Virgin Islands Sailing Association lays groundwork to get more women sailing

The three-day course was led by Rebecca Ellis, an experienced and qualified UK-based World Sailing coach developer and hosted by the Virgin Islands Sailing Association (VISA), the US Virgin Island’s Member National Authority, aimed to encourage more women and girls in the region to try sailing by building a strong network and sharing resources.  

“My vision for this event was to connect everyone, to ignite or reignite their enthusiasm for sailing, and to make everyone aware of the many roles available to women in sailing in our community that need to and should be filled,” says Juliet San Martin, VISA president and course organiser.  

“I’m expecting to see at least a decade of ripple effects from this event, with a great deal more inter-island coordination and competition. Not to mention newly formed lifelong friendships all founded on the common bonds of a shared interest in sailing.” 

It was the diverse experiences and paths to sailing, careers or recreational, of the course attendees that most caught the attention and interest of Michelle Peterson, an assistant professor of biology at the University of the Virgin Islands St Croix campus, St Croix Yacht Club member and avid Sunfish sailor.  

“What could be better than to be around other women who are passionate about sailing, be part of that community, and of course get out on the water each day,” says Peterson.  

“I think we all have a better understanding of ways to get more women sailing by supporting competitive racing or working on the organisational side of events. It’s all about how to support and build on the foothold we have now going forward. How to hold onto the past yet build on and improve.” 

For Marguerite Burke, from St Thomas, who is a Master 100-ton Licenses USCG Captain, it was a new experience. 

“This was my first time sailing an IC24. I’m a big boat sailor, so a small boat was intimidating at first. We had excellent and professional instruction. Now, it’s opened a whole other world of racing for me.” 

Maya Craig and Felicia Renaud were among the St. John attendees who instruct and coach youth sailors as part of the community-oriented Kids and the Sea (KATS) Program in Coral Bay. 

“The opportunity to build a community as a resource and to be able to tap into it in the future is what I enjoyed most,” says Craig, who teaches eight to 12-year-old Optimist sailors and professionally is the watershed coordinator for the Coral Bay Community Council. 

Renaud, a professional artist, and KATS instructor for a decade, found it inspiring to learn the many facets of women in sailing in the Virgin Islands. “I’m looking forward to sharing what I’ve learned with others at KATS.” 

“It often takes an event like this to bring like-minded women together. As a result, the discussions were excellent and the learning from one another was invaluable,” says Ellis.   

Land & Sea

The Coaching & Mentoring Women’s Sailing Course featured a combination of hands-on sailing in IC24s and onshore discussions and networking opportunities. Discussion topics included how to attract more women and girls to try sailing, the difference between instructing and coaching, how to develop coaching skills, and how to meet the needs of the female athlete.  

“Many of the women, even from the same island, had never met one another before. It often takes an event like this to bring like-minded women together. As a result, the discussion was excellent and the learning from one another was invaluable,” says Ellis.   

Social activities featured a dinner on 27 October where keynote speakers were the Honourable Ruth Miller, an International Judge with World Sailing and Magistrate Judge at the USVI’s District Court, and Oriel Blake, Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association.  

Miller detailed the strength of networking as a gateway to her obtaining global opportunities to officiate at local, regional, national, and international sailing events. Blake shared how having a passion for the water and collaboration has led her to mentor others to do the same professionally.  

The course was supported by the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity funding, alongside the Virgin Islands Sailing Association, the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee, St Thomas Yacht Club, and World Sailing. 

To find out more about the Virgin Islands Sailing Association’s programs, visit their website or search Virgin Islands Sailing Association on Facebook.  

Text and images courtesy of the Virgin Islands Sailing Association.