Support Women on the Water at the Inaugural Ladybug Race
On Saturday, April 28th, join St. Augustine Sailing in helping make sailing accessible to all women
“We believe that sailing is for everyone,” says Rose Ann Points, St. Augustine Sailing co-owner, captain and instructor. For Points, sailing is a lifestyle, one she started at the age of 30 with little resources and knowledge. Her love of the sea kept her out on the water, learning to sail and raising her family on a 41′ Morgan Out-Island Ketch in the Florida Keys, The Bahamas and other tropical locales. Her children, now adults, as well as her husband, are all a part of the family business at St. Augustine Sailing. Sailing is her family’s passion, and it’s getting women on the water that inspires Points the most.
“Being on the water, spending time on boats and in marinas, you very quickly notice that there are very few women running boats, captaining them, getting into the grit of it,” she explains. “Don’t get me wrong, they’re there, but they’re doing the same jobs all the time – handling lines or cooking in the galley. It’s time women plot their own course and take the helm!” And Points is taking that helm, using her access as an owner and captain to chart a course for women interested in learning how to sail. St Augustine Sailing has created the WOW! Program (Women on the Water), a program designed for women by women. Points is dedicated to helping women achieve their dreams of learning to be a sailor, whether that dream be sailing local waterways or navigating the open sea.
The WOW! Program is hands-on instruction, teaching women how to master different skills each month. “Our ultimate goal is to make sure that women leave our course feeling competent and confident,” shares Points. “The first time you take the helm and guide a boat on her course, it’s powerful. You feel powerful. I want every female sailor to feel that.” The program invites women of all ages, and course instruction is modified to fit every level of experience and sailing ability. “Everyone’s sailing goals are different,” says Points, “and this program will provide a pathway to reach any goal through positive and mutual support.”
This spring, the St. Augustine Sailing family invite you to celebrate sailing at the inaugural Ladybug Race on Sunday, April 28, 2024, where all proceeds will benefit the Women on the Water program. So much more than a competition on the water, the Ladybug Race will also feature educational workshops with exciting guest speakers, yacht tours and sales and an awards dinner to celebrate the race winners. The Ladybug Race is an event for every boater, whether you’re a seasoned captain or admirer from the shore. Race day begins by setting sail from Camachee Cove Marina, at the foot of the Vilano Bridge in St. Augustine, Florida. The racecourse will take boaters north up the Tolomato River, where captains and their crew will compete in Cruising and Performance classes. And everyone is equal in this race! No handicaps will be given based on gender, however there will be a race within the race for an all-female crew to win the beloved Ladybug Trophy.
The Ladybug Race day includes a full schedule of activities, including educational workshops and seminars, from line handling, marine weather forecasting and diesel 101 to teaching you how to make your boat a comfortable home, how to plan the perfect provisions for any journey and mastering the art of dinghy and outboard management (and so many more). Ladybug guests can also tour or purchase their dream boats, with All Points Yacht Sales on hand showcasing top-of-the-line yachts. To end the day, everyone is invited to celebrate the race and winners at a fabulous dinner, where captains, crew, vendors, instructors and sponsors can relax together and bask in their day of happy sailing and camaraderie.
Come be a part of the incredible sailing community at St. Augustine Sailing, and join in helping support WOW!, at the inaugural Ladybug Race, Sunday, April 28, 2024. Visit here for more information on the race and here for more information on WOW!.
