Next AdventureSail® Day is Sat. August 8, 2026
or a date you choose!
ABOUT ADVENTURESAIL®
MAKING CHANGES COME ABOUT®
AdventureSail®, a cornerstone of Women's Sailing Foundation/NWSA for over two decades, aims to nurture the next generation of female sailors. Recognizing the importance of early sailing opportunities and overcoming barriers preventing young women and girls from accessing the water, NWSA partners with US Sailing to expand the program nationwide.
We offer guidance on making sailing more accessible to young women ages 9-14. Every girl deserves the chance to discover the joy of sailing.
AdventureSail® Day
- To enrich America’s young under-served girls’ lives through sailing, emphasizing diversity and inclusion. To open their eyes to positive possibilities and encourage affirmative life choices. To develop self-confidence and introduce career paths in the marine industry and related sciences.
- Local organizations provide boats, qualified volunteer instructors, and other sailing activities. The activities are fun, educational, and mostly led by young women, offering positive female role models.
- The program is free and unique to each location. The host organization provides boats and the agenda. Some events have guest speakers, while others use small or cruising boats. Some engage in spirited competition. Current and past AdventureSail® events showcase the variety of events, with enthusiastic and smiling girls, some of whom may be getting on the water for the first time.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
- Identify and make an agreement with a venue for the event
- Fill out the Host Questionnaire
- Complete The AdventureSail Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Guidelines To Host.
- Download suggested checklist for an AdventureSail® Day
- Download graphic for social media
- Sow a seed on career paths and opportunities that involve the marine industry, marine related sciences
- Provide positive role models on and off the water
- Share team building activities
- Offer application for Learn-to-Sail scholarships to participating girls
- Learn-to-Sail scholarship application
Application
- Send AdventureSail® group photo with WSF banner and summary of the day with highlights to adventuresail@womensailing.org.
- Post pictures and summaries of AdventureSail® Day on social media and your website with #nwsa, #adventuresail.
- Send any hard copy waivers to adventuresail@womensailing.org.
- Submit an Expense Form with receipts for reimbursement up to $300 for food and incidentals, not personal services, venue rent, or boat rentals.
- We encourage you to write a letter of recommendation for one girl to apply for a Learn-to-Sail scholarship
- Send thank you notes to boat captains, host venue, keynote speaker, volunteers, the girls’ organization cc to group leader.
Waivers are mandatory for all participants, including girls and volunteers.
Click on the state where your event will be held to find and complete the waiver.
California
Dana Point Harbor, CA
Women’s Sailing Assoc of Orange County
Ventura Yacht Club, Ventura, CA
Channel Islands Women’s Sailing Association
Florida
Illinois
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Charlestown, MA
New York
Kingston, NY
Rhode Island
Texas
Virgina
Wisconsin
HISTORY OF ADVENTURESAIL®
In 1996, Doris Colgate introduced AdventureSail®, a mentoring program for at-risk girls aged 9-14 through the National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA). Since then, over 150 girls nationwide have been introduced to sailing annually. Local sailing clubs, yacht clubs, and partnering associations volunteer to offer sailing to girls who wouldn’t otherwise have the chance. The program’s flexibility allows host facilities to determine activities and boats.
Skills like teamwork, environmental stewardship, leadership, responsibility, self-esteem, authority, respect, and education are emphasized to help girls succeed. AdventureSail® continues to expand to new areas and involve more girl-serving organizations.
In 1996, the Women’s Sailing Foundation (WSF) was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization, serving as the legal and parent company of AdventureSail®.
FUNDING ADVENTURESAIL®
- 100% of the program is funded through individual donations
- Funds are also raised at the AdventureSail® fundraiser silent auction and raffle held at the NWSA national conference
- Donations of product (such as food or swag) at the event
- Everyone who works with the program is a volunteer
For Tax-deductible contributions click on the "Donate" button above.
AdventureSail® is a program of the Women’s Sailing Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. The program is sustained by charitable donations of any amount.