The Minnesota Women’s Sailing Team seeks to raise the skill, self-confidence, and leadership abilities of women through the sport of sailing and sailboat racing.  We have begun an annual fellowship program to help future leaders in the sailing world achieve their goals.  Fellowship recipients must have a demonstrated interest in leadership and an interest in improving their sailing skills.

Sarah Gross is our 2008 fellowship recipient.  Sarah is a Minneapolis sailor who first learned to sail at HMYC.  In college she raced with the University of Minnesota Sailing Team and served as both Vice-Commodore and Team Captain. Sarah competed against schools around the Midwest and spent summers teaching youth sailing at the Wayzata Sailing School.  Sarah also raced with the Capri 25 fleet at the Wayzata Yacht Club.

Sarah now sails as a Professional Crew member aboard the Barque Picton Castle as it embarks on a year-long voyage of the Atlantic Ocean.  Training crew, rope work, rigging, carpentry, and seamanship are a few of the many skills practiced aboard. This voyage on the Picton Castle is helping Sarah achieve her goal of becoming a licensed Captain. Follow Sarah on the voyage at www.picton-castle.com.

MWST recognizes Sarah as an up-and-coming leader in the sailing world. We look forward to welcoming Sarah back to Minnesota in June 2009 and hearing about her adventures when she speaks at the 2009 Women at the Helm clinics.