The Women’s Sailing Conference in Marblehead, Mass., June 6, includes on-water learning.

NWSA Women's Sailing Conference Comes to Marblehead, June 6

Hands-on workshops and seminars for all skill levels on land and sea

Beginning and experienced women sailors can jump-start their sailing lives by heading to the National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) 19th Annual Women’s Sailing Conference slated for Saturday, June 6, 2020, at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead. The event, which features hands-on land- and water-based workshops and seminars, offers women a fantastic opportunity to learn or hone sailing skills, network with other female sailors from all over the United States, and gain the confidence necessary to become a valuable crew member or knowledgeable skipper.

Women of all sailing abilities are encouraged to attend. “The idea is to leave attendees with improved skills and knowledge that contribute to better days on the water,” said event Chair Shirley Cassara.

The event, which will focus this year on “going green through sustainability and seamanship,” begins with a continental breakfast and includes raffles and a silent auction throughout the day, then lunch with keynote speaker Rachael Miller, executive director and co-founder of the Rozalia Project, which works to protect and clean our oceans. In the afternoon, participants wind down the day with cocktail hour and presentation of the 2020 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award.

Financial support from major supporters, including Black Rock Sailing School and Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), enable NWSA to meet the educational needs of women sailors and continue to provide one of the top women’s sailing conferences in the nation.

NWSA is proud to offer educational opportunities from some of the country’s most experienced and exceptional sailing women, including American Boat and Yacht Council Master Marine Tech Beth Burlingame. Workshops cover a range of topics from maintenance and safety to boat operation and sailing skills development.

On the water, women can take the helm for the first time or improve their sail trim and boat-handling skills in a Sonar 23-foot keelboat.

Conference registration includes a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, cocktail hour, workshops and a raffle ticket. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and will open April 24 at womensailing.org.

Raffle ticket sales and silent auction proceeds will benefit the Women’s Sailing Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that funds the AdventureSail program for underserved girls ages 9 to 14 and provides scholarships for AdventureSail participants via community learn-to-sail programs. The Sue Corl Youth Sailing Scholarship provides funds for teenage programs for underserved girls. For additional information, contact Shirley Cassara at profcassara44@gmail.com.