WOW! Women on Water
Valerie Hayes


Today, more women are involved in sailing than ever before, but many still leave the piloting of a boat to men. WOW! Women on Water, a not-for-profit program that raises funds to establish programs to increase women’s participation in the sport of sailing across Nova Scotia, aims to change that. WOW! is also committed to promoting
women’s health and wellness through awareness, mentoring and sailing.




Jacquie Gahagan established WOW! in 2007 in memory of her partner Pamela Lerch. “WOW! came about based on conversations with Pamela while she was in the hospital with breast cancer for the last time,” explains Gahagan. “WOW! is how Pamela wanted to be remembered.”




From there Women on Water began with a small but dedicated group which included, Gahagan, as founding chair, Karen Smith, as treasurer, and D’arcy and Greg Morris-Poultney who volunteered their expertise in communications, web design, and fund development . “We had a number of other people involved when we started,” says Gahagan, “and we have now grown to be part of the Nova Scotia Yachting Association (NSYA) Women’s
Program.”




With 42 per cent of respondents to a recent boating survey
believing there is not enough opportunities for women and girls
to learn how to operate a boat, WOW! has set out to encourage women to do just that. The survey also found that women want to learn more in relaxed settings, perhaps away from well-meaning spouses and family members.




WOW! has stepped up to aid women to become empowered in the world of sailing by offering several bursary programs for women. The recipients of these bursaries may use the funds for related sail training at various clubs and sailing institutions
throughout Nova Scotia.




The Youth Sailing Education Program, set up for women
18 years of age and under, provides a $300 bursary to help
the successful recipient offset the cost of a sailing education
at any level and at the yacht club of the recipient’s choice. The
Adult Sailing Education Program is a $300 bursary to assist the
successful recipient who is 19 years of age and over. WOW! also offers an annual Health and Physical Activity Bursary Program. This program’s $300 annual bursary is set up to assist Nova Scotia-based women in achieving physical and mental health in the winter months prior to the busy summer sailing season. These funds can be used towards the cost of fitness membership, fitness equipment or other materials related to enhance women’s health and physical activity.




The bursary program is just one way that WOW! Women On Water initiatives help women become involved in sailing. In 2008 WOW! Women On Water presented, for the first time, the Pamela Lerch’s WOW! Memorial Cup Award to Betty Ann Haliburton. “The Wow ! Cup will be awarded each year to the woman who, by example, is a leader in mentoring and encouraging other women to take up the sport of sailing,” says Gahagan. WOW! honored Betty Ann with the award in December 2008 as she demonstrated outstanding achievement in sailing
education, leadership, and mentorship throughout her years in
sailing.




WOW! is able to offer support for women’s sailing through
their fundraising efforts and the organization continues to seek
donated contributions to aid in the ongoing establishment of
these bursaries, which not only encourages women’s health and
well being but increases their expertise and knowledge of sailing.
“We just had a fundraiser at the Appleton Regatta in Bedford and
WOW! is planning more this coming summer or in the fall,” says
Gahagan.




WOW! is always looking for help in coordinating fundraising
events, finding members to sit on an organizing committee to
help guide the WOW! fund and is actively seeking women who
are interested in being a sailing mentor. “We can always use more
volunteers, especially those who sail and who can connect with other
women they know,” explains Gahagan. “We need more people to
let others know about our bursaries, the WOW! Cup nomination
process and to help raise funds and awareness about WOW!.”




For more information on the WOW! bursary program, tax-deductible donations and volunteer opportunities visit www.womenonwater.ca.