Southbaysail.com
|
|
|
In the fall of 1951, a group of 10 women - St. Petersburg Yacht Club members - formed what is now believed to be the first organized group of sailing women in the country, The Salty Sisters. The ten women in the original group were Eleanor Ellis, Betty Jennings, Dotty Lang, Joyce McEvoy, Mary Jane Misener, Margie Peterson, Joey Powell, Ruth Rifley, June Schowe and Phyllis Shaver.
|
Throughout the years they have sailed eight-foot Hagerty Prams, gaff-rigged Fish Class Sloops, Flying Juniors, O'Day Sprites, Flying Scots, Sunfish.
Each September, new members start an eight-week series of sailing and racing classes. In addition, there are classes throughout the year on racing rules, strategy and tactics, seamanship and race committee work. |
|
|
|
Currently they sail Optimist Prams, 420's, Rhodes 19's Sonars and Spinnaker in Sprites, sometimes bringing out as many as 60 women on a Wednesday morning.
After 61 years the Salty Sisters a diversely talented group, continues to flourish and in addition to promoting the science of sailing they hold a number of social events. They also raise funds for people in need by holding charity sailing events. |
|
Their success has lead to the formation of
a number of other sailing clubs for Women including;
|
|
These groups now make up the Florida Women's Sailing Association which was founded in 1973 to promote and encourage the growth of women's sailing groups along the west coast of Florida.
Currently there are eleven member clubs with more than four hundred women racing once a week in their respective sailing clubs. http://www.fwsa.net/
Let's hear it for the girls..... More of the Salty Sisters story ... here
Currently there are eleven member clubs with more than four hundred women racing once a week in their respective sailing clubs. http://www.fwsa.net/
Let's hear it for the girls..... More of the Salty Sisters story ... here
|
share this page with friends...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|