SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

What is WOW/WAH?

The WOW/WAH regatta has two divisions: Women on Water (WOW) — composed of all female teams and Women at the Helm (WAH) — composed of co-ed teams with a female driver. Both divisions race the same weekend in one regatta. Each division may have multiple classes, depending on entries. Each division will race in the same general area of Santa Monica Bay, but have separate starts and may have different courses.

The Organizing Authority for the event is the Women’s Sailing Association of Santa Monica Bay (WSASMB) in conjunction with the Association of Santa Monica Bay Yacht Clubs (ASMBYC). ASMBYC co-hosts the regatta with the following Marina del Rey area clubs: Pacific Mariner’s Yacht Club, Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club, Del Rey Yacht Club, California Yacht Club and the Women’s Sailing Association of Santa Monica Bay.

All five clubs participate in the regatta: California YC provides race management and on the water support, and WSASMB handles much of the set up and legwork for the event. Del Rey YC, Pacific Mariners YC, and Santa Monica Windjammers YC provide party venues, allowing racers and volunteers to enjoy each other’s company on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively

How it all began

The Women on the Water Series began in the early 1970s with the “Ladies Got Guts Race” to the Isthmus at Catalina Island. Organized by Stan Lieberman and sponsored by Del Rey Yacht Club, the event was initiated to interest women in learning more about boat handling. 

The enthusiasm of women for racing prompted other yacht clubs to sponsor their own “Women Only” events. These races became organized as a series in the late 1970s when then California Yacht ClubCommodore Robert S. Wilson donated an antique silver loving cup to be awarded to the top woman sailor in Santa Monica Bay.

In 2002 WSASMB donated a crystal sailboat perpetual trophy for the winner of the WAH division with the most entries. In 2005 a Martin 242 half model perpetual trophy was dedicated in memory of Cheryl Rembert, an active Santa Monica Bay area sailor. The Cheryl Rembert Memorial Award is given to the top placing Martin 242 in the WOW division.

What classes/boats race in WOW/WAH?

Basically, whatever kind of boats are entered! The WOW division may have a one-design class and a PHRF class. Both classes start together and are scored separately for one-design or PHRF trophies, and then are scored together for the overall WOW winner. A popular one-design class used in WOW/WAH in the past is the Martin 242. Boats entered in the PHRF class in the past have included the Olson 30, J/24, and Schock 35. Pretty much all of the WOW boats use a spinnaker on the downwind legs.

The WAH division is typically split into two classes: WAH Performance and WAH cruising The two classes start separately and are scored separately. The WAH performance boats are a bit more sporty than the WAH cruising boats, and usually fly spinnakers on the downwind legs. Boats entered in the WAH Performance class in the past have included the J/105, J/80, Soveral 33 and the Viper 830. The WAH cruising class usually does not fly a spinnaker, and the cruising class may have reaching type courses rather than windward-leeward. Boats that have competed in WAH cruising in the past include the Catalina 30, Erickson 35 and MacGregor 26. There are often all-women crews racing in WAH cruising, that don’t race in the WOW division because their boat is more appropriate for the cruising class.

I have a boat I can use, how do I put a team together?

Get your team together in spring/summer. You may find crew through the Women’s Sailing Association – come to a meeting! Hang out at post-race parties and start talking to other women sailors. California Yacht Club’s Sunset Series on Wednesday night, starting in April, is a great way to meet other sailors.

I want to skipper! How can I find a boat to borrow?

Start asking potential boat owners EARLY, like in springtime or early summer. You’ll need to convince the owner that you’re ready for this – plan to go sailing with them several times and learn exactly how they take care of their “baby.” Expect that the owner might want to go with you on some of your practice sessions until they are 100% comfortable with your boat handling. Ask some of the former WOW winners how they found boats to borrow. Start talking to owners at post-race parties early in the year California Yacht Club’s Sunset Series on Wednesday night, starting in April, is a great way to meet other sailors). Find out who the ASMBYC women’s sailing coordinator is and ask her for help (it will be listed at www.asmbyc.org). You can also email wsasmbracing@gmail.com.

I want to crew! How can I find a team to race with?

Again, start talking to people EARLY to get on a team! Come to a Women’s Sailing Association meeting and let people know you want to crew. Ask some of the former WOW winners if they are putting a boat together this year.

Do I have to be a member of a yacht club to participate?

All skippers must be a member of a yacht club or sailing association belonging to SCYA or US Sailing. If you are not presently a member of such an organization and wish to skipper in WOW/WAH, check out WSA; we have very reasonable yearly dues and membership in will satisfy the requirement.

Are there clinics or practice races?

Yep – there are several. SBYRC and SMWYC both usually host start clinics – these are great! The Women’s Sailing Association may also have clinics that might be helpful. Check the calendar for clinics. Of course doing a CYC Sunset Series race with your team is always a good way to get time on the water. For the dates of all these events, check out the ASMBYC race calendar – you can find it online at www.asmbyc.org.

What are the typical courses?

Courses for WOW and WAH Performance usually come from Course Chart 17. These are windward-leeward courses. Some courses have upwind finishes, some have downwind finishes. Usually, you can expect to have at least two windward mark roundings. WAH Cruising might have a different set of courses.
Yes, course MDR Course Chart 17 is confusing at first. Page 1 gives a little map of the marks in Santa Monica Bay and lists the courses. Page 2 provides the approximate bearing and distance between marks, and their approximate latitude and longitude. When using course Chart 16, the starting area will be in the vicinity of S mark

Is there a party?

Only one of the best parties in the marina! Saturday night we have a BBQ at Pacific Mariners Yacht Club. Sunday after racing we have hospitality and the trophy presentation at Santa Monica WIndjammers Yacht Club. At both parties we have GREAT raffle prizes.

Do I get a trophy if I win?

Hell, yes, you get a trophy! There are both take-home trophies and perpetual trophies. The number of take-home trophies awarded per class depends on the number of entries in the class. Typically there are take home trophies for WOW one-design, WOW PHRF, WAH Performance and WAH Cruising. The WOW one-design and WOW PHRF classes vie for the WOW Perpetual Trophy and the WAH Performance and WAH Cruising classes vie for the WAH Perpetual Trophy. The perpetual trophies are displayed at your yacht club, or if you do not belong to a landed yacht club, another club in the area.

I have other questions..who do I contact?

Questions like.. how do I get a guest slip? Is there a spectator boat? What kind of swag is there? How much is the event?
 
Help is available to answer ALL your questions - email the WSASMB race chair at racing@wsasmb.org

2000 Susie Taylor SBYRC “Take Five”
2001 Marylyn Hoenemeyer CYC-SBYRC “Blarney”
2002 Cheryl Pers Rembert CYC “Patience”
2003 Mary Kate Scott CYC “Mischief”
2004 Lisa Hackenberg SBYRC “Patience”
2005 Barbara Duker CYC “Velerito”
2006 Stine Cacavas WSA “Patience”
2007 Karyn Jones WSA/SCCYC “Patience”
2008 Mary Stuyvesant CYC “Open Fly”
2009 Barbara Duker CYC “305”
2010 Ann Chamberlin CYC “Goodbye Earl”
2011 Alice Leahey CYC “Grace O’Malley”
2012 Anne Popolizio Scuttlebutt Sailing Club “Bad Wolf”
2013 Jennifer Arrington WSA “Sandbox!”
2014 Barbara Duker CYC “305”
2015 Jessica Amen Richmond YC “All In”
2016 Marilyn Cassedy CYC “All In”
2017 Patricia Lapdula WSA “Sandbox”
2018 Julie Coll KHYC “Sails Coll”
2019 Mary Stuyvesant CYC “Groundhog Day”