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February - March 2017 February - March 2017 32 33 boatingonthehudson.com Find Us On Facebook at Boating On The Hudson
Jody Taffet Sterling at the helm of Taffy Girl. Sterling will teach a
class on buying your first boat and spring boat preparation at the
Riverport Women’s Sailing Conference. Photo provided.
The day was organized by Kingston Sailing Club officers Deborah
Medenbach and Jody Taffet Sterling, each lifelong sailors who have
participated in the National Women’s Sailing Conference in the past.
“My first time on a sailboat was racing at age six on my father’s 19-
foot Thistle on Long Island Sound,” recalled Sterling. “I was terrified
and spent the entire time crying, crouched by the centerboard
trunk, but I begged to go again and again. Apparently, my love for
sailing was stronger than my fear!”
Sterling went on to become a proficient racer on several family
boats and is the current Race Committee Chair for KSC. She will
teach a course on how to choose your first sailboat and general
spring boat preparation.
“Participants at the Riverport Women’s Sailing Conference will find
an amazing, supportive community of people. At my workshop, I will
go over many facets to consider when buying a boat and prepping
the boat for sailing, and I hope participants will consider the facts,
listen to their their gut and move forward into their sailing dream.”
Annika Saviowill teach an introduction tomarine electrical systems
for the conference. Savio got her start as a student sailor with the
Sea Education Association and then went on to crew on educational
tall ships, including as engineer on sloop Clearwater and Spirit of
South Carolina.
Event chair Deb Medenbach, the current Cruise Committee Chair
for KSC, has served as an Adventure Sail skipper in Boston for the
National Women’s Sailing Association and has been a boat transport
crew member from Antigua to Bermuda. She has raced with the
Kingston Sailing Club for 20 years.
“I know so many fine sailors who have served in every position
on their boats but have a tough time taking the helm. The more
you know, the more confidence you have,”
Medenbach said.“WewelcomeAnn Loeding, a
tugboat captain, who will give a workshop on
navigation and safety for sailors around large
vessels, which is of increasing importance as
more barges transport on the Hudson River.”
Registration is limited to 60 participants.
Register by March 11. Sailors from out of
area are welcome and special hotel rates
have been secured at the Best Western Plus
in Kingston. Registration is $65; $60 HRMM
members. To register, go to hrmm.org. For
course questions, email
com.
Annika Savio, an engineer aboard
the Sloop Clearwater, will teach an
introduction to marine electrical
systems at the Riverport Women’s
Sailing Conference on March 25.
We have it all in 2017...