Top Organizations Empowering Female Boaters

These days, it’s an exciting sight to see more ladies involved in boating. Thanks to women-focused non-profits, clubs and education programs, female boaters have more access to resources and opportunities than ever before.     

Not only are more ladies working in the field, but recent studies reveal women captains are also increasingly browsing the boating market. A report from Rightboat presents a significant rise in female visitors who search their website to buy boats. The site traffic reported an increase in the United States with just over 13% women searchers in 2017 rising to 24.67% in 2024. Rightboat also noted a spike in the fishing industry with a Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation report indicating female fishing participation hit a record high in 2023, making up 37% of anglers.

In honor of Women’s History Month this March, Marinalife celebrates organizations that empower women in the industry. Whether you’re a beginner sailor or expert boater or fisher, check out a few top organizations and programs across the coast.

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NATIONAL

National Women’s Sailing Association
Since 1990, this non-profit organization has fostered a mission to provide women with opportunities to enhance sailing skills and connect with fellow boaters. Membership includes access to exclusive educational content, offers for products and services, discounts on workshops and tickets to the annual Women’s Sailing Conference.

International Women’s Fishing Association
Established in 1955 as a club to promote women’s fishing, this association has grown into a prestigious organization with objectives to not only help women thrive in a male-dominated activity, but also support conservation and provide scholarships to marine science graduate students.

Women Making Waves — SaferBoater
SaferBoater’s nationwide community offers certified training schools and courses including women-only, on-the-water boating courses designed to foster a sense of camaraderie and support among participants. The Women Making Waves program locations include Charleston, SC, Bradenton, FL, and Long Beach, Dana Point and Marina Del Rey, CA.

Women on the Water — MarineMax
This women’s boating program offers small group seminars at MarineMax locations throughout the country. Courses are taught by U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captains with sessions in both the classroom and on-the-water.

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NEW ENGLAND

Women’s Sailing — Sailing Ships Maine
Portland, ME
This all-ladies sailing experience offers a three-day cruise along coastal Maine aboard the 36-foot sail training sloop Brightside. This hands-on program develops sailing skills and provides practice handling sails, rigging, piloting, managing the dinghy, learning safety procedures and more. 2025 trips are available June 20 – 22 and 27 – 29.

Women’s Sailing Clinic — Nantucket Community Sailing
Nantucket, MA
This clinic is designed to give women of all ages the opportunity to learn how to sail or brush up on skills. Clinics are offered on Tuesdays through the summer at the Jetties Sailing Center and the season runs June 23 – August 22.

Women’s Weekday Sailing — Tod’s Point Sailing School
Old Greenwich, CT
This is the perfect opportunity for women with children to take sailing classes on weekday mornings in early June while the kids are still in school. The hands-on courses take place aboard a double-handed sloop, and courses run June 9 – 12 and 16 – 19.

Women on the Water Long Island Sound
Connecticut and New York
This club is made up of around 400 women sailors from Connecticut and New York area yacht clubs to support women’s sailing education, social events, club regattas, networking and more. Check out the Women’s Ideal Regattas and other annual events.

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MID-ATLANTIC

Women on the Water — Downtown Sailing Center
Baltimore, MD
This non-profit sailing center on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has been serving the community since 1994 with a focus on providing affordable programs to all water-lovers. Women on the Water offers two levels (beginner and racing) held the first and third Mondays from May – September.

Women at the Wheel — Annapolis School of Seamanship
Annapolis, MD
While most programs offer sailing lessons, this course provides the chance for women to confidently operate their own powerboat. A mix of classroom education and on-the-water training provides students with a Maryland Safe Boating certificate and skills such as knot and line handling, docking, chart navigation and more.  

Women Making Waves — Chesapeake Boating Academy
Annapolis and Kent Narrows, MD
This three-hour Women Making Waves course taught by a female captain provides hands-on precision docking, open water education and more.

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SOUTH

Women on the Water — Columbia Sailing Club
Lake Murray, SC
This seasonal sailing course is led by women instructors with education aboard a C420 sailboat. Classes are two hours and end with an optional social gathering.

Women on the Water — St. Augustine Sailing
St. Augustine, FL
Designed for women, by women, this membership program teaches sailing to all ages through workshops and social events. In addition, the St. Augustine Sailing school offers courses with female instructors.

Free Women’s Sailing Classes – Key West Sailing Center
Key West, FL
This sailing school offers free courses to both members and the public throughout the season. Free women’s sailing classes run Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. with lessons for all levels from beginner to advanced.

Florida Women’s Sailing Association
Florida
Established in 1973, this association encourages education and fellowship, coordinates interclub racing and events, and offers benefits for member club opportunities across Florida.  

Ladies, Let’s go Fishing!
Florida
Known as the “no yelling school of fishing,” this non-profit provides all levels of fishers with a comfortable and fun hands-on learning experience. Meetings, courses, tournaments and seminars are hosted throughout the year.

Women’s-Only Fast Track to Cruising Course — Offshore Sailing School
British Virgin Islands
This women’s only bareboat charter course starts with two days learning to sail on the Colgate 26 keelboat and then six days cruising a large monohull or catamaran. The season begins April 26.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

South Florida Saltwater Weekend Seminar
Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!
Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 11 – 13

Women’s Sailing Conference 2025
Narragansett Sailing and Boating School
Warwick, RI, April 12

Keys Fishing Screamin’ Reels Tournament
Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!
Florida Keys, May 16 – 18

National Women's Sailing Association Conference 2025
National Women’s Sailing Association
St. Petersburg, FL, June 6 – 8

Tuna & Tiaras Ladies Tuna Tournament
at Ocean City Fishing Center
Ocean City, MD, June 13 – 14

Old Salt Ladies Teal Carpet Fishing Tournament
Old Salt Fishing Foundation
St. Petersburg, FL, June 19 – 21

Women’s Woodworking
at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
St. Michaels, MD, June 28 – 29  

OCMC Franky Pettolina Heels & Reels Ladies Tournament
at Ocean City Marlin Club
Ocean City, MD, August 1 – 2