  
Who Should Sign Up?
The Women’s Challenge is designed for adult women who have an interest in
sailing, and a desire to practice their leadership and teamwork skills in a
fun, outdoor, supportive environment. Previous sailing experience is not
required.
If your experience aboard Seaward whets your appetite for more sailing,
you are in luck! The skills learned aboard the Tall Ship can be easily applied
to other sailing excursions.
In addition, alumnae of TSSG will be onboard as part of the crew. You will learn
from their experiences and see first-hand how our program has enriched their
lives. [ top ]
How Will I be Supporting the Tall Ship Semester for Girls Program?
Besides being an adventurous way to spend a weekend, the Women’s
Challenge is a benefit for the Tall Ship Semester for Girls (TSSG), an
experience-based academic semester for high school girls in the Bay Area. The
program empowers girls with confidence and direction while giving them high
school credit through experiential learning.
Our mission is to make this experience available to any girl that we accept. We
enroll 12-16 students per year and the majority of our youth require
significant financial support to participate in this life-changing experience.
Last year, we raised $150,000 from foundations, individuals and events to
support our students. The Women’s Challenge is one event that will help
us raise these funds for the 2006 class. For more information on TSSG, click
here. [ top ]
What is the Cost?
There is a $75 registration fee to join the Women's Challenge. In addition,
when you register you are agreeing to fundraise a minimum of $1,500 to support
the TSSG program. We will provide you with the tools to setup your fundraising
campaign easily and will provide you with the guidance and encouragement needed
to meet your goal.
Participants must have fundraised or paid 50% of the minimum amount one month
before the voyage. If 50% has not been fundraising you will be responsible for
making a deposit to reach that amount. The remainder of the funds must be
received by TSEA by one month after the end of the voyage.
To register for the Tall Ship 3-day Women's Challenge, go to the Registration page. [ top ]
Are all donations tax deductible?
Donations made on your behalf are completely tax deductible for the donor. If you set up a fundraising site with Change.org, your donors will recieve a receipt from change.org for their donation. Doners who give directly through the Donate page on our website will recieve a receipt from the Tall Ship Education Academy. We suggest that
you write a personal thank you to the donor as well.
Your registration fee is not tax deductible and should you choose to pay all or
part of the $1,500 toward your own experience, the first $600 is NOT tax
decudtible. Any amount that you pay over $600 is a tax deductible donation.
Is there a cancellation policy?
Life happens and we understand that.
If you must cancel within 30 days of the sail and you are able to fill your space with a friend who will do her own fundraising, we will apply your fundraising efforts to the next Challenge in which you are able to enroll. If you are not able to fill your space, you will forfeit $600 of any money raised. The remainder of your fundraising dollars may be applied to the next Challenge in which you are able to apply within a year.
If you cancel with more than 30 days notice, we will apply any fundraising efforts to the next Challenge in which you are able to enroll within a year.
Any donations
made on your behalf are non refundable to the donor. Your $75 registration is
not refundable.
[ top ]
How do I fundraise to participate in the Challenge?
The Tall Ship Women’s Challenge is a fundraiser for the Tall Ship
Semester for Girls. To participate, you will need to raise a minimum of $1,500.
Your fundraising efforts can be done mostly online by using the Change.org network.
You can set up a personal website on Change.org that friends, family
and colleagues can access with a single click to donate to your efforts. Each
donation made on your behalf is fully tax deductible to the donor.
[ top ]
What is life aboard like?
Women of all ages can participate in the Tall Ship 3-day Women’s
Challenge. This program is designed to teach women sailing skills and to have
them practice those skills immediately. Women joining the challenge do not need
to have any sailing experience but they must be willing and interested in
participating in the learning and running of the ship. Bring a friend and enjoy
the adventure together!
Life aboard Seaward can be challenging. Privacy is limited – your
bunk is in a common bunking area and you will be sharing one head (toilet) and
probably no shower. If you are looking for a cruise, you are in the wrong
place! You will be asked to pitch in on some chores that keep the ship running
and will be physically active throughout the day. You will spend most of your
days and part of your nights outdoors, so be prepared for the refreshing
feeling of fresh air all day and the weather that can come with it! [
top ]
What will I learn?
During the challenge, we will present the concepts of sailing and how to safely
work the vessel. You will learn how sailboats move by wind power, the parts of
a sail and the lines that control each sail, how to tack and jibe a boat, how
to plot a course, how to steer and how to efficiently use the wind. You and
your teammates will work together to put these concepts to life and sail Seaward
through your three days at sea.
Unlike sailing courses on smaller boats, these three day course on a tall ship
provides a stable platform to work and rework concepts. The element of teamwork
is critical in sailing larger ships because you cannot do it alone. The
concepts you will learn will easily apply to further courses or adventures you
choose on the water. [ top ]
What will I need to bring?
Click here to download a
suggested gear list. [ top ]
I’m ready for the Challenge! What do I do next?
If you are ready to sign up for the Tall Ship 3-day Women’s Challenge, go to the Registration page.
Once you have registered, our Women's Challenge Coordinator will email you with additional information and fundraising tips.
[ top ]
I have more questions...
We often hold information sessions for women interested in the challenge. At
these sessions, you can meet program staff and former Women's Challenge
participants and learn more about the Challenge and get fundraising ideas.
Please call or email the program office if you have questions or would like to
attend an information session. Click here for contact information.
[ top ]
Before you arrive on Seaward, you should get a copy of The Complete
Sailor by David Seidman and read the first few chapters. Reviewing this
material will prepare you for the fast pace of learning on board.
The itinerary below is a rough schedule of our days at sea. On a sailboat, we
are always at the mercy of the weather, so remember this is flexible.
Day 0: Board the Vessel
Board Seaward at 5:30pm (1730)
Stow your gear. Meet the crew, graduates of the Tall Ship Semester for Girls,
your fellow participants and get an introduction to the vessel.
Set sail and enjoy a sunset on the Bay.
Anchor for the night in the Bay
DINNER
Evening class on sail theory. Start studying your lines!
Day 1: Let the Learning Begin
BREAKFAST
Class: Names, parts of sail and lines
Safety drills/talk
Basic line handling class
Class on points of sail
LUNCH
Set sail and work your way around the bay practicing line handling and sail
maneuvering.
Class on tacking and jibing
Learn your lines! Anchor in Richardson Bay
DINNER
Pin chase
Day 2:
BREAKFAST
Class: Tides and currents in San Francisco Bay
Set sail to tack out of the bay. Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and north
toward Point Reyes.
LUNCH underway.
DINNER at anchor
Learn more about TSSG from alums
Star gazing and astronomy
Day 3:
BREAKFAST
Class: buoys, sounds, lights, right of way
Introduction to the afternoon challenge.
Sail back into SF Bay
LUNCH underway
THE CHALLENGE!! Sail courses around San Francisco Bay
Presentation of awards
Dock and disembark by 4pm (1600)
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