Women’s Midwest Sailing Conference
Longstanding partners The Moorings and The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board came together as admiral sponsors of the 2024 Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference, providing giveaways, raffle items, and a presentation on chartering in the BVI.
A group of 140 women from all over the Midwest gathered for a weekend of learning and camaraderie during the 2024 Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference, held each year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This year’s event appropriately fell on May 18th, the International Day for Women in Maritime. It truly was a celebration of women who sail, emphasizing that no matter the level of experience or background, all are welcome. Now in its 14th year, the conference continues to grow in popularity and is maxed out in attendance.
The event kicked off with a Safety at Sea course, followed by a moving presentation by keynote speaker, five-time Rolex Woman of The Year, and US sailing representative Betsy Alison. Her inspirational presentation focused on resilience in sailing, sharing her incredible story of overcoming adversity and going on to win a World Championship after beating cancer.
Other topics covered during the event included navigation and basic chart reading, a hands-on docking lesson, winch cleaning, advanced sail trim, knots for everyday use, rules of the road, and so much more. The varying levels of sailing ability were all catered to by expert instructors. View the full list of classes here.
The Moorings Marketing Manager, Dominique Wright, along with Hazel Penn from The BVI Tourist Board gave a presentation on how to charter a yacht in the British Virgin Islands, discussing how to build a cruising itinerary, what you need for your yacht charter, common mistakes to avoid, and tips and tricks for this destination. Plus, overcoming the transition from monohull sailing to handling a catamaran with confidence.
Participants expressed how the insights gained during the event would propel them towards success in both racing and boat ownership, but the friendships made were the most valuable part of the experience. The Moorings is proud to have sponsored such a positive event, and we look forward to welcoming these female sailors to their own BVI yacht charters in the years to come.
Contributor
Dominique Wright
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