WOMEN'S SAILING
Women’s Sailing at BYC is about making friends, gaining new skills, and having fun!
At Bristol Yacht Club, women sailors of all experience levels are invited to participate in a variety of women’s sailing and racing initiatives that help women sailors build their skills make friends and have fun. These programs are offered throughout the calendar year and are open to all BYC women members and, in some cases, their sailing partners (including men).
Join in by signing up for any of the women’s sailing initiatives listed below or learn more about women’s sailing at BYC by emailing byc-women-in-sailing@googlegroups.com.
Summer Workshops and Events
Women’s Learn to Race Clinic - June 6 -7
Join us from 9-4 both days for an introduction to racing clinic hosted by the BYC women's group and sponsored by the Simmons-Truancy fund. This is also open to non-member women. For more information and to register Click Here
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MOB Workshop for Women Sailors and their Sailing Partners - July 26
Empowered at the Helm: MOB Workshop for Women Sailors and their Sailing Partners
What would you do if your sailing partner fell off the boat? Could you get them back on the boat? Make the answer to that question YES by attending this one-day MOB workshop. Learn more and sign up - Click Here
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Women’s Social Sail - August 9
The Bristol Yacht Club’s Women’s Sailing Group and the East Bay Sailing Foundation will be holding a Social Sailing event for women sailors on Sunday August 9. Come at 1PM for a free sail on our Mercuries or a pickup race on our J22s. A reception at 5 PM will be followed by a meeting to explore ways to grow women’s sailing and racing in Narragansett Bay and how WOWRI can support that effort. Bring your sailor friends; nonmembers are welcome. Registration coming soon
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Tiller Time Pick Up Sailing for Women - June 13 - August 8
BYC's Women's Sailing Group is conducting Women's Tiller Time sailing sessions weekly on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10-1ish. This is casual pick-up sailing using small boats at the Bristol Yacht Club. In these sessions, more experienced women sailors are paired with other women to spend a couple of hours learning from each other, having fun, building confidence, and just getting some extra tiller time in a safe, supportive environment. For more information and to register Click Here.
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Women’s Sailing Classes - Registration is Closed - Classes are full
This class is open to women of all ages and abilities, providing a supportive environment to learn and improve your sailing skills. Each session includes 2 ½ hours of on-the-water practice in 15' Cape Cod Mercuries, with experienced instructors on board to guide you through steering, tacking, gybing, and trimming the sails. For more information Click Here
Winter Speaker Series
Check back in the fall to see which speakers and events have been set up for the winter season.
Women’s Sailing Across Narragansett Bay
For a full listing of all women’s sailing events on Narragansett Bay, visit the Narragansett Bay Yachting Association Women’s Sailing page here.
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Women on the Water RI (WOWRI)
WOWRI began at a meeting at the Women’s Social Sail held in August 2025 at Bristol Yacht Club. The participants wanted women to have more opportunities to sail, educational programs and training at all levels, and to network and meet for social sailing and racing events. Since then, members have been creating an inventory of women’s sailing programs in the Bay, communicating options to participate, and creating educational programs and networking events. Membership has grown to 140 women from 17 Rhode Island yacht clubs and sailing associations.
To join or help build this network of women sailors who meet to enjoy the pleasures of boating as well as opportunities to learn from other women, please Click Here.
