Diversity & Equity
Image description: A diverse group of women on a sailboat.
WHY I CREATED WOMEN WHO SAIL
BY: Charlotte Kaufman
…I longed for community and friendship. I needed a place to ask questions about the liveaboard and sailing lifestyle, and about raising kids on a boat. I needed not just sailors, but the wisdom and experiences of other women who lived on boats. It turns out I wasn’t alone in needing those things too.
…The idea for this newsletter has been a longtime coming. While our online community provides a space for our members to commune and connect, I want to further amplify, celebrate, and lift up our collective voices across the web. An email newsletter format allows us to share beyond our group, to not just other women, but with men too. Now more than ever, we need male allies if we are going to continue to break down the barriers that sexism and toxic masculinity impose on our world.
Image description: Amali Knobloch, a woman of color, calling out with her hands by her face to a group of people on a tall ship.
BREAKING BARRIERS
By Amali Knobloch
…Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) often never find that pair of eyes, even in adulthood. We have to navigate the unfamiliar waters to find wisps of commonality between us. And we almost always have to initiate that connection, because if we stay quiet and keep to ourselves in our discomfort, we are criticized, marked as antisocial and rude. As a result, if you sail alongside us, know that we are working – in ways great and small – to make it possible for you to truly see us.
WHY DO WE NEED WOMEN’S SPACES?
BY: Jennifer Harkness
DEAR SKIPPER JENN, I don’t get it, why do we need women only spaces and events? Isn’t that excluding men when what we want is to be included? How does this help women move forward?
Dear Confused About Inclusivity,
This is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive from people—you are not alone.
…Far too often I hear women tell stories of being sexually harassed or belittled on the water. Far too often I hear stories of women being passed over, ignored, or not given credit for their efforts. Far too often I read comments in mixed-gender forums that are rude and offensive, or of women who are trolled and sent sexually explicit messages on the side.
Image description: Karen Harris, an African American woman, at the helm of a sailboat.
US Sailing put out a new mission statement for their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program this month. They also ran a recorded panel on the topic with Ayme Sinclair, Karen Harris, Joey Harris, Lou Sandoval, and Captain Bill Pinkney.
SARAH HANAVAN has grown a youth program in the Pacific Northwest from 4 to 60 in four years. Find out more on why these programs are needed and how she did it.
Read about SARAH FAULKNER, the Coast Guard’s first woman helicopter rescue swimmer and the sexual harassment stories coming forward in the organization.
NATASHA LAMBERT prepares for transatlantic crossing as the first quadriplegic to take on this sailing challenge.
LYDIA MULLEN, editor at SAIL Magazine, wrote a powerful post on Facebook about women in sailing after sending the August 2020 issue to press featuring the first all-female feature section.
CAPTAIN DANIELLE DOGGETT founded and runs SAILCARGO INC., a project in Punta Morales, Costa Rica where they're building a 150' ship for carbon-negative cargo carrying, whose mission is to prove the value of clean and resilient shipping. They've completed the stern post assembly and deadwoods, and will be planking soon. Follow their progress on Instagram.
The August issue of Sistership Magazine is out, featuring WWS member VIVIAN VUONG on the cover along with an interview with her thoughts on ocean passages. Sistership also offers their podcast, Turning Your Cruising Dreams into Reality here.
This past month we lost some legends that contributed greatly to sailing and will be missed. Read about them here. Angela Madsen, Larry Pardey and Brion Toss.
Image description: Tracy Edwards MBE, a white woman, at the helm of s/v Maiden Factor.
Women Who Sail and The National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) partnered with The Maiden Factor to do a series of five talks, called Maiden Mondays. Learn more about their mission and fundraising to support girls around the globe and hear backstories from the award winning documentary about their 1989 Whitbread Round the World Race. NWSA members can view the Maiden Monday recordings in their member’s library. Women Who Sail members receive a 20% discount on NWSA membership by using code: WOMENWHOSAIL
Image description: Kika Mevs of Sailing Uma, a woman of color, standing on the boom and leaning against the main sail.
Women Who Sail is a closed Facebook group. Read our group guidelines and if you are a fit, request to join! Content from the group is always shared with permission.
This month, in the main Women Who Sail group, Diane Moulden posted, “Are there achievement badges for sailing (like Scouts can earn.) For things like: “climbing 3-4M seas,” “having your masthead light smash down on the deck in high winds,” “wind always on the nose,” “having the engine die in an inopportune moment,” “having no wind when you need it,” and finally, “making it home in one piece and crazily happy to do it all again in the future.” That kind of thing…….
128 women responded and the results were hilarious and bonding. We are wondering, what merit badges have you earned? Feel free to add into the comments section! Fair winds everyone!
Subscribe to get full access to the Women Who Sail® email newsletter. Never miss an update on important women’s events. Connect and listen to the diverse stories, work, and voices of women on the water.
Have questions, upcoming events, news, or submissions? Contact our Editor-in-Chief: Jenn Harkness at skipperjennharkness@gmail.com