The National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) and Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA) have collaborated to bring the Women’s Sailing Conference to Long Beach, California. Both organizations are delighted to return to Southern California, where the founder of this women’s sailing convention model, Gail Hine, conducted her conventions for over three decades. Women and marine sponsors have expressed their desire for the conference to return to an area with a rich history of celebrating women’s sailing. The historic Long Beach Yacht Club will be the primary venue for the conference from March 20-22, 2026.
The conference model is designed to bring together women instructors and students of varying skill levels for on-water and classroom courses, networking events, and camaraderie. This year’s conference introduces new events, including an awards ceremony honoring distinguished women leaders who have demonstrated significant leadership to the growth of the southern California women’s sailing community.
The gathering starts Friday with an opening reception. Women’s Sailing Association, Long Beach (WSA-LB) will host the event.
Saturday’s programming encompasses a comprehensive day of classroom, dockside, and on-the-water workshops conducted by best-in-class female instructors and captains from various regions nationwide. Women have the flexibility to select a combination of classes that align with their skill requirements or opt for a specialized track, such as race management, advancing leadership in racing, or introductory courses for novice sailors. The day will be capped off with a happy hour and optional dinner.
Classes will resume on Sunday with extended class durations, enhanced networking opportunities, and increased hands-on sailing experiences on keelboats and dinghies.
Early bird registration for the event began January 2, 2026, offering participants the opportunity to secure their preferred classes at a discounted rate and optional two-payment plan. The registration process is straightforward and includes access to all three days of the event, which encompasses the Friday reception, Saturday breakfast, lunch, and the NWSA AdventureSail fundraiser, as well as Sunday breakfast and lunch. Optional tickets to Saturday dinner will be available on a first-come basis.
The associations are proud to announce Skipper Sponsor Mustang Survival and Crew Sponsor Belize Sailing Vacations. Conference sponsors and fundraiser donors will be acknowledged on the conference website.
Developments will be announced in NWSA and SCYA eNewsletters. Details will be announced on the conference website and NWSA website WomenSailing.org. Direct questions about conference registration or sponsorship opportunities to conference@womensailing.org or commodore@scya.org.
About National Women’s Sailing Association: Founded in 1990 by National Sailing Hall of Fame sailor Doris Colgate, the National Women’s Sailing Association is a program of the Women’s Sailing Foundation, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the U.S. It maintains the mission of providing education, programming and support for women sailors of all ages and backgrounds. The organization seeks to help women find community and mentorship among their peers, as well as create leadership and education opportunities. Through membership, donations and sponsorship, they continue to maintain AdventureSail®, a program designed for girls who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to discover the joys of sailing, the Learn to Sail Youth Sailing Scholarship, the Sue Corl Sailing Scholarship, Gail Hine NWSA Conference Scholarship and the BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award. For more information visit https://www.womensailing.org. Follow on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIN.
About Southern California Yachting Association: Founded in 1921, Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA) serves yacht clubs and sailing organizations regionally—from Fresno, California to Baja, Mexico; southern Utah, Arizona and Nevada—promoting Corinthian values and safety, through member-driven programs and regional leadership. As a Regional Sailing Association (RSA) under US Sailing, SCYA serves a crucial role as an umbrella organization for local sailing clubs within its geographic footprint (Area J), coordinating races, classes, handicapping, and events. SCYA acts as the grassroots backbone that connects local sailors to national sailing initiatives, ensuring access to structured sailing opportunities and fielding teams for national championships. A non-profit corporation, SCYA’s guiding mission is to support and promote recreational, amateur boating within its region. For more information, visit https://scya.org.
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