Cortney Kingsley
Cortney Kingsley is Sail Newport’s Education Programs Manager and created the Sail Newport salute for National Girls & Women in Sports Day 2025.
“I want to feature this story for Women in Sports Day so other women can see themselves within these women and girls in their community and say “They are sailing, well I can too.’ Additionally, I wanted to tell others about some achievement of local women sailors they may or may not know. Also, we have many young girls in our training programs that show great promise, three are highlighted below.
Image: Cortney in forefront in red/gray/green hooded jacket.
Sara Stone
Q. Can you recall a story/time when you felt fierce while sailing?
A. One of the first days that I had the opportunity to sail the AC40 was while the American Magic Cup team was two-boat training in Barcelona. It was my second or third day ever on the boat, and I was trimming for Harry Melges, with Lucas Calabrese and Riley Gibbs on the other side. We were match racing against Tom Slingsby and Paul Goodison, and Harry and I had a nice execution of a high-pressure bear-away in the pre-start, and then our boat went on to win the start and the race. It’s a pretty awesome feeling to pull off a solid maneuver under pressure, and then to go on to take the race win.
Q. How has sailing given you the tools to become a strong leader in life?
A. Sailing, and especially managing my own projects, has given me amazing opportunities to take my vision and turn it into reality while leading teams through high-risk, unpredictable challenges. The camaraderie built on the water fosters trust, accountability, and effective communication. Sailing demands adaptability, quick decision-making, and resilience, as even the best plans can be upended by changing conditions. These experiences have honed my ability to inspire confidence, remain calm under pressure, and embrace setbacks as opportunities to learn—qualities that form the foundation of strong leadership in any arena.
Q. In terms of sailing, what would you say to a girl or woman to encourage them to learn to sail and participate in the sport?
A. You have nothing to lose! Sailing is a lifelong sport and there are so many different ways to participate – different boats with different people in different places, racing and deliveries, cruising and expeditions – this sport offers something for everyone and the opportunities to get outside are endless. You don’t need to know everything – give it a try and you will learn as you go. Enjoy the journey!
Image: Racing on board the OceanFifty trimaran Upwind by MerConcept in St Malo, France. May 2024, the only all-female team. @volivaud
Erica Lush
Q. Can you recall a story/time when you felt fierce while sailing?
A. To be honest, this is a difficult question to answer! I almost never FEEL fierce! Rounding Cape Horn was a major accomplishment last year, but I just felt in awe of where I was and what it took for our team to get there. Even in the midst of a hairy adventure on the open ocean, I think it’s more common to be thinking moment to moment, dealing with what’s in front of you, and – if you’re able to pause – to let the experience soak in. Sometimes literally.
Q. How has sailing given you the tools to become a strong leader in life?
A. It may sound surprising, given the tough-guy reputation of offshore sailing, but I have learned a lot about empathy through sailing offshore. On Maiden’s circumnavigation we were often on ocean passages which lasted around one month, with 8+ people on board. In that amount of time you see every person go through real ups and downs. You learn to recognize what someone’s “bad day” might look like amongst all the great ones. I learned how important it is to check in with my teammates. I’ll carry this mindset into any leadership position I take on.
Q. In terms of sailing, what would you say to a girl or woman to encourage them to learn to sail and participate in the sport?
A. Sailing is full of adventure and play and can make you feel capable of anything! You never have control over the elements, but you can adapt and make the best of any situation. With methodical thinking and simple machines, you can lift the weight of an elephant with your own two hands. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself. That’s where the fun starts!
Image: Cate Brown
Hannah Swett
Q. Can you recall a story/time when you felt fierce while sailing?
A. I feel really powerful sailing when I know I have put together the best team possible.
Q. How has sailing given you the tools to become a strong leader in life?
A. Sailing has allowed me to cultivate leadership skills in diverse environments, which have been key to my success in life.
Q. In terms of sailing, what would you say to a girl or a woman to encourage them to learn to sail and participate in the sport?
A. I’ve spent my life sailing, but it wasn’t until I took up wing foiling at 50 that I truly discovered the empowering nature of the sport. Don’t hesitate to try something new whenever you have the time—whether it’s a different style of sailing or a new challenge altogether, you’ll find it’s a pursuit that can enrich your life for years to come.
Image: Hannah in blue.
Linda Lindquist-Bishop
Q. Can you recall a story/time when you felt fierce while sailing?
September 2004 – F40 World Championship in San Francisco Average breeze 20-25+ knots the entire regatta – 40 boats from 12 countries – it was a battleground. On the last day – we were barreling downwind – solidly in the lead (in the race and the regatta). I was the furthest forward in the pit as everyone was piled in the windward corner of the transom to hold her down and fast. Morgan Trubovich was trimming the kite and Jim Richardson drove like she was Barking Mad (because she was!) Standing in the companion way with the topping lift in one hand and foreguy in the other as she bucked up under me I felt like I was driving a Roman Chariot – wild and on the edge of crashing. We didn’t crash. We won the race and the World Championship – by 41 points! And then Terry Hutchinson was pouring champagne on my head.
Image: (Linda at top) In the pit in 2029 F40 World Championship – Porto Cervo, Italy
Robyn Earley
Q. Can you recall a story/time when you felt fierce while sailing?
A. It’s Hard to narrow it down to one. Some good memories include tag teaming on the helm in the Newport to Bermuda race, helming a 76′ spirit of tradition from Newport to Bermuda (do you see a trend here?), and more recently I love the high stakes of a last minute spin change on Spirit!
Q. How has sailing given you the tools to become a strong leader in life?
A. I actually have given this a lot of thought after I went back into healthcare leadership after taking some time off to sail professionally. Those that stand out most for me include: The ability to adapt to changing conditions, accept and calmly respond to things that are out of your control, the value of preparation, the concept of lifelong learning and teamwork. Opportunities are also available to hold leadership positions as part of a yacht club, sailing organizations, and regatta committees. When I moved to Newport, I volunteered to help run JFest. This gave me experience in running a regatta and a lot of new sailing friends!
Q. In terms of sailing, what would you say to a girl or woman to encourage them to learn to sail and participate in the sport?
A. The best race teams I have even been a part of are co-ed. My experience is that these teams approach racing from a more holistic perspective, giving them a competitive edge. Sailing in general is an incredible sport. There is nothing more magical than gliding through the water, wind in your hair. Some of the best people I know, I’ve met through sailing. Sailing with people gives you an opportunity to get to know them on another level. It is also a lifelong sport. Clubs such as Twenty Hundred Club offer amazing opportunities to try racing in a low-stress, competitive environment. They will even match individuals who are interested in crewing with boats who need crew.
Image: Stephen R Cloutier
Orláith Neylon
Q. Can you recall a time when you felt fierce while sailing?
A. Two-thirds of the way to Bermuda in the 2022 Bermuda race, our spreaders wore through the patches on the mainsail and were quickly adding holes to the main that were definitely not wanted. The seas were calm, and it was definitely a scene that belonged on Instagram with the sun shining 5-6ft rollers and a teal blue sea. We were going downwind at 8ish knots, and we had to send someone up the rig to reinforce the main and add padding to the spreaders in the hopes of finishing the race without completely destroying our mainsail. I went up the rig and was able to patch the mainsail and add padding to the worst of the offending spreaders. 5-6ft rollers feel significantly bigger, 20-30ft above the ocean. I definitely felt fierce after I got back to the deck.
Q. How has sailing given you the tools to become a strong leader in life?
A. Boats ruled by popular vote rarely win regattas. So the ability to follow directions, even when you don’t totally agree with them, is an important part of racing and sailing in general. You are part of a team that must work together to sail well. To be a good leader, you must first learn how to follow and work as a team with other people.
Q. In terms of sailing, what would you say to a girl or woman to encourage them to learn to sail and participate in the sport?
A. I want you to try it! The ocean covers 71% of our planet, and sailing gives you the ability to experience it and will often give you different take on the way you see your time on land. If I can go up a mast in the middle of the ocean, taking an exam can’t be that hard. At least that’s what I tell myself.
Image: Evan Smith
Alondra
Q. Can you recall a story/time when you felt fierce while sailing?
A. The time I felt fierce while sailing was when I was sailing in a high wind, which we didn’t really expect, and I handled it well for my age (13). Another time was when I got the mooring ball. I was a bit nervous that I would screw it up, but I didn’t! I managed to do it, and that’s a win in my book
Q. How has sailing given you the tools to become a strong leader in life?
A. I feel that sailing is a very useful skill. This can help multiple people become a leader, even just for fun, or really serious jobs. It takes a lot of time to learn, but you will not regret it.
Q. In terms of sailing, what would you say to a girl or woman to encourage them to learn to sail and participate in the sport?
A. All I can say, really, is to go for it. It’s fun and relaxing, and it puts my mind at ease. I personally love the days I go sailing. It’s like a break from school and everything. No one can stop you from all the possibilities that YOU have. So, if you want to sail, GO FOR IT!
Chantee
Q. Can you recall a story/time when you felt fierce while sailing?
A. A time I felt fierce was in 4th grade when I was steering the boat and the boat almost tipped over. It was cool that I was driving when that happened.
Q. How has sailing given you the tools to become a strong leader in life?
A. I t taught me how to drive a boat and if I am ever in a situation where I have to drive a boat I can do it. When I am at the beach, I feel like a leader because I know about stuff inside the water because I learned it at sailing.
Q. In terms of sailing, what would you say to a girl or woman to encourage them to learn to sail and participate in the sport?
A. I would say it is fun and you learn new stuff. I learned how to sail and how to not be scared on the boat. I was nervous too but I learned not to be nervous. You should do it because it is fun.
Image: Chantee on left