The 15^th annual Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference (MWSC) will take place Saturday, May 17^th, 2025. This year’s event will offer 21 sailing related courses taught exclusively by women to help attendees grow their sailing skills, as well as network with other women sailors. A full day event held at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center in Milwaukee, WI., it includes breakfast, lunch, and a closing reception. Registration is limited to 100.

Keynoting this year’s MWSC event is Captain Patti Jane Golden. She is a USCG Captain, veteran of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, member of the National Women’s Sailing Association and the prestigious Ocean Cruising Club, and author of A Woman’s Guide to the World of Sailing. Patti will present, From 45 Minutes to 45 Years: The Joy of Sailing for the Long Game One Bite at a Time.

In addition to the Keynote, classroom courses and hand-on workshops will be offered throughout the day featuring a wide range of topics for both racers and cruisers. A sampling of these include Advanced Knots - Soft Shackles, Tall Ship Sailing Aboard the Denis Sullivan, Lifestyle of a Great Lakes Liveaboard, So You Want to Be a Captain, Inflatable Lifejacket Maintenance, Safety at Sea, What You Need to Know About VHF and MMSI, and Racing Crew 101: How to Get On (and Stay On) a Racing Boat. The full descriptions of these courses and many more can be found at https://midwestwomenssailing.org/classes.

Registration cost for 2025 MWSC is $175 per person. This includes your selection of courses, as well as breakfast, lunch, and a closing reception. Registration is strictly limited, so sign up today at https://midwestwomenssailing.org/to ensure your spot and first choice of courses for this year’s conference. 

For those looking to extend the experience, there are two additional events available. These include a Friday evening welcome reception and dinner, and a Sunday Brunch that will include a presentation by the Chicago Maritime Museum of Women on the Water: The History of Female Sailors on the Great Lakes. Online registration for these two events is also available.

A grassroot, non-profit organization, the Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference mission is to empower and support women of all skill levels in the sport of sailing through education and networking.  A volunteer run event, it encourages future course suggestions and offers sponsorship opportunities.