The 2026 WOW Season in Photos
If you are a Women on the Water of Long Island Sound Representative, don’t forget to send in your event photo and event write-up!
2026 Kickoff Cocktail Party
Women on the Water
The Women on the Water 2026 Kickoff Cocktail party was held in Riverside, CT on Sunday, April 26. Forty-five women sailors from 13 area yacht clubs attended to socialize and hear the latest news and event updates from member club representatives.
Origins of the Women's Interclub Supper Series Finals
(According to Indian Harbor Yacht Club)
In 2013, at the winter women's sailing program leaders' meeting at the Pequot Yacht Club, it was discovered that the WOW East Group was holding a sailing/supper series much like the WOW West Group, so it was decided to hold a Finals combining the two groups.
But where to hold such an event? Alix Hahn from American Yacht Club said to Karen Lau, "Indian Harbor Yacht Club, because you guys have the best food!" So it was decided to inaugurate a WOW Supper Series Finals event the second Tuesday in July, and to include more than just sailors by offering spectator boats and a "supper" to all supporters of women's sailing. The ‘finale’ event has been changed (unofficially) to the second day of sailing for the ‘Lorna’ regatta - all are invited to attend the brunch.
WOW EVENTS - 2026
WOW Signature Events, Supper Series & Watson Series Regattas
We add photos and write-ups from our 2026 events as they occur and we receive updates from each club’s WOW representatives. If you’re a REP, send your photo and write-up to Cathy Blood (OGYC) at wowlisinfo@gmail.com.
IN DATE ORDER
For more info on our events, visit our online Calendar of Events.
PEQUOT YACHT CLUB
SUPPER SERIES - Sail Around & Supper
Monday, May 18, 2025 (WOW EAST)
Pequot Yacht Club WOW Rep Lisa Borter reports for 2026:
INDIAN HARBOR YACHT CLUB
SUPPER SERIES - Sail Around & Supper
Thursday, May 21, 2026 (WOW WEST)
Indian Harbor Yacht Club WOW Rep Lili Tarbell reports for 2026: The May 21st IHYC Hosted Supper Series was a success even though the wind was non-existent and we didn’t sail. Fourteen women from LYC, RYC, Hudson River Community Sailing, AYC, IHYC, OGYC and PYC attended! Great camaraderie and sunset.
RIVERSIDE YACHT CLUB
SUPPER SERIES - Race & Supper
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 (WOW WEST)
Riverside Yacht Club WOW REP Michele Brendel reports for 2026:
AMERICAN YACHT CLUB
SUPPER SERIES - Race & Supper
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 (WOW EAST)
American Yacht Club Supper Series WOW Rep Susana Lagunas reports for 2026: The third WOW (Women on the Water) sailing and dinner was held at American Yacht Club on June 3th in perfect sailing conditions, with sunny skies and a fair wind. Nine boats took to the water with 18 women sailing, bringing together sailors of all experience levels for a fun and active day on the water.
The event featured a clinic regatta with a windward mark and gates, giving sailors the opportunity to practice boat handling, strategy, and tactics in ideal conditions. After sailing, the group headed ashore and gathered for a debrief to discuss starting strategies. 20 women enjoyed the dinner and had the chance to relax and connect. It was a wonderful day of sailing, learning, and camaraderie—everything WOW is about.
AMERICAN YACHT CLUB
WATSON SERIES - SPINNAKER CLINIC
Sunday, June 7, 2026 (WOW EAST)
American Yacht Club Supper Series WOW Rep Susana Lagunas reports for 2026: The Ideal 18 Spinnaker Clinic was held at American Yacht Club on June 7th, with 20 women participating. Strong winds kept the group ashore, where sailors were divided by experience level for a three-hour hands-on session focused on the fundamentals of spinnaker handling.
A follow-up practice was held the following week, giving participants the opportunity to put their new skills into practice on the water. Everyone had a chance to try, making the clinic a fun and valuable learning experience.
NORWALK YACHT CLUB
SUPPER SERIES - Sail Around & Supper
Monday, June 8, 2026 (WOW EAST)
Norwalk Yacht Club WOW Rep Anne Munkenbeck reports for 2026: The WOW interclub event at Norwalk Yacht Club hosted 40+ women sailors for a beautiful evening of sailing followed by dinner in the great room. Women sailed on 8 Ideal 18s and three big boats captained by women WOW sailors from Norwalk YC. It could not have been a better evening with a steady westerly breeze and clear skies!
LARCHMONT YACHT CLUB
SUPPER SERIES - Race & Supper
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (WOW WEST)
Larchmont Yacht Club WOW Reps Anne Stark and Andree Bogaerts Stone report for 2026: On June 9, LYC hosted the Supper Series for women from 6 member clubs - OGYC, RYC, IHYC, AYC, HRCS, and LYC - for the Supper Series. On a beautiful evening that saw a steady breeze of 7 - 10 knots from the southeast, LYC set up 3 races for the fleet of 10 boats. Libby Alexander (AYC) and Tricia Leicht (LYC) took first in the first two races and Anne Stark (LYC) and Branka Dragasevic (HRCS) won the third race. Racing was followed by dinner at LYC’s Tiki Bar, where the group lingered to enjoy each other’s company. A good time was had by all!
NOROTON YACHT CLUB
SUPPER SERIES - Sail Around & Supper
Monday, June 9, 2026 (WOW EAST)
Noroton Yacht Club WOW Rep Lorraine George-Harik reports for 2026: Noroton YC hosted our Sail & Supper on the beautiful June 9th evening. Our Commodore Scott Harrison and Rear Commodore Jillian Graves welcomed over 40 WOW sailors on our patio with much excitement for the evening. We sailed Ideal 18s, Sonars, Big Boats and our new Storm 18s. After sailing, we gathered on the Clubhouse deck for cocktails and appetizers, followed by a buffet dinner inside. We enjoyed sharing sailing stories and lots of laughter. We capped the evening with a surprise birthday cake for Stamford sailor, Alison Malloy.
Thank you to all who joined us. We’re looking forward to next year!
COMMODORE MENDEZ WOMENS INVITATIONAL REGATTA
LARCHMONT YACHT CLUB
Watson Series Regatta (#1 of four)
Saturday, June 14, 2026
Larchmont Yacht Club’s Mendez Regatta Organizer Anne Stark reports for 2026: LYC hosted the Ladies Invitational Regatta for the Commodore Mendez Trophy on Sunday, June 14. Twelve sailors from four LIS clubs sailed five races in a pleasant early summer southerly breeze that held steady in the 7 - 10 knot range. With bullets throughout the day, Katie Morgan and Nicole Casey of Noroton Yacht Club took first place, followed closely by Katie Lawless of LYC and Katie Montgomery of Pequot Yacht Club, who racked up an unbroken string of seconds. Pam Washington and Anne Stark of LYC took third.
There are four Women’s Ideal 18 Sailing Regattas held each year on Long Island Sound. The Queens Cup, The Gillespie, The Lorna, and The Mendez. All four are qualifiers for the YRA Long Island Sound Andrea Watson Award, which recognizes the top woman sailor who is a member of the YRALIS. The Mendez was the first of the four to take place this season.
BLACK ROCK YACHT CLUB
SUPPER SERIES - Sail Around & Supper
Monday, June 15, 2026 (WOW EAST)
Black Rock Yacht Club WOW Rep Katie O’Grady reports for 2026:
OLD GREENWICH YACHT CLUB
SUPPER SERIES - Race & Supper
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 (WOW WEST)
Old Greenwich Yacht Club WOW Rep Beth Eaton reports for 2026: OGYC's WOW racers hosted the Supper Series on Tuesday, with Ideal 18 racers from five area Yacht Clubs attending for a short series of Races followed by dinner on the deck. EJ Haskell took extra sailors on one of the J24s for a pleasure sail while Pat Quis, Lorenzo De Ferrari and Linda Bailey handled Race Committee duties. A total of 30 women sailors enjoyed the perfect evening of sailing and camaraderie. Participating Clubs were American, Hudson River, Indian Harbor, Larchmont, OGYC and Riverside.
STAMFORD YACHT CLUB
SUPPER SERIES - Sail Around & Supper
Wednesday, June 24, 2026 (WOW EAST)
Stamford Yacht Club WOW REPs Ethel Scully & Manisha Sakore report for 2026: On June 24, Stamford Yacht Club welcomed members of Women on the Water from yacht clubs across the region for the annual Supper Series, featuring a sunset sail followed by dinner. Guests enjoyed near-perfect conditions as they took to the water aboard members’ boats (J120, Jeanneau 350, Trawler) and the Club’s fleet of Ideal 18’s. Sailors joined from Noroton, Norwalk, Pequot and Black Rock Yacht Clubs, and Hudson River Community Sailing. A great time was had by all!
YRALIS QUEENS CUP REGATTA - Long Island Sound Championship
AMERICAN YACHT CLUB
Watson Series Regatta (#2 of four)
Sunday, June 28, 2026
American Yacht Club Regatta Chair Jenn Leary reports for 2026:
HORSESHOE HARBOR YACHT CLUB
SIGNATURE SPECIAL EVENT
Sail Around & Supper
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 (WOW EAST & WEST)
Horseshoe Harbor Yacht Club WOW Rep Pam Michels reports for 2026:
STONINGTON YACHT CLUB
SIGNATURE SPECIAL EVENT
Sail & Slumber - Casual Sail, Dinner, Sleep-over & Breakfast
Thursday, July 16 to Friday, July 17, 2026 (WOW EAST + WEST)
Stonington Harbor Yacht Club WOW Rep Tori Gimple reports for 2026: Fifteen sailors from 7 different yacht clubs made their way east to Stonington to join 21 SHYC Ideal Women for an evening of social sailing around Stonington Harbor. Sailing 8 Ideals, Janet's Typhon and some on the two photo boats, everyone enjoyed the evening on the water. With a perfect wind of 10-12 laying down nicely as we finished up, catching the mooring ball was a breeze. Following cocktail time at the clubhouse, a yummy buffet of green salad, chilled asparagus soup, ratatouille, roasted baby potatoes, chicken and flounder was served as we all sat together getting to know each other. Fascinating what a small world it is as connections were made, one sailor sat next to someone her father went to high school with, another found they had mutual friends from work and so it continued.
The evening commenced with housing assignments as SHYC hosts were matched with their guests for the night but not before a reminder of the breakfast plans for Friday morning at the home of another SHYC sailor.
For breakfast, sailors arrived at the beautiful garden behind an historic home, flowers of all types in bloom to a delicious variety of breakfast items along with coffee, tea and juice. Another opportunity for everyone to chat and connect. We love hosting and look forward to doing it again next year.
HUDSON RIVER COMMUNITY SAILING
WOW Sail Around NY Harbor (J80s & J24s) & Rooftop Drinks
HRCS Chelsea Location
Sunday, July 26, 2026 (WOW EAST & WEST)
Hudson River Community Sailing Club WOW Rep Elif Levent reports for 2026: On the afternoon of Sunday, July 26, Hudson River Community Sailing was delighted to host Women on the Water of Long Island Sound for an enjoyable afternoon of sailing on the Hudson River and NY Harbor.
The day began with a challenge familiar to every sailor—light winds. While we could plan for the currents, the breeze had its own schedule. With little wind at the start, most of our boats motored from Pier 66 toward the Statue of Liberty. Just as we reached Lady Liberty, the harbor came alive with a welcome breeze. It was the perfect reward for our patience, allowing us to turn off our engines, hoist our sails, and enjoy the beauty of sailing as it was meant to be.
With the wind filling our sails and the Statue of Liberty providing a spectacular backdrop, skippers and crew shared a wonderful afternoon on the water before making the sail back up the Hudson.
The afternoon concluded with a rooftop social at The Yacht Club, where everyone relaxed, shared stories from the day, and enjoyed each other’s company.
A sincere thank you to our Hudson River Community Sailing skippers, crew, and volunteers for making our guests feel so welcome, and to the members of Women on the Water for joining us. Days like these remind us that while we can’t control the wind, we can always count on great company, teamwork, and the joy of being out on the water.
Fair winds until we sail together again!
NYACK BOAT CLUB
WOW SAIL & BRUNCH - NEW in 2026!
Sunday, August 2 (WOW EAST & WEST)
Nyack Boat Club WOW Rep Libby Akerman reports for 2026:
GILLESPIE WOMENS REGATTA
Norwalk Yacht Club
Watson Series Regatta (#3 of four)
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Norwalk Yacht Club Sailing Director reports for 2026:
LORNA REGATTA
Indian Harbor Yacht Club
Watson Series Regatta (#4 of four)
Saturday & Sunday, September 26 & 27, 2026
Indian Harbor Yacht Club Lorna organizer Lili Tarbell reports for 2026:
Women on the Water, Long Island Sound: serving women sailors from CT & NY
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