I am feeling a little nostalgic as I write my final newsletter submission of 2023. It has been an honor and pleasure to lead an extraordinary group of Officers and Directors on this year’s Board, and to see our membership roster swell to its pre-Covid level. Most of all, I’m thrilled by the enthusiasm that all of YOU bring to the club!! Without you, our members, we would not be the same club—so THANK YOU!
You have elected a strong, talented group of women to take the helm in 2024, and I hope you will support them wholeheartedly. If you have the desire to be more engaged, I encourage you to volunteer—it is the fastest way to develop connections and more personal relationships. If you have an idea for something, don’t hesitate to bring it to the Board and then step up to help execute it!
Finally, I hope you find whatever you were looking for when you joined WSA-OC—whether it be time on the water, an opportunity to “do good” for others, improve your sailing skills, get on a race boat, or just find your sisterhood of like-minded friends—it can happen here. I know it has for me!! Thank you for that. 🙂
Fair winds and following seas,
As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on all the incredible moments we've experienced together. It has truly been an unforgettable year filled with adventure, friendship, and personal growth.
First and foremost, I want to express my sincere gratitude to each and every one of you for making this past year's sailing season a resounding success. Your enthusiasm and dedication have been the driving force behind the growth and vibrancy of our association. Together, we have created a supportive community where women can come together to learn, improve their skills, and share their love for the sea.
Throughout the year, we embarked on numerous (mostly sailing) adventures starting the year off with our Rookie Regatta/Sail seminar in Dana Point and ending with our Duffy Poker Challenge in Newport Harbor. From Dana Point to Alamitos Bay, and over to Catalina, we encountered endless beauty, tranquility, and camaraderie on (and off) the water.
Our sailing workshops and educational sessions have been invaluable opportunities to develop our skills and become more confident sailors. Thanks to the expertise of our boat owners/skippers, guest speakers, trainers, and the commitment of our members, we have learned everything from navigation techniques to effective communication on board. These skills not only make us better sailors but also strengthen our ability to face challenges in other aspects of life.
However, it's the friendships we have formed that truly make our association special. The bonds forged on our sailing adventures have extended beyond the water, creating lasting connections among our diverse group of members. We have laughed, shared stories, and supported each other through life's ups and downs. The camaraderie among us is something truly extraordinary. As we look ahead to the coming year, I'm excited to continue building on the successes of the past year. There will be new challenges to conquer, new skills to acquire, and new adventures to explore. I encourage you all to continue your involvement and help us create an even more vibrant and inclusive community.
In closing, I want to thank you once again for being part of WSA-OC. It's because of your passion, dedication, and support that we have had such an incredible year. Let's carry this momentum forward and make the upcoming year an even bigger success.
Wishing you fair winds and calm seas!
Looking back at this past year as your Rear Commodore, we had an amazing lineup of incredible speakers at our monthly membership meetings, and a captive audience.
Guest Speaker Patti Day kicked the year off with a riveting story of her “Nighttime Naked Water Rescue” in San Francisco Bay. In March, racing aficionado Suzanne Schuler shared valuable “Tips & Tools to be a Great Crew Member.” Vicki Sweet empowered us with her informative presentation, “Beyond Band-Aids: Practical First Aid for Boaters.” At our May meeting, Staff Commodore Lisa Cullinane shared her experience purchasing a boat and advised us to “Buy Your Second Boat First.” The following month, Barbara and Michael Lawler inspired us with their heartwarming “Victory Lap” story about their complete circumnavigation of seven continents in less than four months. In July, Captain Alison Osinski enticed us to visit the Sea of Cortez with photos and tales of white sand beaches and abundant marine life. At our August meeting, WSA-OC’s Director of Philanthropy Colleen Weeks introduced us to our personality types to understand how we are “Wired That Way,” and to help bring balance into our lives on and off the boat.
Sailing into Fall, September found us back at NBYC with SSYC Staff Commodore, John Marshall, who entertained us with the very interesting “History of Avalon.” In October, we had an exhilarating evening with Audrey Fulk, a sailing instructor hailing from San Diego, as she shared her firsthand account of the 2023 Transpacific Yacht Race. The 2,225-mile passage from Los Angeles to Hawaii required 13 days at sea and presented many harrowing challenges along the way for Audrey and her crew. We ended the season with a full house, including 58 members and friends, who welcomed SSYC Commodore, Tom Noto. Using props and group participation, Tom provided an overview of how ocean navigation tools and procedures have developed over time, including a brief discussion of celestial navigation using the sun, moon, planets, and stars.
It has been my pleasure to organize WSA-OC’s monthly membership meetings, and I look forward to planning fun on-the-water events as your Vice Commodore in 2024. See you on the water.
You were generous with your time, talents, and charitable contributions, making 2023 a great year for WSA-OC Philanthropy. Join me on a cruise through this year’s sea of events:
As in years past, this August we participated in the nation-wide AdventureSail® with the National Women’s Sailing Association, and this year we served thirteen girls ages 11-12 from the San Clemente Boys and Girls Club. The girls participated in a day of ocean appreciation in Dana Point, learning to tie knots, touring the Ocean Institute, enjoying a picnic lunch, and spending an afternoon sailing on our members’ beautiful boats. Many of the girls bravely took the helm for the first time and experienced the joy and exhilaration of sailing. At the end of the day, each girl received gift bags filled with sun, sand, and sea items graciously donated by our WSA-OC members and received a scholarship for sailing lessons.
In the Fall, we sponsored nine women from a non-profit organization, Soroptimist of OC, to participate in Women in the Wind—a program that Staff Commodore Lisa Cullinane created in 2018. These women were all mothers experiencing various hardships and working to rebuild their lives while in college. WSA-OC boat owners and members all stepped up to treat these ladies to a special day of relaxation and empowerment on the ocean out of Newport Beach. There was a huge outpouring of volunteerism for this event, both from members who donated their time on the day of the event and from members who donated items for gift bags, which were so generous that each woman from Soroptimist received three bags filled with pampering items that made them feel cared for and loved. The ladies from Soroptimist expressed gratitude for this experience, with comments such as, “I will never forget this day” and “Today was life changing,” making all the efforts we put into the day worthwhile.
Our annual holiday party is just a few days away and will be FUN, FUN, FUN. We will have a silent auction at the party, which is the primary fundraiser for WSA-OC’s Philanthropy program. There is still time to donate gift items for the auction or to make a charitable cash donation if you have not already. If you would like to donate, please contact me at Philanthropy@wsaoc.org or 949-246-6070.
Looking ahead at next year, we hope you will join us at our next regular membership meeting in January 2024. Ticket sales from the 50/50 raffles at our monthly membership meetings are split between the drawing winner and the WSA-OC Philanthropy budget. We have ended our year with a solid treasury of funds for next year, and I sincerely thank you all for everything you have done to support WSA-OC Philanthropy. It truly takes a big crew, and I couldn’t have done it without your support. My two-year term is ending, and it has been a privilege and delight to get to know so many of you and to serve you. Sylvia Stevenson is stepping up as Director of Philanthropy in 2024, and I know she will do an amazing job.
December Birthdays
Please join me in wishing a very Happy Birthday to those members born in December.
12/4 - Cathy Lee-Saxton
12/16 -Lorrie Lausten
12/19 - John Papadopoulos
12/23 - Gail Hine
12/29 -Sylvia Stevenson
I hope you have enjoyed reading this year-end review in our final month’s edition of The Whistle!
As I reflect upon this past year at WSA-OC, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve our organization as Communications Director, which has been fulfilling for me personally in so many ways. I am thrilled by how much our membership has grown in 2023, by how engaged our members are in our association, and by how enthusiastically members have participated in our events and meetings throughout the year. I feel most grateful for the sense of community I have found through my involvement with WSA-OC and the relationships I have built with the inspiring women I have gotten to know. I hope you have similarly found membership rewarding.
As we head into 2024, please continue to visit WSA-OC's website, social media pages on Facebook and Instagram, and check your email inbox for up-to-date communications about all WSA-OC happenings, meetings, and events!
Women's Sailing Association-Orange County is dedicated to enriching the lives of women through expanded access to sailing-related activities and educational opportunities. WSA-OC is committed to preserving and protecting our oceans and contributing to our local community through on-the-water philanthropic activities.
WSA-OC is committed to providing reasonable accommodation in its programs and activities for individuals with disabilities. Those who require a reasonable accommodation should contact commodore@wsaoc.org at least one week in advance, where possible, to make a request
Women's Sailing Association - Orange County, PO Box 937, Dana Point, CA 92629, United States