Women’s Sailing

2024

Registration for the sailing classes will be emailed to all members in March.
 
The annual Women’s sailing Kick Off party will be held Thursday April 25th at 5:30PM at the yacht club. Light fare will be complimentary. Drinks paid by individual tabs.
 
A mentor training clinic will be held Wednesday May 15th. We are actively recruiting mentors to participate in this year’s women’s sailing program. One of the requirements to be a mentor is qualification on the Ideal18.

CALENDAR:

  • Consist of 8 Mondays beginning June 3rd through July 29th. The 4th of July is mid-week this year and a decision on offering classes that week will depend upon the opinions of the participants.
  • Cost will continue at $185 for the 8 weeks
  • The beginner and intermediate classes will meet at 10AM – 1:00PM and 5:00PM – 7:00PM. Advanced will meet at 3:00PM – 5:00PM
  • Our coach Emily will teach the Advanced class at 3:00PM.  Deb will teach the beginner/intermediate class at 10:00AM. Both Emily and Deb will teach the class at 5:00PM. Mentors will be involved in the 10:00 AM and 5:00PM classes
  • The women from all the classes are invited for dinner at 7:00PM. Dinner generally consists of a big beautiful salad with protein on the side along with bread and dessert.



SIGN-UP for Crew Opportunities
Click here >>



BRIEF

If you’ve sailed with us in the past, we’ve got your name for e-notifications. If this is your first foray, email Deb Pearl, Program Co-chair >>,  so that she can add your name to the email list.
   

WHO:

  • Beginners
  • Experienced racers
  • Recreational crew
  • Competitive crew
  • Moms with children learning to sail
   

WHEN:

  • Monday Mornings & Evenings,
  • Two-Hours Each Session
  • Eight weeks
  • Sign-up for either a.m., p.m., or both
  • Each boat has a qualified mentor on board for beginner and intermediate classes.
   

FEE:

$185.00 for the 8-weeks

 

CHOOSE YOUR REASONS:

  • To relax while sailing on the river
  • To enjoy the camaraderie of apres-sail dinner with friends
  • To learn what your children are learning in their separate lessons
  • To helm a family boat
  • To get qualified as a club mentor
  • To get qualified to sail an Ideal 18 alone anytime you like
  • To learn racing techniques and rules
   

THE VIBE:

  • Relaxed yet educational
  • Fun, comfortable sailing with other women on the beautiful Connecticut River
  • Apres-sail buffet: Compare notes about the session, relax in a beautiful setting,
  • Create friendships and memories.
   

WHAT IS AN IDEAL 18?

Essex Yacht Club has a fleet of eight Ideal 18s, docked beside the Club. Each dinghy is 18' long with a fixed keel. Just four lines in the cockpit control the set of the furling jib. Enormously exhilarating to race! Literally the IDEAL boat for anyone who wants to learn and enjoy sailing. Plus, the EYC women's race team has had plenty of wins in regattas with nearby clubs.
 

THE COMMITTEE:

Terry Parkinson (co-chair), Deb Pearl (co-chair), Past Commodore Marily MacKinnon, Kacey Constable, Kathleen Maher, Mari Dow, Mary Giudotti, Sara Conner, Pru Rice, Susan Abbot, and Denise Lavoie, Amy Reinhart, Mary-Lawrence Bickford, Val Shickel
 

INSTRUCTORS:

TBD