Featured Speaker — Capt. Marie Rogers

Captain Marie Rogers was the second woman in 118 years, the second black person, and the first black woman to be the commodore of the historic Los Angeles Yacht Club (LAYC). Marie races avidly. She was able to race in the 50th Transpacific race where she didn’t see another black person, let alone another black female, in the fleet. Marie also races close to home on her J 29, Rush Street, and does coastal racing on Marie, a Nelson Marek 55, that she shares with Bill, her husband. Rogers loves doing deliveries, cruising and teaching sailing. Marie is the 2021 BoatUS/National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award recipient. She is a Vice President of US Sailing. Rogers joined the board of NWSA/WSF in 2021.

Capt. Alison Osinski

USCG licensed captain (Master, Near Coastal, 100 Ton, with Sailing, Towing and STCW Endorsements). Sailing for more than 45 years, cruised extensively, both near (Channel Islands, Sea of Cortez) and far (Australia, Indonesia, Timbuktu). Occasional boat deliveries, teaches keel boat sailing lessons, conducts boating safety drills, provides boat handling instruction, navigation. Alison Osinski, Ph.D. is principal-owner of Aquatic Consulting Services; involved in aquatics, swimming pool/waterpark design, aquatic risk management, and provides litigation support. She has contributed as a presenter to the sailing Conventions since 2001 with many different and valuable boating-related subjects – mainly in the navigation field.

Workshop:  Navigation 101, Marine Nav and Coastal Piloting, Cruising Catamarans, Cruising Baja & the Sea of Cortez

Barbara Lawler

She was an occasional small boat sailor till after college. After graduation, throughout the ‘80’s, she lived and sailed the Caribbean on a Peterson 44. Then went on to sail in SE Asia on a 60-ft yacht. Barbara raced locally 2007-2010, and then she and her husband completed a circumnavigated. She has raced in six Transpacs! She’s a blue water sailor providing inspiration for this Convention.

Workshop:  Anchoring, Advanced Sailing

Cherie Faulds – NEW

Cherie sailed weekends to Catalina at age seven and lived aboard a gaff-rigged 68′ wooden schooner till age 12. Knots were first taught to her by her step-father. Off to the Caribbean at 19 for a stewardess job; first mate and chef aboard charter and private yachts to the Caribbean, Venezuela, East Coast, Mexico, and San Juan Islands to 1995. She crewed aboard tall ship Pilgrim, brushing up on knotting skills and earning the rank of Topman, which basically means you can go aloft! Cooked for 35 crew on return voyage Santa Barbara down to San Diego via Catalina then back to Dana Point. Recent adventures include her marriage, a return to the San Juan Islands, a trip to the Sea of Cortez and enjoying the friendship and connections as a member of WSA-OC.

Workshop: Knots, Provisioning

Capt. Debbie Dunne

Started sailing at age five, she began teaching and racing at the Boy Scout Sea Base and was involved with sea explorers for 10 years. Worked charter companies in Newport and San Francisco Bay. She taught for 25 years at OCC School of Sailing & Seamanship teaching beginning, intermediate, spinnaker, racing and cruising courses, powerboat, first aid/CPR, and Coast Guard licensing. Has a 100 ton USCG Master Near-Coastal license, and is a US Power Boating Instructor Trainer and US Sailing certified keelboat and cruising instructor. She now is the Marina Manager at BCYC.

Workshop:  Intermediate Sailing

Capt. Debbie Huntsman

Bought her first boat in her 40’s. Began racing in 50’s; when she turned sixty-one, became Level I US Sailing instructor; taught boating safety for 20+ years; certified to teach NASBLA courses; certified master instructor for Coast Guard Auxiliary. In 2011, founded Ladies Day at the Lake for Lake Pleasant Sailing Club. “Learn About Sailing Things” (L.A.S.T.) became a free monthly LPSC event, which she transplanted to New Orleans with New Orleans Yacht Club and Lake Pontchartrain WSA. She & husband now resides in Phoenix and has a ‘new’ boat in San Diego.

Workshop:  All About AIS, Avoid Mistakes

Capt. Diane Berol

USCG 100-ton skipper, US SAILING & ASA Offshore Instructor and has been teaching and delivering boats for 35 years. Teaches navigation at USC and taught bareboat chartering at OCC School of Sailing and Seamanship, Annapolis Sailing School. Deliveries to South Pacific, Asia, East Coast, England, Africa. Numerous West Coast passages from Hawaii, Alaska to Sea of Cortez. At 24, after three years in the Peace Corps in the Fiji Islands, she sailed to Australia to begin her cruising lifestyle. In September 2022 Diane and Celtic Song rode out a direct hit from Hurricane Kay in Baja and sustained major structural damage. After repairs, the next destination is the South Pacific. She offers Offshore Expeditions at www.svcelticsong.com.

Workshop: Passage Making A, Passage Making B, Advanced Sailing

Capt. Fran Weber

Fran has been sailing since grad school in 1973 in Mission Bay. Past commodore of the Women’s Sailing Association of Santa Monica Bay. Her passion is teaching women basics of sailing. Coached at the Women’s Sailing Convention for nearly 20 years. ASA Certs 201, 203, 210, 214. She’s a Maritime and Charter Captain. Fran is the 2010 Peggy Slater Award Winner!

Workshop: Outboards AM, Outboards PM, Dinghy Do’s & Don’ts

Capt. Holly Scott

Starting at three and at 15 skippering her parent’s Cal 36, Holly has her 100-ton Master’s Lic., and takes groups sailing all over the world with her charter business Mahalo Sailing. She cruises her Cal 40 ‘Mahalo’ to Catalina, Channel Islands and Mexico, and has a BCC in Tahiti. She also has been a four-session presenter for the Conventions for many years. Holly was the winner SCYA Peggy Slater Award in 2011.

Workshop: Diesels AM, Chartering, Motor Sailing, Catalina

Jane Hartley

An avid one-design racing skipper for over twenty years. She also enjoys PHRF and off-shore racing. She is a US Sailing Club Judge. She’s usually on the helm, trimming the main, or calling tactics. Volunteers for CST California Inclusive Sailing—taking anybody sailing, no matter their ability. She has been a coach for the sailing Conventions for several years.

Workshop: Sail Trim (dockside), Rigging Spinnakers (dockside)

Judy Fusco

Judy began sailing in late 90’s when she took Lido 14 class at OCC. Moving up to Shields, a trip on the Alaska Eagle, she decided it was time to purchase her own Catalina 30 to sail out of Long Beach. She enjoys sailing and maintenance on “Takulli,” and sharing that knowledge with other women sailors. Judy is very involved with LB Women’s Sailing Association, Sea Gals and Shoreline Yacht Club, racing on Cal20’s from SYC and Catalina 37’s from the LBSF.

Workshop: Maintenance, Hoses/Heads, Communication, Electrical

Capt. Karyn Jones

She moved to Southern California in early ‘90s; Karyn has become an integral part of women’s sailing community in MDR.  Although an avid racer, she  enjoys a day out on the water on any boat. She’s spent many years aboard marine mammal research boats in MDR, the Bahamas and Japan; has competed in several national, one-design and PHRF events both as skipper and crew. Karyn won 2007 Peggy Slater Award and is a staff commodore of the Women’s Sailing Association of Santa Monica Bay and South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club.

Workshop: Suddenly Singlehanded, Weather

Capt. Kathie Arnold

She lived on a 36’ sailboat in the Med, crossed Atlantic, spent 8 months in West Indies and Caribbean and a year in Florida. Got her 100-t Masters license. A Charter Captain and taught at OCC Sailing Center for Seamanship. Bought a Cat 34 Dollfun, joined BCYC in 1999. Co-chair of the Convention for 26 years, she coordinates coaches and donated sailboats, assists in preparation of event. Member of WSA-OC. She won Southern California Yachting Association’s Peggy Slater Award in 2000 and the National Women’s Sailing Association / Boat US Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award in 2016. Kathie has been part of the organizing and production of the sailing Conventions for over 30 years!

Workshop: Knots; Administration

Capt. Lori Johnson

Lori, a native Californian, that has lived near the water her entire life. After spending over 30 years working in the medical field and in medical sales, she retired early and turned her full attention to her real passion, sailing. After having incredible mentors and instructors, she was given the opportunity to be a skipper for Aventura Sailing. Through their support and encouragement, she received my USCG Captains License and became an ASA Instructor. It is with a sense of pride when that special student who shares this same passion and she can pay it back and mentor them to become a great sailor as well.

Workshop: Docking, Beginning Sailing

Capt. Marie Rogers

Captain Marie Rogers was the second woman in 118 years, the second black person, and the first black woman to be the commodore of the historic Los Angeles Yacht Club (LAYC). Marie races avidly. She was able to race in the 50th  Transpacific race where she didn’t see another black person, let alone another black female, in the fleet. Marie also races close to home on her J 29, Rush Street, and does coastal racing on Marie, a Nelson Marek 55, that she shares with Bill, her husband. Rogers loves doing deliveries, cruising and teaching sailing. Marie is the 2021 BoatUS/National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award recipient. She is a Vice President of US Sailing. Rogers joined the board of NWSA/WSF in 2021.

Workshop: Race the Transpac