2025 National Women's Sailing Association Conference, presented by American Sailing, slated for June

The 2025 National Women's Sailing Association Conference welcomes women sailors of all skill levels, ages and backgrounds © NWSA

The National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) is expanding its 2025 National Women's Sailing Association Conference, presented by American Sailing, to three days.

This year, the annual event will be held June 6th to 8th at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. The event welcomes women sailors of all skill levels, ages and backgrounds to workshops including the popular Take the Helm® track—an introduction to sailing for women—and offers a view into the marine industry and opportunities to meet and network with accomplished cruisers and racers.

The Saturday morning keynote speaker will be Tracy Edwards, MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), world racer and Project Manager of The Maiden Factor where she skippers Maiden, a global ambassador for the empowerment of girls through education. The Saturday evening keynote speaker will be Women's Sailing Foundation Founder and National Sailing Hall of Famer Doris Colgate.

Friday welcomes the first morning classes followed by lunch and tours of two prominent industry leader facilities: Mastry Engine Center and Island Packet Yachts factory. Women Who Sail Tampa Bay will be hosting its 10th anniversary party and welcomes NWSA attendees for a happy hour celebration.

The 2025 National Women's Sailing Association Conference offers both hands-on instruction aboard sailboats as well as in classrooms - photo © Matthew Cohen Photography

Saturday programming includes a full day of classroom, dockside and on-the-water workshops taught by experienced female instructors and captains from across the nation. Women can fine tune their spinnaker-setting, sail trim, navigation, and boat systems knowledge; learn how to recover a crew overboard; and more. There will be more than 30 different classes at different levels to choose from. Breakfast and lunch are included as well as a post-event fundraising raffle and silent auction for girls scholarships & NWSA AdventureSail® Program with a cocktail social hour.

During the luncheon, NWSA will announce and introduce the 2025 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women's Sailing Award recipient, an honor co-sponsored by NWSA and BoatUS since 1999. This award recognizes an individual with a record of achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing.

Conference classes continue Sunday morning at St. Petersburg Yacht Club followed by an optional brunch with "Gaining Speed on Racing" speakers and a Mustang sailing gear fashion show.

Sponsors of the 2025 NWSA event include American Sailing, BoatUS, Aqua Map, Mustang Survival, Sail Technologies, GirlsSailing.com, Flying Scot, Live The Sail Life, and The Yacht Rigger.

To register or learn more go to bit.ly/NWSAConference. Registration is $275 through April 14 and $325 thereafter. Send conference questions to conference@womensailing.org or call 985-247-8919.