You Sail Like A Girl
Inspiration For Women To Take The Helm
Published: Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Whenever I arrive with a group at a charter base, some guy walks up to the nearest greybeard, sticks out his hand, and says, “You must be the captain.” The base manager’s surprise is hard to hide when he finds out it’s me.
Women on boats are still few and far between so maybe a bit of inspiration will help. It doesn’t matter how many sea miles you’ve logged, you can always find an inspirational push to nudge you higher and get you to dream bigger. I found some inspiring gals at the finish line of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) in St. Lucia after they had just crossed the Atlantic.
This year’s ARC included 261 boats that sailed +/- 3,000 nautical miles from Las Palmas on Gran Canaria to Rodney Bay Marina on St. Lucia. Approximately 25% of the 1,000+ participants were female including a few first-time skippers. Here are a few great stories to keep you reaching for more.
Mother & Daughter Make it Happen on Bimble
Nina and her husband, Stephen, set their sights on cruising the Caribbean to escape a long and dreary UK winter so they purchased a new Catana 42 catamaran in France. Instead of following Stephan’s suggestion to have the boat delivered from the factory to the islands, Nina decided to take on the journey with her daughter who works on superyachts. Eventually, Stephan decided to come along but Nina remained the skipper – a first in their long cruising relationship.
Over the journey’s 18 days, Nina learned about the burden of command, including giving her crew space to express their opinions, but then making the final decision. Her secret was preparation and having a contingency plan for absolutely every scenario in a neatly organized binder. In the end, they didn’t have a plan for a bilge full of diesel, but they managed, and Bimble crossed the finish line with a newly-minted skipper.
Stef, the RYA Instructor
I caught up with the crew of a 1992 Sigma 38, not surprisingly at the bar of the St. Lucia Yacht Club. A lively bunch of Millennials, this crew of five hadn’t stopped partying since the finish of their 18+ day journey. Stef, the only woman aboard, was also an RYA instructor – no small feat.
On passage, they kept a loose duty roster with few rules other than whoever cleaned up the morning’s breakfast dishes received the chocolate from their advent calendar and got to choose a Christmas carol to sing that night. On arrival, this was perhaps the most spirited group, with Stef never shying away from party plans. Underway, they kept up with everyone on the radio.
“Once we arrived, it was nice to finally put faces to the voices we heard on the SSB every night,” said Stef, who crossed an ocean for the first, but definitely not the last, time – an inspiration to all the guys aboard.
Christina’s Military Precision
As I stepped aboard Glittra, a Hallberg-Rassy 43, I commented on Christina and Jan’s nice new boat only to be told that the boat was 16 years old. As I admired the pristine condition, I was told it was due to Christina’s military background. Absolutely nothing was out of place and the crew looked like they’d just taken a walk in the park rather than having sailed for nearly three straight weeks.
Although allowed to, Glittra never motored and therefore made the crossing fossil-free. There were only three in the watch-standing rotation but none looked worse for the wear. Christina’s favorite part was her stargazing app. She noted that a she never dreamt a crossing could be so good.
Finland’s Female
Perhaps the most notorious boat in the harbor was Carissa, carrying eight women aboard a chartered 1980 Swan 441. “Finland’s Females” prepared for this adventure for two years and finally crossed with their 70-year-old skipper who didn’t start sailing until she turned 40. They seemed in very good spirits after their 20+ day journey despite having had no watermaker and each living out of a tiny duffel, which was all they were allowed.
They attributed their success to good preparation and asking for help when learning tasks like diesel mechanics and sail repair. “Men don’t ask for help,” said Petra as she spliced a line. “We took classes and got practical skills. It’s the way women go to sea.”
Zero to Captain
Finally, there’s me. Now, I’m not even suggesting that I’m inspirational but I do have a story that may be. I didn’t start sailing until I was 29, but I took to it with such gusto that, eventually, I sat for my USCG 100-ton Master exam and now I’m hip-deep in marine business as an insider and industry professional. I’m not sure I’d recommend working in this business mostly because it’s long hours for short dollars but I could never love a job more than mine, especially when I’m interviewing remarkable women over a cocktail in St. Lucia.
Get Out There
If you love sailing or boating, there are ways to get on the water without much cash outlay. You can join a rental/charter club like Freedom Boat Club with 145 locations around the country so you have reciprocals when on vacation elsewhere. You can also participate in fractional boat ownership, which isn’t cheap but it’s far less than actual boat ownership.
Try making friends at the local yacht club where boat owning captains are always looking for race crew and racing is a great way to learn. The Chicago Yacht Club’s Mackinac race takes boats from Chicago to Mackinaw in July. 
It’s a popular (but not easy) race with lots of sailboats and skippers.
Sometimes it’s best to pair sea time with formal instruction, in which case you can enroll at the Offshore Sailing School or Sea School. American Sailing Association (ASA) certified schools are all around the country, including the Great Lakes.
Finally, the fastest way to meet boaters is in a marina and the cheapest way to go boating is on someone else’s boat. Get to know local brokers who can help introduce you to owners and consider checking out the bulletin board at your marina for captains needing crew. However, discuss upfront that you’re looking for sea time and not some random dude running a dating service.
The more women on the water, the fewer jaw-drops – and I’m all for that. When I arrived at the marina in Cuba, the resort manager was stunned by “La Capitania”. Surprise mixed with delight, which then took a left turn into flirting. It’s time to change this dynamic with more women on more boats. Let’s start with you.
About the Author
Zuzana is a freelance writer and photographer with regular contributions to over 18 sailing and power boating publications. A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana is the founder of a flotilla charter company called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations around the world.
Zuzana serves as an international presenter on charter destinations, safety issues, and technical topics, and she's the Chair of the New Product Awards committee for innovative boats and new gear. She is a member of the American Society of Authors and Journalists and a board member of Boating Writers International.
This article first appeared in the Spring Issue (Mar/Apr) 2019 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Education, Feel Good Story, Fractional Boat Ownership, sailing, Women In Boating
