Sailing is a family affair for third generation sailor, Tara Macaulay. See Member of the Month below…
It’s been a tough month for Florida and the Appalachians as far as extreme weather. The National Women’s Sailing Association is firmly planning on coming to St. Petersburg, FL in June for our 2025 conference. We expect things to be much improved by that time and want to bring our support and dollars to the community. In the meantime, though, please know our thoughts and prayers are with all these communities as they rebuild.
You have new executive members serving on our board:
- Debby Grimm — President
- Claire Wyngaard — Vice-President
- Erica Trejo— Secretary
- Ame Flynn— Treasurer
Thank you Naomi Emmerson for serving on the board and as Secretary for the past few years. Debbie Huntsman also ended her service on the executive committee, but will continue as a Director and chair of the Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award and editor of your newsletter. Linda Newland, Barbara Morris, Jodie Weinbecker, Kris Self and Marie Rogers also continue as hard working Directors. We look forward to another successful year of doing the work to get more women sailing.
Nominations for the prestigious BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award are being accepted now, until Feb. 1, 2025. 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. If you have previously nominated a person, let us know if you would like to update their resume for continued consideration. If you know of a person who has significantly impacted women’s sailing, please nominate your sailing hero.
Let us know of any special sailing events or recognitions we can share with the larger group. Saturday, I raced in the Pink Ribbon Regatta with the theme — Think Pink! Boats were awarded extra handicap seconds by costuming/decorating or buying the time. It’s a “fun”draising race for sure.
Let’s go Sailing!
President Debby Grimm
This social and spooky She Sailor Sea Story episode is
a FREE ZOOM (online) Event
Social spooky seasonal she sailor storytelling
NWSA will host a virtual happy hour for women sailors to socialize (as you do on VHF) and an open chat. We will provide an open mic for spontaneous Spooky Sailing Storytelling or to share your women’s sailing news. It is free, fun and a great way to connect with other women sailors and reunite with old friends from around our watery world.
Sponsored by Allstate Sugar Bowl
Tara Macaulay — NWSA’s October 2024 Member of the Month
Tara Macaulay hails from Halifax NS Canada. She gained interest in sailing as an 8-year-old. Her older brother started a sailing program but she was not old enough to attend. She begged and pleaded until the program allowed her to attend. Now she is a third generation sailor. Her grandparents were sailors and her dad sailed as a kid. But Tara’s not the last generation of sailors in her family. Macaulay’s three children are sailors and have competed internationally in Optimist, International 420, 29er, Waszp and SSL. Two of her children are racing on Farr 30 and Farr 40 and are sometimes on the start line competing against each other. Mom says, “Super fun.” The Macaulay family had the luxury of spending lots of time on Tara’s parent’s keelboat where husband Bruce and kids; Jackson, Finlay and Riley acquired a love for the sport. READ MORE ON OUR BLOG
Women’s Sailing Foundation Board of Directors
Thank you to Naomi Emmerson, The Desert Sailor from boatLUV, for her dedication, ingenuity and good humor while handling the needs as Secretary for WSF and NWSA. Naomi also took on the roles as the organization’s IT person, posting on social media, creating video and other content, updating the website, instructing at our conferences and much, much more. We hope to see Naomi often as an instructor and a stalwart supporter of women’s sailing. Her enthusiasm and work ethic was contagious. BZ Naomi. Thank you for all you did to keep NWSA humming along.
To fill her shoes we are seeking anther hard working director who has creative skills and experience in managing communications on social media, website maintenance and content creation.
If you have a passion for sailing, want to give back to the sport and support women sailors, apply here.
BoatUS/NWSA
Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award
The National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) and Boat Owner’s Association of The United States ( BoatUS ) have opened nominations for the 2025 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award. Since 1999 the national award has sought to recognize an individual with a record of achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing. Past recipients have included sailing instructors, writers, sailboat racers and cruisers, marine industry professionals and boating club leaders from a wide variety of professions.
Nominations are being accepted at the NWSA Leadership Award Webpagethrough February 1, 2025. The 2025 recipient will be announced at the Annual National Women’s Sailing Association conference luncheon in St. Petersburg, Florida on June 7, 2025.
Said NWSA President Debby Grimm, “We are proud to recognize the contributions women have made to the sailing community and encouraging women’s participation in the sport.” Speaking to NWSA’s partnership with BoatUS, Grimm added, “We seek to introduce more women to sailing, a lifetime sport and healthy lifestyle to share with others. Sailing teaches leadership skills, STEM skills, teambuilding and promotes enjoyment of nature and the responsibility. Both of our organizations help nurture the skills and sense of community to help sailors grow through their boating lives.”
WOMENS SAILING EVENTS IN OCTOBER 2024
Sat, October 26 – Sun, October 27
An exciting and empowering weekend of women, water, and wind! On and off the water instruction by an experienced sailing instructors! Designed for women of all skill levels, the Ladies Sailing Seminar features session options for beginners and experienced sailors alike including… Sailing 101, Racing rules, best practices, and strategies, cruising and living aboard, safety, maintenance, and repairs, introduction to sailing, docking and anchoring, driving, crewing, and sail trim, boat charter basics
October 26, 2024
Online, RSVP required
She Sailor Sea Story — WOooo!
October 27, 2024
Nevada Yacht Club, Lake Mead, NV
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