Nominations Open for Women’s Sailing Award

The National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) has opened nominations for the 2026 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award, which is sponsored by the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS). Since 1999, the national award has sought to recognize an individual from the United States with a record of achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing. Past recipients have included sailing instructors, writers, sailboat racers and cruisers, marine industry professionals and boating club leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Nominations are being accepted at the NWSA website womensailing.org through February 1, 2026. The recipient will be announced in summer 2026. Any questions may be sent to Leadership@WomenSailing.org.

Previous U.S. sailors who have received the honor include Betsy Alison, one of the top-ranked women sailors in the world, and Maureen McKinnon-Tucker, a gold medal winner in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. To read more about previous Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award recipients and other NWSA scholarship opportunities, visit womensailing.org.