That old catch phrase “Captains and Admirals” implying that men are the captains of any boat and women are the admirals, in so much as they plan meals and mix cocktails, is about as outdated as phones that are stuck to walls. Women singlehand their boats, women are licensed captains, and you can make calls from just about anywhere on planet earth these days.
Learning rules of the road, trimming sails, and making decisions onboard a sailboat have nothing to do with whether you sit or stand in the head (and fellas, we all know you sit while underway anyhow). Angie Wilson has been sailing for 25 years and a licensed captain for five years. “People tend to show a new level of respect when they learn you are actually a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain,” says Angie. “Many boaters call themselves ‘captain’ though they have no professional qualifications.”
Angie sails out of Deale, MD, and spends her time teaching at The Sailing Academy, doing deliveries, and chartering her own boat. “Prejudice remains in the marine industry. Some people still expect the woman to be the galley wench,” she says. “I have had bridge tenders ask to speak to the captain even after assuring them that I am the captain. If I am traveling with a male crew, people often assume the male crew is the captain. Old ideas are slow to change, but as more and more women have careers in the marine industry, stereotypes are slowly changing.”
Suky Cannon has been sailing all her life and got her captain’s license four years ago. She says even though there might still be some stereotypes that never seem to disappear, the best advice for women looking to get their license or just skipper their own boat is to ignore the comments and go for it. “Many people appreciate the patience and competency professional women offer,” says Suky. “That can work in your favor. Often, folks are taken aback when they learn my profession, and then follow with, ‘Hey, that’s cool!’”
Even if a professional captain’s license is not on your to-do list, any woman who is spending time sailing should try to find a way to spend some time taking the helm, captaining their own boat, and even single handing. If you’re unsure about how to start, then ditch your significant other and start small. Look for sailing clubs where you can get a dinghy sailboat and get a feel for commanding your own little vessel, then work your way up to larger boats. Take your boat out with some girlfriends as crew. You can also look for female sailing instructors like Suky or Angie to show you the ropes and help build confidence and skills.
Suky remembers the first time she singlehanded a 33-foot cruiser out of City Island, NY, in her 20s. “I reviewed how I was going to do it over and over, checked and double checked everything,” Suky remembers. “The sense of exhilaration that I did it well, with no mishaps, was thrilling. I remember thinking I could just keep sailing on forever. The joy and sense of oneness with the boat and the wind was exhilarating. It’s part of why I especially love introducing other women to sailing. The sense of empowerment and mastery is amazing.”
Angie loves teaching sailing for the same reasons. “I really enjoy when suddenly a student has the ‘ah-ha moment,’ and they get it. I like to figure out how each student learns, as women learn very differently than men. My job as a coach is to help each student unlock her sailing potential in a safe and relaxed atmosphere,” Angie says.
Both women agree that the Chesapeake Bay is the perfect learning ground for women who want to captain their own boat or sharpen their sailing skills. The Bay offers plenty of chances to test a range of skills from navigating to rules of the road to radio protocol to anchoring and docking. The Chesapeake has every weather condition imaginable (sometimes all in one day), giving sailors a chance to practice reefing, heave to, change sails, and ghost in just a breath of wind. The best part is, if you mess up, you’re still close enough to a port to limp in with your tail between your legs before cleaning up and trying again.
“The Chesapeake is a great training ground because you get a lot of the challenges of open water in a protected setting,” Angie says. Suky agrees that even though she captains boats all over the world, nothing beats sailing on the Bay. “There’s a deep heritage of sailing here and one of the best sailing communities in the world, whether you cruise or race. Here, you can get your inland license and meet other sailors so you can begin to go offshore for your near coastal license. Just head south to Norfolk, and start jumping off.”
Sailing is for everyone, and the stereotypes about women being dragged aboard, following their man’s dreams, or being the “admiral” are about as funny as a crab pot around your prop.
Suky explains that the love of captaining your own vessel is universal. “The quiet and the freedom. The sounds and interplay of the wind and waves make me feel I’m part of a brilliant symphony. I love being captain of my ship!”
