National Women’s Sailing Association Conference expands to three days
The National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) is expanding its 2025 National Women’s Sailing Association Conference to a three-day format — up from one day in previous editions.
The 2025 edition will take place from 6 to 8 June at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, and is open to women sailors of all experience levels. The programme includes workshops, networking opportunities and plenty of insights into the marine industry.
Saturday’s keynote speakers for the National Women’s Sailing Association Conference include world racer Tracy Edwards, MBE, project manager of The Maiden Factor, who skippers Maiden, a vessel promoting girls’ education; and Doris Colgate, founder of the Women’s Sailing Foundation and National Sailing Hall of Fame.
The National Women’s Sailing Association Conference 2025 begins on Friday with morning classes, followed by lunch and guided tours of Mastry Engine Center and the Island Packet Yachts factory. Women Who Sail Tampa Bay will mark its 10th anniversary with a happy hour for NWSA attendees.
Saturday offers a full schedule of classroom, dockside and on-the-water workshops led by female instructors and captains from across the US. Topics include spinnaker handling, sail trim, navigation, boat systems and crew overboard recovery. More than 30 classes are available at different skill levels. The day includes breakfast, lunch and a post-event fundraising raffle and silent auction in support of girls’ scholarships and the NWSA AdventureSail programme, concluding with a cocktail social hour.
During Saturday’s luncheon, NWSA will announce the recipient of the 2025 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award. The award, co-sponsored by NWSA and BoatUS since 1999, recognises individuals who have contributed to inspiring, educating and supporting women in sailing.
Sunday morning sessions for the National Women’s Sailing Association Conference will take place at St. Petersburg Yacht Club, followed by an optional brunch featuring speakers on racing techniques and a Mustang sailing gear display.
Sponsors of the 2025 National Women’s Sailing Association Conference event include American Sailing, BoatUS, Aqua Map, Mustang Survival, Sail Technologies, GirlsSailing.com, Flying Scot, Live The Sail Life and The Yacht Rigger.
Registration for the NWSA 2025 conference is available online now, with a fee of $275 until 14 April and $325 thereafter.
