Credit: Jan Pehrson || © JanPehrson.com
Congratulations to the 2025 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women's Sailing Award recipient Kathy Sinnett
NWSA and BoatU.S. presented the Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award on June 7, 2025 at the National Women's Sailing Association Conference at the University of South Florida St Petersburg.
This year’s recipient, Kathy Sinnett, of Daytona Beach, Florida, has demonstrated exceptional skill, leadership, and dedication to promoting opportunities for women to embrace the joy and challenge of the sport of sailing. Her leadership has inspired countless sailors through her passion and perseverance.
At the 2025 Annual National Women’s Sailing Conference Presented by American Sailing at the University of South Florida St Petersburg, the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) and the National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) honored Kathy Sinnett with an annual award recognizing her record of achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing.
Sinnett grew up on the water, first racing Snipes with her father, then teaching and racing at the University of Wisconsin. Her career decision to move to Alaska did not tamp down her desire to sail. “Who cares if the water is frozen—I’m from Wisconsin,” Kathy recalled as she told of her adventures sailing her DN iceboat up the Kuskokwim River. After accepting a position as a public health nurse in Ketchikan, Alaska, she found a spot on an all-women’s keelboat on which she shared her knowledge while honing her leadership in Alaska’s wet, cold and challenging environment.
As a Coast Guard spouse, Kathy Sinnett moved often and kept sailing as an integrable part of her life. Wherever she went she brought her enthusiasm for skilled seamanship and sailing to the community. She was honored for her leadership and skill wherever she sailed. Right: She spearheaded the Ideal Women program at the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club. As a thank you from the Club an Ideal was named in her honor.
Throughout the years moving coast to coast as a US Coast Guard spouse, Sinnett created opportunities of connection for other women through sailing and racing on dinghies, keelboats and offshore boats. Sinnett spearheaded the long-running Ideal Women program at the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club (SHYC) and the new group, the Windward Women at the Halifax Sailing Association in Daytona Beach, FL. Through a networking event she organized, she encouraged the Windward Women and the Sailing Sisters of St. Augustine to join and to strengthen the Florida Women’s Sailing Association.
In 2019 Sinnett was honored with the Tucker and Sandy Bragdon Trophy for substantial contributions to SHYC’s sailing programs and in 2020 with the George Shuck Award recognizing her leadership in the club. At the Halifax Sailing Association, she holds a position on the leadership team.
Left: Kathy Sinnett is at ease on a Sunfish or a tall ship. Right: In 2020 Sinnett (center) was honored with the George Shuck Award recognizing her leadership in the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club.
Kathy is proud to say, “We grow competence and confidence on the water in women in all of the groups and we strengthen connections between us as and we focus not only on sailing, but environmental issues and giving back to our community.” Her commitment to creating long-lasting developmental sailing and racing programs for women wherever she lives exemplifies the spirit of the Leadership in Women's Sailing award.
NWSA President, Debby Grimm remarks, “Kathy has a gentle but firm nature to lead with enthusiasm while learning. Her ‘can-do’ attitude makes others ask how they can become involved.”
BoatUS President, Heather Lougheed affirmed, “We are proud to partner with NWSA to get the word out to aspiring women sailors that this healthy lifetime sport can be rewarding and life-enriching. Once you get started, you have to share it!”
BoatUS Press Release available here.
