Once again, this popular program
helping women learn to sail (and sometimes race) in a relaxed environment is on
our QYC calendar for 2023. Classes are scheduled for six Friday mornings from
9:15 to 11:30, from June 30 to August 4. (Because of scheduling complications and the availability of
instructors and boats, classes cancelled because of weather will not be made
up. Waterlilies participants, however, tend to be an enthusiastic bunch and are
seldom deterred by a little Quissett mist.) We meet on the Sailing Class deck
at the Harbor House.
We welcome as many sailors to join
the fun as space allows. We have a two step process for registration. Yacht club members have priority in
registering for class. Once members have signed up, non-members are welcome to
apply for the remaining spots. Emails announcing registration for the upcoming
summer’s program are sent first to QYC members in the spring. Thereafter, if we
have space to accommodate non-QYC members, notice will be sent to prior
students and other women who have requested to be on the mailing list. In
considering non-member applicants, we will give priority to non-members who are new to the
program or have participated for no more than two years.
We request a donation from each participating Waterlilies student to support the QYC Junior Sailing Program: QYC Members, $250, Non-Members, $400.
Questions may be directed to alirodin@gmail.com.
Registration for Waterlilies is now open to Quissett Yacht Club members.
Waterlilies history
QYC’s Waterlilies program was originally conceived in 1959. Three accomplished QYC sailors -- Cynthia Coffin, Isabel Haigh and Joan Wheeler -- recognized the need for a program to teach women QYC members to sail so that they would be prepared to take the helm in an emergency aboard a cruising boat and, less critically, have a better understanding of their kids’ racing exploits. At first the program was revived only once a generation, but it has now been running annually since 2001. Waterlilies has developed over the decades into a successful and popular program. It is designed to teach women to sail in a low stress, social environment, and to increase their confidence on the water. It is a great place to make friends too.
All instruction takes place in Herreshoff 12 1/2s, the
racing fleet in Quissett. While most of the Waterlilies instructors are
women, male instructors are also essential to accommodate our many
students. The instructors volunteer their time, and many use
their own boats, or boats belonging to the students.
Sample Syllabus
Rigging a Herreshoff 12 1/2
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