Honoring International Women’s Day with Resources for Boating Women

Google.com is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day with “Join Women on the Bridge”

“We invite you to join tens of thousands of people coming together on bridges all over the world — from the Millennium Bridge in London, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, to the Grand Barriere Bridge joining Rwanda and Congo — to show your support for women’s causes and celebrate women’s achievements.”

YourCruisingEditor is one of those women on the bridge – of a boat – that is! As a way to celebrate women on the bridges of various boats, I offer the following resources for women everywhere who share the love of boating:

• Women and Cruising
  This website is designed to help you discover the joys and hardships of the cruising lifestyle. “We do this by sharing our experiences and inviting other women cruisers to share theirs as well. It’s about making friends, making cruising our own, and getting out on the water and enjoying our lives!”
• MadMariners’ Women in Boating Series
• Women on the Water (WOW) with Pam Wall
  A fabulous week of sailing in the perfection of Gorda Sound in the British Virgin Islands. This yearly event invites women from all over the country, and the world, to come and spend a week in paradise at the Bitter End Yacht Club and at the same time have sailing instruction for women by women.
• Women in Boating at BoatU.S. – A good resource for upcoming events for women
• Womanship – The Sailing School for Women
  “Since 1984, the first and leading sailing school designed by women, for women. Customized instruction for couples, families, corporate and social groups; Young Womanship 7th to 12th grade classes. Womanship brings together women of all ages – 18 to 82, so far – from diverse backgrounds, from every part of the world, in harmonious collaboration and in a conducive learning environment, to take part in a sailing journey of self discovery, self fulfillment and the acquisition of real skills, real strengths, the ability to team and to lead, in harmony with nature. Your path from student to take-charge skipper begins with Womanship. Start now and picture yourself at the helm.”
• SeaSense Boating School
  There is nothing as good as training and hands-on experience to make someone feel more comfortable doing something. Sea Sense offers women-only boating courses covering both sailing and powerboating including their popular trawler course.
  “There is a comfortable feeling learning with your peers. You’ll enjoy being with a group of women who are in the same situation, with the same questions that you may have. With no men aboard to politely “do” for you, you learn all the things you are capable of. SEA SENSE will teach you all aspects of boating, from the helm to the deck to the engine room to the chart table.”
  
• Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing! (LLGF)
  A national organization dedicated to attracting more women to sportfishing and to promoting conservation and responsible angling. LLGF especially promotes networking among women anglers and emphasizes mentorship between novice and experienced members. The LLGF organization has over 5,000 graduates so far and lots of groups around the country.  With four seminars all in various parts of Florida, you’ll find the perfect environment for learning and fun!
• The National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) – Dedicated to enriching the lives of women and girls through education and access to the sport of sailing.
  The National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) was founded in 1990 with a goal of providing opportunities for women to learn and enhance their sailing skills and have fun and meet others at the same time. More than 20 years later, the Massachusetts-based organization still has the same mission and has helped countless women enjoy sailing. For more information about the NWSA’s Take The Helm® and AdventureSail® programs, please visit their website.
• More Resources available through FirstBoat.com

 

Support your local women sailing or boating organizations today and every day!

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Search Ends for Lost Caribbean 1500 Woman Sailor in Abacos

Laura on a sailboat. Courtesy of Toni Ralston

Tuesday, Nov 16, 2010 – “The Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) continues the search for Laura Zekoll”
– – From Caribbean 1500 News.

“Cruising Rally Association reported on Monday crew member search and rescue mission is continuing for sailing vessel Rule 62, crew member, Laura Zekoll. (Updated by Richard Ross at 3:30pm EST).

November 15, 2010…Cruising Rally Association (CRA), Hampton, VA…Steve Black, owner of Cruising Rally Association, announced today that crew member onboard sailing vessel Rule 62, Laura Zekoll from Atlanta, GA is the subject of a search and rescue mission by the US Coast Guard and The Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA).

The news of the search was received by CRA mid-day on Sunday, November 14, 2010 from boat owner, Richard Ross. The emergency contact information for Laura Zekoll, was communicated to the Coast Guard who notified her contact that a search was in process. The notice of the search was shared with the fleet on Monday morning, during the radio check-in at 07:00 hours AST (Atlantic Standard Time).

The owners of sailing vessel Rule 62, Richard and Debra Ross, also from Atlanta, GA, communicated earlier that they had made a decision to leave the fleet and divert to the Bahamas.  During the radio check-in on Saturday at 19:00 hours AST, Richard reported a position near the Bahamas.   According to the satellite transponder provided by the CRA to each vessel in the fleet, Rule 62 had stopped moving when the transponder reported at 20:56 hours AST Saturday, November 13.

Black said, “with great sadness, we report that Rule 62, a Jeanneau 46DS, was swamped while attempting entry into the Bahamas. Richard and crew Laura Zekoll were washed overboard and recovered. The life raft was launched. Richard, Debra, Laura, and a fourth crew member, David Sheppard from Ellsworth, Maine entered the life raft with life jackets on and attempted to row it to safety. The life raft subsequently overturned in swells. Richard, Debra, and David were separated from Laura and washed up on the beach”

Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the U.S. Coast Guard ended its search for the Laura Zekoll, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia.The Coast Guard employed a Jayhawk helicopter, Dolphin helicopter and C-130 airplane in its search and rescue mission. Chief Petty Officer Russell Tippets of the 7th Coast Guard District located in Miami, Florida stated, “After 25 hours of searching and covering more than 1,600 square miles, our search and rescue coordinators felt they had done everything possible to find this missing person.”

The boat is currently on a reef in the Bahamas. Richard and Debra Ross and Sheppard were airlifted to safety after their emergency signal was received by the Coast Guard.

The sailing vessel Rule 62, is part of a fleet of 65 sailing vessels, the majority of the fleet is still at sea.  The fleet departed Hampton, VA on November 8, 2010 in route to the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Eleven other boats left Hampton VA in the Bahamas Class headed for Marsh Harbor. This is the 21st year of the annual passage.”

Laura is a sailor and CEO & Founder at Advantage Computer Age, a website design company based in Atlanta. Friends and family took part in a vigil Tuesday evening at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Midtown, lighting candles as it concluded.

In their SailBlog, the crew of S/V Sunrise who also participated in the Caribbean 1500 wrote, “Our hearts really go out to them as we had a taste of what they must have gone through. We diverted after only 24 hours, they were out for 5 days in very rough conditions, which is exhausting. We were able to let the Monitor Wind Vane steer, the four on Rule 62 had to hand steer for two days after their Autopilot failed (we heard them trying to trouble shoot it with another boat on the SSB). Hand steering in a big swell and gale conditions is physically exhausting. We had daylight to make our inlet, they were in the dark. We had current, wind and waves with us: Rule 62 had the current against the waves and wind… something that creates what the Bahamians call a “Rage”, very intense conditions.”

Watch Video from Fox Atlanta

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/atlanta-woman-goes-missing-on-sailing-trip-111510

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Sailing Women are Invited to Join the Fun & Excitement in St. Thomas, March 2011

Escape the winter blahs and join the fun and excitement of participating with an all-woman crew
in beautiful St. Thomas, USVI, March 2011

Sausalito, California – October 7, 2010 – Safe Passage Sailing, LLC invites you to “sail with the best” in a world class regatta with world class skipper and mentor Suzette Smith, leading an all women’s crew. This will be an experience not to be missed!

Whether it’s the adventure of cruising or the excitement of racing, there’s no place like being on a Safe Passage Sailing Charter. If you’re an intermediate to advanced female sailor, now you have the opportunity to join in on all the fun of the 38th International Rolex Regatta. The only requirement – Just The Desire To Be Part of the Team, Race and Have Fun!

The St. Thomas Yacht Club and title sponsor Rolex are the hosts for this regatta known as the “Crown Jewel” of Caribbean racing that boasts “reliable breezes, warm azure waters and world-renowned Island hospitality.”

SPS Program includes:
• Exclusive charter of a Swan 51’ – Northern Child
• 2 race training days, lay day, 3 race days
• Racing pro (Suzette Smith), licensed skipper, 1st mate and additional racing support crew (see below)
• All race registration/entry fees
• All berthing fees, fuel, on/off shore maintenance support
• Race equipment including spinnakers
• Breakfast at the St. Thomas YC on race days
• Lunch, snacks and beverages each day on the boat
• SPS stow bag with shirts, hats, and other gifts for each guest
• Event management
• Event and crew photographs
• Transportation will be provided/arranged from/to airport, marina to YC parties

Program Cost: $3275 per person
Participants: 11 maximum
Register now to ensure your spot. Accommodations and airfare not included. Group hotel accommodations and transportation options TBA.

 

 

Racing Pro Suzette Smith International Racing and Cruising Specialist will be onboard Northern Child in the role as coach/mentor. Suzette Smith is a seasoned licensed charter captain with a USCG Masters 100 ton and ASA certified instructor on boats 38’-70’+. In 2006 she was named ASA’s “Outstanding National Instructor of the Year.”

Ms Smith has participated in numerous high caliber sailing campaigns such as Team Pegasus, the first and only all-woman America’s Cup team, America 3, which raced in the 1995 America‘s Cup defenders series, as well as other notable regattas around the world.

Additional Crew:
RYA licensed Skipper/Owner Christian Reynolds and First Mate Lucy Jones will be onboard to assist and facilitate during the regatta.

SPS Rolex Regatta Itinerary
Arrive – Monday, March 21
SPS welcome reception at the St. Thomas Yacht Club to meet your mentor and crew, and enjoy beer, wine and Hors d’oeuvres.
Tuesday – March 22
Training day 1
Wednesday – March 23
Training day 2
Thursday – March 24
Lay day, Rolex welcome reception at the Yacht Club
Friday – March 25
Race day 1 – Harbor Race. The morning course offers a downwind start and stretches to Charlotte Amalie Harbor, giving racers an opportunity to see St. Thomas’ beautiful and historic capital. The afternoon race starts in town and finishes back at the yacht club and festivities.
Saturday – March 26
Race day 2 – St. John Race. Round-the-rocks racing takes you along the south shore of beautiful St. John finishes back at the yacht club and festivities.
Sunday – March 27
Race day 3 – Pillsbury Sound Race. The final day’s racing takes place on scenic Pillsbury Sound, in and around the beautiful Cays.
The Rolex Awards Ceremony takes place on the beach Sunday evening highlighted by the presentation of an abundance of prizes and video by t2p.tv.

 

The S/Y Norther Child

 

About Northern Child
Northern Child was built in 1984 for an Italian owner, who has since become the owner of Nautor Swan. She is one of naval architect German Frers’ outstanding all-round designs and shares the same performance pedigree of Blizzard, a famous 51’ Admiral’s Cup racer, except that Northern Child was also fitted with a lavish cruising interior and the hull sections were enlarged to accommodate the increase in displacement. Fast and easy to sail, Northern Child is a fine balance between a racing and cruising yacht.

Racing Resume
• Northern Child recently recorded her fastest transatlantic crossing during ARC 2009 and was placed 5th in class
• Placed 12th out of 50 in JP Morgan Round the Island Race 2010
• Top Swan Yacht in the BVI Spring Regatta 2008
• 3rd in class & highest placed Swan Yacht in ASW 2009
• 1st in class and second overall on the ARC 2008
• Swan Transatlantic Challenge Trophy

For more information regarding SPS “Sailing with the Best” events, or to register for this event, please visit our website at www.safepassagesailing.com. Please feel free to call or e-mail SPS for more information:
Randee Fowler
Safe Passage Sailing
415/381-4773 direct
415/637-4051 mobile
rfowler@safepassagesailing.com

You can download our Press Release HERE!

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Angels of the Seas creates conservation contest

Angels of the Seas, a campaign focused on conservation projects, has launched a conservation contest to allow individuals, corporations, conservation groups, grass-roots organizations and tournaments to compete for honors for their efforts in conservation, the company stated in a press release.

Betty Bauman (right), Nancy Birnbaum (bottom) shark huggers!

The founder of Angels of the Seas, Betty Bauman, started the campaign in order to increase the number of conservation projects.

Bauman is founder of the “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” Seminars series held annually thoughout Florida, knows just how important conservation is.

“Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!”has focused on conservation at the seminars and now, through its parent company’s alliance with the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) we are launching the Angels of the Seas Conservation Initiative, where you can create a conservation or awareness project and be recognized for it. No matter how big or small, every effort counts.

“Right now, especially with the Gulf Oil spill, the nation has become focused on the importance of marine conservation. It’s time for those who make a difference to be recognized with a Nobel-style program,” she stated in the release.

Joining with Save Our Seas Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting conservation, the campaign allows organizations to submit their conservation projects for honors at the Miami Boat Show in February 2011 through Web-based entries into different categories. Organizations, individuals and groups can request an entry form by e-mailing AngelsOfTheSeas@gmail.com.

“We have decided to open this contest to the entire marine industry and organizations, as the more people we have starting conservation projects, the better it is for marine life,”  Bauman stated in the release.

You have until Jan. 15, 2011 to complete your project. There will be two tiers of awards, Interim Honors and Final Awards. Projects that have submitted web pages and have made progress by Oct. 15, 2010 will be eligible for Interim Honors at the Islamorada seminar kickoff event on November 12, and still be eligible for final awards (submit web pages by Jan. 15) made at the Miami Boat Show February 17-21, 2011.

Pick your favorite marine issue and do something about it! It can be as easy as organizing a group to gather litter from the water or writing a web-based educational flier, poster or booklet about conservation that you can also print and distribute.
They have also included conservation education so that individuals can participate, and spread marine stewardship behaviors to communities. There’s even a category for existing conservation groups to compete head-to-head.

This is a call-to-action is aimed at grass-roots levels. In the spirit of conservation, this is open to women’s teams as well as mixed teams.

For details and to enter, go to: Angels of the Seas Conservation Initiative,

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