June 7th.
Click here for details
NWSA appreciates the financial
support of various companies and organizations for the
conference. Click here

January 2008. Darthea
Hoss Collins, of Hingham, Massachusetts, joined the board of
NWSA and also was elected Secretary, filling the position left
by the death of Sue Corl last March. We are delighted to
have Dar's enthusiasm for sailing and her extensive
administrative experience.
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