Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Sheila McCurdy honored with BoatUS/NWSA 2018 Leadership in Women's Sailing Award

by Scott Croft 7 Jun 2018 12:18 PDT
(L to R) Sheila McCurdy, Women's Sailing Award recipient with Debbie Huntsman, Vice President, National Women's Sailing Association © Pam Foley

Sheila McCurdy of Middletown, Rhode Island, was awarded the BoatUS/National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) 2018 Leadership in Women's Sailing Award at the NWSA Women's Sailing Conference held Saturday in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The award, which recognizes an individual with a record of achievement in inspiring, educating, and enriching the lives of women through sailing, was presented by NWSA President Linda Newland.

"Sheila McCurdy exemplifies a leader in the sailing world by serving as a mentor, teacher and role model for women entering the sport and also for those expanding their sailing skills." said Newland.

McCurdy grew up in a sailing family in Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island and from a young age, sailing became part of her life. "It's just what I do," said McCurdy. She has sailed big boats and small boats with family, friends, strangers and professionals, and skippers her own boat, Selkie, a 38-foot sloop designed by her father, Jim McCurdy.

She has sailed more than 100,000 miles offshore including a passage from the Galapagos to the Marquesas in 2014, the 2015 Transatlantic Race and 17 Newport Bermuda races—skippering to second place in class and fourth overall in 2016. In 2017, McCurdy cruised the west coast of Sweden and then sailed from Spain to the Azores. All of that experience gave her an understanding of how women approach sailing, and that information has helped shape programs with the female sailor in mind.

McCurdy is a trustee of Mystic Seaport Museum, serves on the board of Ida Lewis Yacht Club, and was the first female commodore of the Cruising Club of America, and served as a director of US Sailing Association where she ran the national faculty for 13 years. She was an advisor to the US Naval Academy Sailing for 20 years. She maintains a position on the Advisory Council of the National Women's Sailing Association, writes and lectures on education and training, runs safety training courses and certifies instructors for the U.S. Sailing Association. McCurdy also holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton master's license and a masters degree in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island. She has received several awards, including Rhode Island Boater of the Year 2011. She is married to David Brown.

BoatUS is a strong partner of NWSA, a program of the Women's Sailing Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of women and girls through education and access to the sport of sailing.

Related Articles

National Women's Sailing Association Conference
“Knowledge – Skills – Fun” while celebrating NWSA's 35th anniversary in St. Petersburg, Fl. The National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) is expanding its 2025 National Women's Sailing Association Conference, presented by American Sailing, to three days. Posted on 18 Mar
Leadership in Women's Sailing Award Nominations
Recognizing achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing The National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) and Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) have opened nominations for the 2025 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women's Sailing Award. Posted on 12 Nov 2024
Jerelyn Biehl honored for leadership
With 2024 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women's Sailing Award The youngest of three children, Jerelyn Biehl was born into a sailing family. She learned sailing from her parents and as a teenager absorbed all things boating at her father's marine store. Posted on 13 Jun 2024
NWSA to host 2024 Conference
Ticket sales open March 16 The National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) comes to the Crescent City with the 2024 National Women's Sailing Association Conference on Saturday, June 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Southern Yacht Club with help from Community Sailing New Orleans. Posted on 15 Mar 2024
Dr. Anne Kolker honored with Women's Sailing Award
By the Boat Owners Association of The United States and the National Women's Sailing Association Dr. Anne Kolker grew up sailing, first as a youngster, then through college, medical school and into marriage. However, when her husband died in 2008, she realized that she needed to learn more about sailing and grow her confidence behind the wheel. Posted on 6 Jun 2023
What's the Best 'Ship' in the Country?
Sea Scout Ship Viking of San Francisco honored with 2023-24 BoatUS National Flagship Award Sea Scout Ship Viking (Ship100) has been has named the 2023-2024 BoatUS National Flagship – a recognition as the best “ship” (Sea Scout group) in the country. Posted on 13 May 2023
West Coast's Sailing Convention for Women returns
BoatUS has sponsored the event for nearly three decades After a Covid hiatus the Sailing Convention for Women is back with full sails and expanded learning opportunities and slated for Saturday, April 1, 2023. Posted on 8 Dec 2022
Linda Newland urges women to 'Capture the Power'
BoatUS/NWSA Award Honoree Nearly four decades ago, Linda Newland, a greenhorn sailor, found herself alone on a sailboat with a sorry lack of nautical know-how. She became determined not to have the humbling event define her sailing. Posted on 9 Jun 2022
NWSA to roll out red carpet for women sailors
'Sharing Sailing!' Conference to be held at Houston Yacht Club The National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) Conference comes to Houston Yacht Club, May 20-21, offering a day of fun, camaraderie and exceptional learning experiences for women sailors of all ages. Posted on 20 Mar 2022
NWSA Conference comes to Chicago's Jackson Park YC
“Sharing Sailing,” spotlights issue that sailors represent a small fraction of sailors nationwide Women sailors from all over the country will be heading to Jackson Park Yacht Club on Saturday, September 11 for the 20th annual Women's Sailing Conference. Posted on 27 Jul 2021
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastPalm Beach Motor YachtsSwitch One Design