A Legacy of Women’s Triumphs in Sailing
Recent accomplishments by women in the yachting industry strengthen the realization that boating is for everybody whether in competitive sailing or as an industry professional.
Although Jeanne Baret had to disguise herself as a man in 1766 to get aboard a French naval ship (women were banned from the ships at the time), she was able to join botanist (and lover) Philibert Commerçon as a scientific assistant and nurse to collect plants from faraway lands. Through many “close calls” of her true identity, including the “Crossing the Line” ceremony, and years of travel, Baret is believed to be the first woman to sail around the world.
In modern times, Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz, a Polish sailor and naval engineer, was the first woman to complete the circumnavigation solo after 401 days and 31,166 nautical miles from March 1976 to April 1978. Four other women have sailed the global voyage since that time, including the accomplished long-distance British sailor Ellen MacArthur, who completed the journey alone in 71 days setting a world record in 2005 on her trimaran B&Q/Castorama.
Few women have sailed the globe solo with stops and assistance along the way, but just a month ago, Cole Brauer became the first American woman to circumnavigate the world single-handed with no stops or assists. She was the only woman to participate in the Global Solo Challenge and not only did she finish, but the 29-year-old finished second, beating out eight other competitors. In an interview with Geoff Bennett of PBS, she said, “I really wanted to do it by myself, not because I needed to prove anything, but mostly because I really like the introspective moments that you can have when it’s just you. You don’t have to try to impress anyone. It’s just you and your vessel. And I thought it was really wonderful.” Brauer plans to be the first American woman to race in the Vendée Globe in 2028.
Erika Reineke: From Optimist Dinghies to Olympic Dreams
Many boaters in the Fort Lauderdale area might recognize the name Erika Reineke. She started her sailing career at age eight at the Lauderdale Yacht Club in the Optimist dinghy class. She is now headed to the Paris Olympics representing Team USA in the ILCA 6 (Laser) class.
By age 12, Reineke started winning races and the titles that came with it, including two consecutive Girl’s National Championships. She moved from the Optimist to the ILCA 6 and qualified to represent the U.S. in the 2010 ISAF Youth Worlds in Istanbul, Turkey. She won the bronze medal. The following year, in Croatia, she won silver.
Reineke pursued her sailing prowess at Boston College and was the first person to win four Singlehanded National Championships and was an All-American winning the Quantum Women’s College Sailor of the Year trophy in 2017.
Although she didn’t make the 2020 Olympic Games in 2020, her hard work paid off. In Allison Chenard’s report for U.S. Sailing, Reineke commented, “It’s been a 15-year journey trying to make the Olympics. I started pursuing this path when I was 15; it’s been a long road. I’ve been tested every Games cycle, and to finally succeed feels amazing. There’s a lot of work to be done for Paris and I’m honored to represent the USA on the Olympic stage.”
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Empowering Women Sailors: The 2024 NWSA Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana, will host the National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) 2024 National Women’s Sailing Association Conference on Saturday, June 8th, from 8AM to 5PM at Southern Yacht Club with help from Community Sailing New Orleans. For 25 years, NWSA has been hosting a full day of onshore and on-the-water hands-on workshops for women sailors of all skill levels and ages. All workshops are led by highly competent and enthusiastic female sail instructors and captains, including the popular “Take the Helm” track, an introduction to sailing for women. In addition, there will be workshops in sewing canvas and sail repair, how to read a chart, how to go up a mast safely, and how to avoid mishaps and mayhem, just to name a few.
A sailing conference isn’t complete without getting out on the water. Whether an absolute beginner or working on race start strategies, the coaches are highly qualified and eager to share their knowledge. To close out the conference, a sailing scholarship fundraising mixer will be held to continue networking.
– by Steve Davis
