Hudson River Maritime Museum women’s sailing conference to be held this month – The Daily Freeman

KINGSTON, N.Y. — The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Sailing School and Kingston Sailing Club will host the fifth annual Riverport Women’s Sailing Conference from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13.

The conference, which will be held online, will include presentations and panels featuring women mariners.

The conference will feature a keynote address by Tracy Edwards whose story is chronicled in the documentary film “Maiden.” Edwards, who had worked as a cook on charter boats, became the skipper of the first all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World sailing race, in 1989.

Conference participants can choose from a variety of workshops and presentations, including sessions led by Dawn Riley of Oakcliff Sailing, Deborah Mellen of Impossible Dream, Elizabeth McCarthy from SUNY Maritime College, and Haley Lhamon of Team Sail Like a Girl.

Workshop choices will include weather/wind, rules of the road, basic navigation, safety around large vessels, outboard engine troubleshooting, buying a boat, sustainable sailing, and introduction to racing, among others. A full list can be found online at www.hrmm.org/sailing-school.

Men are welcome to attend the conference, and groups such as sailing teams, community sailors, yacht clubs and students are encouraged to participate.

The conference cost is $60 per household ($50 for museum members), and $150 for organizations.

Preregistration is required at www.hrmm.org/sailing-conference.