  
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 Women's Challenge 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 the TSSG 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 2009 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 pay or fundraise a minimum of $1,500. If you choose to pay the full amount, a portion of your payment will be a tax deductible donation to the Tall Ship Education Academy. If you choose to fundraise, 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 $750 by 60 days
before the voyage. If you are fundraising and have not met that target, you will be asked to make an installment payment to meet that interim balance. The full $1,500 must be recieved by TSEA one week before the voyage from either your fundraising efforts or a second installment payment. If you choose to continue to fundraise after the Challenge, TSEA is willing to refund your installment payments. All fundraising must be completed by one month after the Challenge..
To register for the 3-day Women's Sailing Challenge, go to the Registration page. [ top ]
How do I fundraise to participate in the Challenge?
Since 2005 we have seen great creativity by women fundraising for the Challenge:
- The majority of women who have chosen to fundraise have created a customized online donation portal through Change.org and directed friends/family/colleagues to support their Challenge fundraising drive by donating through that portal. We can help you create and customize your page with your own pictures and story. (We can also accept donations offline if you chose to use the mail instead of email.)
- Women have created events like a happy hour, a roof top party, a garage sale and a Salsa night and asked attendees to make donations at the door.
- Women have used significant birthdays to requested donations be made in their honor to support their participation in the Challenge.
- Women have talked with a Tall Ship Semester for Girls alum and used her inspiring story to drive their fundraising request.
We are happy to help brainstorm, support and teach you had to meet your fundraising goal. Contact us if you have questions or ideas that you want to discuss!
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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 can also give directly through the Donate page on our website or by sending a check to the Tall Ship Education Academy. These donors 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.
Cancelling with more than 30 days notice: we will apply any fundraising efforts to the next Challenge in which you are able to enroll within two years.
Cancelling with less than 30 days notice:
-- if you are able to fill your space with a friend who will do her own fundraising/payment, we will apply your fundraising efforts to the next Challenge in which you are able to enroll within two years.
-- If you are not able to fill your space, you will forfeit $750 of any money raised or paid. Any fundraising done in excess of $750 at the time of your cancellation will be applied to the next Challenge in which you are able to participate within two years.
-- If you cancel and choose not to participate in any future Challenge, we will retain all of the funds you have fundraised (we do not refund donations) and/or your installment of $750.
-- Your $75 registration is
not refundable.
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Can the Program be cancelled?
The Tall Ship Education Academy requires that at least six women have committed to participate in the Women's Challenge by 60 days before the start of the program. If this condition is not met, the Tall Ship Education Academy reserves the right to cancel the Women's Challenge and provide registrants with an alternative date for the program. In this case:
-- If you decide not to participate in a future Challenge, you may request a refund on your registration fee.
-- Any funds you have paid toward your participation may be refunded to you, or applied to the Challenge in which you do participate.
-- Any funds you have fundraised toward your participation will not be refunded to donors but will be applied to the Challenge in which you participate.
[ top ]
What is life aboard like?
Women of all ages can participate in the Women’s
3-day 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 is comfortable and cozy. Privacy is limited – your
bunk is in a common bunking area and you will be sharing two heads (toilets); There is no shower on board but plenty of water to wash your face, hands and of course to drink! 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, rules of the road, tides and currents, 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, this three day course on an 85 foot schooner
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 have more questions...
Please call or email the program office if you have questions. We love to talk about this excitingn program and would also be happy to put you in touch with a Women's Challenge alum and/or a Tall Ship Semester for Girls alum so you can talk with them about their experience.
[ top ]
I’m ready for the Challenge! What do I do next?
If you are ready to sign up for the Women’s 3-day Sailing 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 ]
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 5:00pm (1700)
at Pier 40 in San Francisco
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 3pm (1500) at Pier 40 in San Francisco
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