Women on the Water
Join the fun - learn to sail! Beginners Welcome!
Are you ready for an adventure? Ready to fulfill a lifelong dream? Ready for fun on the water? We've got just the thing ... Women on the Water - learn to SAIL program. You don't need to own a boat or know how to sail ... just join the fun and get started!
Women On Water (WOW) is designed to give women of all ages and from all skills levels the opportunity to experience sailing through a variety of educational and social activities. WOW aims to increase female participation in sailing related events, from clinics to cruising to racing.
This series is open to those who used to sail, are currently sailing, are trying to learn or have watched from ashore and always wanted to give it a try! Now is the time to build your sailing knowledge and be a part of empowering females to get on the water.
This class is run on four consecutive Tuesday nights, though the course of one month. Each class is two hours long from 6:30-8:30 and ends with a social debrief.
The WOW course is led by woman instructors and is taught in a two person 420 sailboat. The first session of each course will be held on land and covers the basic knowledge needed to maneuver a sailboat: wind/weather, basic knots, parts of the boat, how to rig, steering and points of sail. The following classes will be on the water. PFD’s will be provided and must be worn at all times on the water.
Join the Fun!
- 8 hours of sailing fun
- $125 for CSC members, $150 for non-members
- Maximum 16 participants per class
Dates & Times:
- Session One – June 8, 15, 22 & 29 (6:30-8:30)
- Session Two – July 6, 13, 19 & 27 (6:30-8:30)
Register Today! https://bit.ly/WOW-CSC
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If you have questions about WOW, please contact the Sailing Director at sailingdirector@columbiasailingclub.org
Register today to join the fun!
Meet Nicole and Comet, her 1st sailboat! Read on...
Meet Nicole and Comet, her 1st sailboat!
Hi! I am Nicole, and I am 41 years old. I have been around boats my whole life. I grew up on the lake in California and moved all the way to South Carolina to live on Lake Murray. I guess you could say I love the lake! Growing up I spent my time on ski boats, wakeboard boats and pontoon boats... But I have always been infatuated with sailboats. Every time I saw one, I was one of those people who couldn’t stop staring, wondering what it would be like to sail.
The summer before last, I found myself on my own and trying to start a new chapter in life. I wanted to try new things, go on new adventures and meet new people. I was on the lake but land locked and thought – I am going to learn how to sail. I need to feel the wind on my skin.
So, I started searching for sailing classes and came across Women on the Water offered by Columbia Sailing Club. I thought, WOW! A class for women taught by women… yes! Sign me up! I was so excited, and a little nervous! I loved the class. The people were friendly, supportive, patient and understanding. It was a thrilling experience, to get on that C420 and sit that close to the water, with no noise and no one to make it happen but myself and my partner. We got out there, that wind picked up and there we went. All I could think of was yep, I need a sailboat.
I am a lover of all “pretty things.” And that includes the Hobie sails. I had to have a Hobie Holder. Since they don’t exactly make these anymore, it was a bit tough to find. But if you get to know me, you’ll know that I figure things out. Where there’s a will there’s a way. I searched for almost a year before I found my boat on a charity boat auction on eBay. I was so nervous putting a bid on a boat without seeing it in person but I figured if it needed work I would figure it out! So after a fast and furious bidding war at the 11th hour on a Sunday night, I found myself the proud winner of an 87 Hobie Holder, complete with rainbow sails. I had my first boat!
I didn't even have her in possession yet and she already had me on my first adventure. I drove 9 hours to Ohio and picked her up 4th of July weekend to bring her back to Lake Murray. I named her “Comet” after my first Australian Shepherd, who was the light of my life and passed on a couple of months prior. Comet was my inspiration to live life to it's fullest. And so it had begun.
I have sailed her a few times over the summer and continue to learn more each time I go. Over the last year, I have bought books, joined groups on social media and scoured the internet for videos trying to teach myself additional skills. I am excited to participate in the next WOW class this summer! I love a group of women who will raise each other up and work through the challenges together! I am proud to be a strong, independent woman with a driven mindset. Women can do anything on their own, they just have to put their mind to it! Let's Sail!
--- Register for Women on the Water! ---
Session 1 in June and Session 2 in July!
Columbia Sailing Club
292 Shuler Road | Columbia, SC 29212 | 803-764-6065 | columbiasailingclub.org