Twenty-one U.S. Virgin Islands women will participate in a Coaching and Mentoring Women’s Sailing Course from Friday through Sunday at the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC). The Virgin Islands Sailing Association (VISA), which is a member association of the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (VIOC) and represents the sport of sailing in the territory and to the global governing body World Sailing, will host this event designed to get more women on the water sailing. The course will be led by Rebecca Ellis, an experienced and qualified UK-based World Sailing Coach developer.
“One of the successes in these events is the opportunity to get a range of women together from different areas, backgrounds and involvements in sailing and to share ideas and experiences that help to build their local programs,” says Ellis, who has spent the past two decades training others from beginners to instructors and coaching at regional, national, and international levels. “During the event, the plan is to hold a mix of discussions and practical sessions to build instructing and coaching skills and styles. For example, some of the discussion points we have planned are: How do we attract more women and girls to try sailing? And how do we meet the needs of a female athlete? Then, we will put these ideas into practice on the water using the IC24s.”
The IC24 is a design that originated at the St. Thomas Yacht Club after a series of hurricanes in the 1990s destroyed many boats. In essence, it is a ‘converted J/24’, where a J/24 hull is fitted with a new Melges 24-style deck mold that is wider, has no traveler and can carry five sailors. In essence, it is comfortable, yet highly competitive to sail.
Social activities include a dinner on Friday, Oct. 27, with St. Thomas-based keynote speakers, the Honorable Ruth Miller, an international judge with World Sailing.
Seven women sailors each from the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John will participate in the Coaching and Mentoring Women’s Sailing Course.
Sarah Swan of St. John learned to sail in the island’s Kids and the Sea (KATS) program and is now commodore of the St. John Yacht Club, which hosts regattas and sponsors kid’s sailing opportunities.
St. Thomas’ Emily Pearsall, a graphic designer by profession, wanted to participate in this course because although she sailed dinghies as a child, she didn’t have a racing team she could join. Now that she has two young daughters, she wanted a greater awareness of all the opportunities for young women in racing.
Emily Pearsall said, “In March of 2023, I raced in the STIR regatta with Cy Thompson and Maurice Kurg’s team, and we won the IC24 fleet. It inspired me to push myself a little harder to keep learning and practicing. I would like to inspire other women, especially my daughters, to be the ones driving the boats and to keep trying for the wins.”
From St. Croix, one of the attendees will be Molly Winkelman, who has sailed and instructed for forty-plus years and now sails everything from 9- to 101-foot sailboats, as well as helms power catamarans.
“Finding out all the names, faces, and contact information of the other sailing women will be a most welcome experience. The VI is a small community and the sailing community is even smaller. One of the biggest takeaways is that we will connect and be empowered to encourage other women to sail and join the industry,” said Winkelman.
Fostering Women in Sailing
For over a decade, World Sailing and the International Olympic Committee have focused on including women in all aspects of the sport with the goal of equal representation. The Caribbean is leading the way. Women run most of the regattas, many yacht clubs have women commodores, and introductory sailing programs are often taught by women.
This Coaching and Mentoring Women’s Sailing Course marks the third time VISA has hosted an Olympic Solidarity event. In 1995, San Martin held a highly successful course at the St. Croix Yacht Club focused on youth development with Cam Lewis, the 1993 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, as presenter. More recently, former STYC Commodore Dan Nicolosi held a course for coaches on St. Thomas.
Now, the timing is right for a focus on the development of women in the sport of sailing. This program brings together Virgin Islands women actively engaged in these activities, introduces them to the other aspects of the sport, and builds a support network.
The course is funded through an Olympic Solidarity Grant, plus funds from VISA, VIOC, STYC and World Sailing.
For more information, contact San Martin at 690-9040, julie@teamsanmartin.com or visit virginislandssailingassociation.com
