NWSA participates in Sail for America in New York Harbor.  

September 14, 2002(NYC)- Val Cook, Vice President and club member of Offshore Sailing School (OSS),  and several of her OSS club members sailed in a Colgate 26 from Chelsea Piers past the Verrazano Bridge. The boat flew the American Flag and a burgee to remember Robert Gerlich, a victim of September 11th.  The six women aboard, all representing NWSA, were proud to be part of such a commemorative moment. The day was picture perfect, the winds were gentle and the crowd of boats amassed from both directions, cluttering the harbor with hundreds of boats shortly after noon.

During the return to Liberty Landing, with the wind at their backs, Joan Thayer and Sue Corl, NWSA Board members from Marblehead, MA, coordinated the spinnaker efforts.  On the foredeck, Liz Garvin gingerly jibed the pole as the Colgate's red, white and blue spinnaker filled easily as the boat tacked downwind avoiding the heavy traffic.  






L to R: Myrna Farquhar, Liz Garvin, Val Cook, Sue Corl and Susan Lee.

Later that afternoon, Liz, Myrna Farquhar and Susan Lee and Lisa Chandler, led the NWSA contingent uptown near the Intrepid Aircraft.  The 13 boats and their skippers were preparing for the seven-month Around Alone Race that would begin Sunday, the 15th.  The women met Emma Richards, the only woman and the youngest competitor at age 27, in the race. The NWSA members wished Emma a safe and victorious voyage.  

Sue Corl, Lisa Chandler, Myrna Farquhar, Emma Richards (in teal), Susan Lee, Val Cook, Joan Thayer and Liz Garvin

Giving a warm send off to Emma.
 

 

NWSA to Share Office Space with US SAILING
New Coordinator Named

September 4, 2002 (Portsmouth, RI)—The National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) has a new home in the US SAILING Portsmouth, RI office. To accompany this move, NWSA has hired Anne Chapin (Barrington, RI) to serve as the organization’s full time Coordinator. In her new position, Chapin will administer NWSA programs, including "Take the Helm®" seminars and activities for women sailors and their partners.

The missions of the two organizations are related: US SAILING encourages participation and promotes excellence in sailing, while NWSA enriches the lives of women and girls through sailing education and access. Having the two administrative offices in the same location will facilitate both missions and help the two groups to work together. Each organization is governed by its own board of directors, but the two plan to hold their organizational meetings at the same time and place to encourage further discussions of shared issues and opportunities.

"NWSA is proud to be a partner with US SAILING and to be able to offer programs for the beginning and intermediate woman sailor," said NWSA President Diana Smith (Pleasant Ridge, MI).  "This partnership with US SAILING will help to keep women sailing as their skills grow.  US SAILING and NWSA have very similar goals—getting more people into sailing.  This alliance should give every woman sailor the broadest possible range of sailing opportunities."

Chapin is a graduate of St. Lawrence University and Boston College and earned an MBA in finance and marketing.  She has extensive experience in the banking and computer industries, and has owned her own business.  She also has experience in sales, marketing, purchasing, and event planning. An avid sailor, Chapin holds a 100 Ton Master's license.  She has racing and delivery experience, has been a sailing instructor, and organized the first all-women's boat in the 1999 Marion to Bermuda race.  "We are very excited to welcome Anne on board and know she brings all the right talents and unbridled enthusiasm for NWSA and our future plans," said Smith.

NWSA was founded in 1990 by Doris Colgate, who started the Take the Helm® workshops and seminars in 1994. Since its inception, over 3000 women and their sailing partners have participated in these workshops. NWSA was previously headquartered in Ft. Myers, FL.

"US SAILING is happy to work with this eager group of active sailors," said US SAILING President David Rosekrans (Cincinnati, OH). "The NWSA program offerings fit well with our training and safety programs, but add special attention to women and intermediate sailors."

NWSA is now planning their signature seminar series, Take the Helm® for the winter boat show season and continues to offer diesel Engine Workshops for women around the country. They will offer one or more flotilla/cruises in the spring. Adventure Sail® programs for at-risk youth are offered throughout the year in various locations. NWSA members enjoy networking events and a regular newsletter of information about sailing and the sailing lifestyle.

Chapin can be reached in the Portsmouth office at 401-682-2064 (toll free) or 401-682-2064; the fax number is 401-682-2067; or email her at wsf@womensailing.org. Additional information about the NWSA is available at www.womensailing.org.

For more information about US SAILING, visit www.ussailing.org.

 

March 2002
 NWSA Annual Meeting; Partnership with US SAILING 

NWSA will hold a strategic planning meeting at its annual meeting in Colorado Springs, CO, March 14th. The outcome will produce a business plan for the next two years, with more programs and fun events for NWSA members. The meeting will be followed by two days of meetings with the Women's Sailing Committee of US SAILING to work on the new partnership. We believe the partnership will provide NWSA members with access to programs we do not now provide and likewise provide women in US SAILING with access to our programs.

January 2002
Hine awarded Leadership in Women's Sailing Award 

Gail Hine, one of the first female sailors in the U.S. to organize large-scale training events for women, was awarded the third Leadership in Women's Sailing Award at Sail Expo in Atlantic City, NY, in January. Hine has worked for 30 years to expand sailing opportunities for women. She recently completed running the 13th annual Women's Sailing Convention in Corona del Mar, CA in February. This event brought together over 300 women for a day of workshops on and off the water. Hine was the first female commodore of her yacht club, served as president of Recreational Boaters of California and was on the BoatU.S. National Advisory Council. Hine was named Yachtsman of the Year receiving the Peggy Slater Award in 1990 by the Southern California Yachting Association and received the Hine still races her Nightingale 24 in local regattas. 


Left to right: Doris Colgate (NWSA), Gail Hine, Elaine Dickinson (BoatUS)