Old Greenwich Yacht Club Women’s Social group
What is the OGYC Women’s Social Group?
Hint, it’s NOT the same as the interclub women’s Ideal 18 racing organization, WOW of Long Island Sound - where this page is hosted.
The OGYC Women’s Social Group is for ALL the Women of OGYC, regardless of your ‘vessel of choice’, or whether you have a vessel at all!
Whether you’re a social ‘deck’ member, or you’re a paddler, power boater or sailor, the women of OGYC are always low key ready to get out and get to know each other.
What does the OGYC Women’s Social group do? We get together casually over a glass of BYOBeverage of choice, and appetizers, sometimes on, and sometimes off the water. The 14 member volunteer squad (full list can be found at the bottom of this page) periodically plans some impromptu events & meet-ups at the club.
Participation in this OGYC group requires Greenwich residency AND membership in the Old Greenwich Yacht Club.
2026 OGYC WOMENS Social Group EVENTS
Chili Cook Off Desserts! Our group will once again help out at the chili contest Saturday March 16 at 1pm by bringing desserts, and hanging out. If you want to participate email Squad Member Renee Potter who is organizing this year’s desserts at renee.ptr@gmail.com.
Planning Meeting - Advisors & New Co-leaders, OGYC Clubhouse, Wednesday April 22, 2026 at 6:15PM.
Paddle Orientation - Date and Time TBD, not on the Calendar yet. Paddle Peeps! Let’s all meet our new Water Programs Director Betsy Burlson and makes sure we are all connected and ready to use the club’s Kayaks, (singles and one double), Paddle Boards, AND skiff (not yet set up :)
Sunset Photos AND Club Cocktail Contest! Saturday June 6 from 6-8PM Should we do a group sponsored cocktail?! Wine & Cheese will be served. If also participating in the photo contest, members will display their best framed photos. The OGYC Board will judge the photo contest. Prizes for 1st and 2nd place in each category. I THINK that the cocktails is set up like Chili Contest where members can vote with their tickets. ?
Curious about events from 2023, 2024 and 2025? Scroll down for a list by year with photos :)
MEET YOUR OGYC Women’s Social Group SQUAD
To view the OGYC profiles of the Squad members below, please login to your OGYC account, go to member directory, and search by name to find their contact info. We are not currently permitted to link to their profiles directly.
Dina Lafferty - CO-LEADER - dinalafferty@att.net
Angela Ragland-McConnel - CO-LEADER - araglandmcconnell@gmail.com
Betsy Burleson - BOARD REPRESENTATIVE - OGYC Water Programs Director
Beth Eaton - ADVISOR - Sail / Power
Cathy Blood - ADVISOR - Sail / Paddle
SQUAD MEMBERS
Kristen Rodriguez - Power
Renee Potter - Sail
Marilyn Olsson - Social / Power
Cheryl Moss - Social / Sail / Paddle
Sarah Jenkins - Sail / Paddle / Power
E.J. Haskell - Sail, PRHF
Leslie Dobryn - Sail / Cruise / Paddle
Nancy Chapin - Paddle / Sail
Ellie Bowman - Social / Sail
Want to join the SQUAD to help plan events?
We think up fun stuff to do and send out emails. No set up, no breakdown, no party planning :)
Reach out to Angela or Dina.
The role of Squad Members
Communicate with their social or boater group (sail/paddle/power/deck), talking up the OGYC Women’s Social group with members.
Helping to maintain up to date contact lists for their social and/or boater group
Making sure new members are added to our WhatsApp, and our email list (work with Peter Linderoth, Membership Director)
Working with board to ensure our boat ownership and interest indication lists are correct
Attending some membership open houses
Attending, when possible, our BYOB casual events
GET INVOLVED - Join our WhatsApp group and get on our email list!
Step One: Join our OGYC Womens Social Group WhatsApp Community where you can join groups like General (social), Paddle, Sail, or Power. Using WhatsApp you are able to reach out to all members of your particular interest group to find a paddle partner, a game group, sailing buddy, or a power peep.
You will be automatically entered into the “General Group”. To connect with ‘your people’ you can additionally sign up for the Paddle group, Sail Group or Power Group. When you’ve finished signing up for your desired groups, you can introduce yourself so people can add you to their contacts - be sure to include your phone number in your introduction as this is hidden in WhatsApp.
Next, set your notifications for each group so that you never miss a message or post!
STEP 2: Get on the OGYC Women’s Social Group email list via your member profile
Login to the OGYC website and edit the ‘I would like to Participate or Volunteer’ question in your member profile and be sure to check off “Women’s Boating & Social Group” - the last option on the list of interests shown in the screenshot.
That’s it! You’ll be on our email list.
Make sure all your other ‘interests’ are accurate.
As we are planning events, it is helpful if we know who owns which type of boats. So if you own a boat (or two), be sure your ‘boat ownership’ fields are also up-to-date.
For more information on OGYC’s Women’s Social Group, contact the two new 2026 group leaders: Dina or Angela.
Visit the OGYC Women’s Social Group page on the OGYC website (login to view) it will redirect you back to this page.
Who We Are - Social Members, Paddlers, Power Boaters & Sailors
Women Paddlers
As kayakers & paddle boarders we get up close and personal with nature and each other. It’s a vibe.
Whether you own your paddle vessel (or two or three), borrow from the ALL NEW OGYC Paddle & Kayak Fleet (new since 2024) or rent from Tod’s Point Sailing School, you can get to know more paddle buddies through the OGYC Women’s Boating Group.
There are 19 OGYC member owned paddle vessels of all types - with a woman-owner or co-owner. (Per the OGYC member directory.) Many more members rent! Plus nearly 20 members who don’t own a kayak or paddleboard but are interested in paddling activities.
We aren’t sure if Paddleboard yoga will be back in 2026 :( Activities at OGYC include the Paddleboard Yoga Class, held 6 times each summer from 10-11AM on alternating Saturdays from late June through early September. Registration required, no charge, guests allowed - this event is coed. But you must supply your own board.
Don’t miss the full moon paddle events!
In the Fall there are expert guided birding paddles.
Women Power Boaters
Whether you’re at the helm or you’re more comfortable packing the cooler, OGYC power boaters love to share their know-how and knowledge. They know where the best anchorages and waterfront restaurants are for day trips.
There are 55 OGYC member-owned power boats moored in Greenwich Cove or nearby - with a woman owner or co-owner, per the member directory. Maybe you don’t own a power boat, but you think you might want to someday. Get to know some power boaters!
OGYC maintains a ‘cruising’ page’ with valuable info about interclub reciprocity and a ‘Cruising Forum’ which is completely empty. Let’s build on this!
Cross Pollinate: Knowledgeable power boaters are always needed to drive the Club’s boats on race nights. So if you want to mix it up with other club members, consider driving on a Wednesday race night!
Women Sailors
We have a wide variety of women sailors at OGYC. Some women are PHRF racers (big boat owners) or crew. Some women own their own sailboats (big and small) and sail just for fun. And some of us rent sailboats from Tod’s Point Sailing school.
Other members actively use the club-owned Ideal 18s for both casual sailing and/or racing. Then there are the crazy frostbiters - who sail all winter in tiny dinghies. (Shhhh. We don’t talk about them much.)
Just so you know…There are 44 OGYC member-owned sailboats moored in or near Greenwich Cove - with a woman owner or co-owner. (Per the OGYC member directory.)
How can you get involved with sailing at OGYC?
First, get certified to sail the OGYC Ideals!
Participate in Mentor Sailing: On some Thursdays and Fridays, depending on other activities, there’s ‘new sailor’ mentoring where old hands take out new sailors on the Ideals.
There is also Coed Lunch & Sail on Thursdays for 14 weeks. You must be certified or be a member who is a guest of a member who is Ideal 18 certified. This is to avoid a situation where a lot of non-certified members show up and you can’t sail.
Take a class at Tod’s Point Sailing School! (There’s a women’s only sailing class in June.)
Twilight Series: Wednesday nights are our club Twilight Series, with PHRF and Ideal 18 racing. And we’re always looking for help on Race Committee!
Instruction: Sailing instructor, Anne Munkenbeck, can be hired for one-on-one learning on the Ideals (see the OGYC calendar).
WOWlis Interclub Racing: And finally, for the more experienced women Ideal racers, we have Women on the Water of Long Island Sound - for women’s inter-yacht club racing, socializing, and regattas between 14 NY & CT Yacht Clubs.
Our inter-club Ideal 18 sailing WOWlis OGYC Representatives are Beth Eaton and Cathy Blood.
Sign up for the CT/NY WOWlis email newsletter if you’re interested in learning more.
2025 - OGYC WOMENS Social Group EVENTS
Winter Planning Meeting for theWomen’s Boating and Social Group 14 Member Planning ‘Squad’ took place at 14 Relay Place in Cos Cob on Thursday, February 6, 2025, 5-6:15PM
Chili Contest Dessert Team! Members of the Womens Boating and Social Group gathered at the March Chili Contest to provide delicious desserts and sometime cornbread for the annual Club Chili Contest on March 8, 2025.
March 27 Winter Inter-club Mixer (held at Lugano Wine Bar in Old Greenwich) View Details, over 60 women attended: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/old-greenwich-womens-boating-and-social-group-interclub-mixer-tickets-1288713870879
The 2025 Paddleboard Yoga dates - 6 Saturdays at 10AM, and one Sunday. OGYC members may bring guests. Bring or rent your own board. Three club owned Paddleboard are now available for member use. Must have signed the paddle agreement/waiver, and sign the boards out. First come, first served. 2025 Dates: June 21, July 6 (Sunday), July 19, Aug 2, Aug 16, Aug 30, Sep 13
2025 Full Harvest Corn Moon Kayak Paddle - Sunday, September 7, 7-10PM, registration required. Meet up with other WB&Social Group paddlers for this fun evening event. (Sadly this event was canceled due to weather).
April 24 Knots and Nosh Potluck (rescheduled to October)
Knots and Nosh Potluck, on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 a group of the OGYC Women's Boating & Social Group got together for an End of Season Potluck Supper. The Boating & Social Group includes kayakers, paddle boarders, power boaters and sailors. The group reviewed tying a bowline, and Race Director Chris Tella chatted about all the OGYC sailing opportunities including our new J24's. We met new members to our group and started a Whats App Group to help us connect when looking for someone to go out kayaking, paddle boarding or leisure sailing.
December 6 Cocktails & Cookies! (hosted at a members home)
2024 - OGYC WOMENS BOATING & Social Group EVENTS
The Inaugural OGYC Women’s Boating Interclub Cocktail Mixer was held on Thursday, January 25, 2024 from 6-8PM at the Water Club in Cos Cob. Over 60 local Greenwich Women boaters attended, representing nearly every boat club in Greenwich & the town Marine Division. Check out the Interclub Mixer photo album here.
Yacht-Tails, a boat to boat social event featuring five members’ boats was held from 6-8PM on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Cost per person was $15 to cover refreshments. Each of the five host boats are owned or partnered by an OGYC woman. Each boat served a nautical-themed cocktail & appetizers. Launch service was provided between the boats. Check out the Yacht-Tails Photo Album here.
Full Moon Paddle! Join other members of the OGYC Women’s Boating & Social Group on Monday, August 19, 2024, at our own table on the deck for the music portion, then paddlers will join the intrepid few doing the full moon paddle starting at 8:30PM.
Knots & Nosh! A ‘Tie one on” Experience of Knot-tying and beveraging was held at OGYC on evening of October 10, 2024 5-7PM. View the event listing on the OGYC website: https://ogyc.org/event-5901439
2023 - OGYC WOMENS BOATING & Social Group EVENTS
All Things Paddle, a demo of all kinds of paddleboards, windsurfers as paddleboards, & kayaks, plus an inflation demo, was held on Sat, June 3, 4-6PM. Check out the event photo album.
Mini History Tour & Social - a historical tour of the western end of the point, led by Susie Baker, was held on Sunday October 22 from 3:30-6PM. Check out the event photo & video album.
Paddleboard Yoga - and of course, the ongoing paddleboard yoga class is a popular Saturday morning event for many! Program runs from 6/24 - 9/9/2023, every other Saturday, 10am-11am.