banane

Jock Post #1: Women in Sailing

Above is a photo of sailing sensation Emma Sanderson, helping on a test ride with Hilary Lister, who is piloting her own boat, despite being a quadriplegic. Hilary ended up crossing the channel, actually , using her breath on tubes to steer the rudder and the sails.

I went sailing yesterday with my friend Tink . You know there’s not a lot of women who own boats or skipper them themselves, then you go to a few docks and realize there really aren’t women who own boats or skipper them, themselves. Tink has a funny story of working on her mast one day and a guy stops and looks at her. “Is this your boat?” “Yes.” “And you sail it?” “Yes.” “Can I marry you?” Ha ha.

In doing some armchair sailing, a.k.a., blog reading, I found a few sites that linked to Emma Sanderson, who has an amazing CV in itself, regardless of being a woman. She is the one that sailed around the world. She’s been sailing since she was a kid.

I’m thinking more and more about kayaking, either from Sausalito or somewhere near Fisherman’s Wharf, and getting out on a small one-person boat to practice some sailing moves. The bright new thing about sailing yesterday is that I was scurrying around the boat as first mate, and didn’t feel the heeling that much, and also felt more balanced while doing all the sail raising and lowering, line knots, stuff like that. I did make Tink steer clear of The Slot, this channel between Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge, where tankers were regularly passing through, and I could see some boats seriously heeling- and, heck- I’d been there before and knew what it was like. Luckily she humored me and we didn’t venture out there.

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This entry was posted on Monday, September 25th, 2006 at 9:35 pm and is filed under feminism, fitness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. View blog reactions Stumble it! You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Michele

Hi, Just want to contribute a little to forum on women, sailing, boating and 'doing it alone'.
I am female, a boat owner, sail both with crew and solo; set up my own business in a predominantly male-dominated country in a predominantly male-dominated industry (marine, specifically yacht brokerage); I have two sons, 18 and 28, and one daughter 22 y.o. My daughter is spending some time here in SE Asia with me at present. We sailed to SE Asia from Sydney in 1993, I have lived here since. My daughter is renewing her love of sailing and the sea. She just completed her Inshore Skippers Cert., with flying colours I might add, and is about to crew on a yacht delivery from Phuket down Malacca Straits around SIngapore and up to Samui Island, Thailand; the yacht will then compete in the Samui Regatta, she is secured position as 'bowperson' for the racing, then will be on delivery crew back around to the west side and back up to Phuket.
I encourage my daughter, as I do my sons, to just get out there and DO IT! You don't know what's around the corner unless you go take a look; there are roads that will open, you just have to get out there on the first leg of the journey. I am certainly not considered as 'conservative' nor 'typical', and apparently, according to their feedback, a great inspiration to my kids, and also to women who are somewhat afraid to 'go it alone'. To those who will adventure, just 'go for it girls!' What have you got to lose - 'cause I know for sure you will have loads to gain!

Jennifer

Hi Anna,
I read SFMetroblogging all the time and noticed that you live in North Beach... I'm a Journalism student at SFSU and I'm doing my "beat" on North Beach this semester (for a reporting class not publication). You seem very involved in the community so I was wondering if I could talk to you about it sometime? I don't have a specific date or time in mind, we're just starting our assignments, so if you'd be able to could you email me and we can keep in contact through email or exchange numbers. But if you don't have the time that's fine too.
Thanks!
Jennifer
jenking@sfsu.edu

BoatGirl

Anna - this post brings out one of my pet peeves. Why don't more women own/sail their own boats? And for that matter, go surfing by themselves, or backpacking by themselves, or take flying lessons or ... whatever they want. All the guys I know spend tons of money on toys, but for some reason, we women feel guilty. We're not supposed to spend money on anything but clothes. Please, anyone out there who has a daughter, raise her to be just as self-satisfying (for lack of a better term) as your sons.
OK, this is getting too big, I'll go rant in my own space.