Women on the Water Week

October 25-November 1, 2008

Our 17th annual week for women combines exceptional hands-on instruction with superb shoreside activities for a one-of-a-kind experience. Sailing instruction covers all aspects of skippering, sail trimming, sail changing, crewing and teamwork, as well as overboard recovery techniques, sailing smart, downwind sailing and racing.

Pros Leading the Week:

Martha Parker is considered among the best female crew to ever roam the foredeck of a racing sailboat. To be a foredeck crew, one has to be light, very strong, and have the reflexes and balance of a cat. Martha has done foredeck on winning IOR 50-footer programs, Swan 45 programs, IMS and IRC race boats, Swan 44 programs, and just about everything in between. No stranger to the Caribbean circuit, Martha regularly does foredeck on the Swan 44, Crescendo, which has 2005 and 2006 wins at BVI Spring Regatta, St. Thomas’ Rolex Regatta, and St. Maarten’s Heineken under its belt. As a day job, Martha is the owner and operator of Team One Newport, a leading retailer of high-performance sailing clothing and gear.

Pam Wall has been a frequent cruising visitor to the Bitter End, regaling our guests with stories of far away lands, and cruising exploits. Her profound knowledge of offshore sailing and enthusiasm for it are infectious. Pam and her husband and two children spent seven years circumnavigating the world, and later on, spent a year sailing across the Atlantic. Her presentations of these experiences are informational, awe-inspiring and a hit with all who have seen them. Pam has worked for West Marine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida since 1992, when she completed her world cruise, except for one year she and her family took to once more cruise together on their sailing adventure across the Atlantic.

Betsy Alison is the greatest female sailor that has walked the planet. From Newport, RI, she’s the only five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, is a two-time Yngling World Champion, three-time U.S. Women’s National Sailing champion, three-time U.S. Women’s single-handed champion, and was selected twice by the U.S. Olympic Committee as the U.S. Amateur Athlete in Sailing, among countless titles. On top of maintaining her own racing acumen and competing, Betsy has joined U.S. Sailing as the full-time coach of the U.S. Disabled Sailing Team. She has been working with athletes of the U.S. Disabled Sailing Team for several years, accompanying the U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team to the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games.

Event Schedule:

Saturday, October 25 --Arrivals and Welcome Harbor Cruise (Get to Know the Instructors and fellow participants)

Sunday, October 26 --AM: Skills Assessment & Laser Racing October 21--PM: Skills Assessment & Hunter Racing

Monday, October 27 --AM: WOW 101 With Pam Wall (Basics), PM: On the Water with Pam; WOW 201A Boathandling with Betsy Alison and Martha Parker aboard IC 24s; Around the World With Pam Wall (slide show)

Tuesday, October 28 --WOW 102 With Pam Wall (AM and PM--sail with confidence with Pam); WOW 201B Tame the Spinnaker with Betsy and Martha (AM); Bluewater Sailing on Express 37 (PM); Sailing Gear for Women at Sea (showcase), with Team One Newport's Martha Parker.

Wednesday, October 29 --Optional Anegada Trip and Twilight Racing, or private tutorials; Betsy Alison on "Sailing's Glass Ceiling."

Thursday, October 30 --IC 24 Regatta (for the racers), WOW 202 (intermediate/advanced Cruising Clinics) With Pam Wall

Friday, October 31 --IC 24 Regatta (for the racers), WOW 202 (intermediate/advanced Cruising Clinics) With Pam Wall

Awards Dinner

Sponsors (at press time)

Vineyard Vines, West Marine, Team One

Bitter End will be teaming up with local and American organizations that focus on women's health and welfare and medical research. 10 % of the proceeds from the week will go toward helping these organizations.