2016 Women’s Sailing Seminar

The 31st annual Corinthian Women’s Sailing Seminar (WSS) set free 50 new avid women sailors this past weekend. A record number of students and volunteer skippers from all over the SF Bay enjoyed two full days of instruction, sailing, and fellowship.

Every year the WSS relies on tradition and innovation to spark the joy of being on the water. This year guest teacher Chris Sidner introduced Sailing on a Stick to give women the feeling of wind on a sail. Even before learning their first sailing term, students experienced a sail luffing and then filled with wind. “I Get It!” was the weekend's mantra, thanks to our energetic teachers -- Jennifer Lacy, Rochelle Richelieu, Lauren Eisele and Julia Schloesser.

Assisted by a loyal corps of volunteer skippers and instructors, students sailed both afternoons. Some students climbed onto a sailboat for the first time in their lives, most climbed off far more comfortable being onboard, and by Sunday eve, everyone had tacked, gibed and trimmed sails. More experienced students were delighted to sail the Club's Cal 20s. The weather cooperated, even if the wind didn’t. 

Some lucky students sailed with one of the founders of WSS, Ros Colver, who was smiling ear to ear when she finished on Saturday (see photo). Another founder, Jytte Birnbaum, was on hand both days to support and congratulate the new sailors. By the end of Sunday, the WSS committee — Chair Sharon Meyer, Jennifer Lacy, Shelly Willard, Paulette  Shupack, Jytte Birnbaum, and Roz Brandt) agreed that all their hard work paid off. Now it’s time to start thinking about 2017!

Thanks are due not only to our generous sponsors Passage Nautical and Whitecaps Marine Outfitters, but also to our faithful skippers, teachers and instructors.