Each month we feature sailors who pursue the passion of sailing through education, lifestyle, and commitment to community. This month we were inspired by Elizabeth Henderson’s story and she is our October Sailor of the Month.
Elizabeth hails from San Francisco, CA, and in only fifteen months, she has taken ASA certifications 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 114, 118, 107, and 108 with Puget Sound Sailing School and Modern Sailing in Sausalito, CA. She has cruised all up and down the west coast, spending much of that time along the California coastline — her favorite place to sail. Elizabeth has been aboard to witness the majesty of open ocean sailing under the stars, worked her way through foggy conditions, sailed with a trail of bioluminescence lighting up the sea, and seen whales breach during her journeys. Truly her spirit has been captured by the call of the sea. It might be said that Elizabeth’s story is what every sailor dreams of encountering each time we cast off the lines. She tells it all here in the latest episode of American Sailing’s Sailor of the Month.
We hope you find her story as inspiring as we do. Please take the time to share your own story with us — every journey that leads to a sailboat is worth hearing! (Not to mention the perks of being chosen are pretty great!)
American Sailing: How long have you been sailing?
Elizabeth Henderson: Fifteen months
American Sailing: Where is your home port?
Elizabeth Henderson: San Francisco, CA
American Sailing: Where is your favorite place to sail?
Elizabeth Henderson: California Coast
American Sailing: What ASA Certifications do you hold?
American Sailing: Do you currently, or have you ever owned a sailboat?
Elizabeth Henderson: Fractional ownership of a Beneteau Oceanis 38.1 through SailTime
American Sailing: What got you into sailing?
Elizabeth Henderson: I have had a lifelong fascination with the ocean, especially growing up landlocked in the Ca Central Valley. My parents had a little light blue (aka heavily oxidized) 20′ trailer-sailor, that never left the trailer because my mom was not a fan. I always wanted to try it, but there was no opportunity growing up. Fast forward to adulthood, my husband celebrated his 40th birthday during COVID lockdown, and I had discovered Sailing You Tube. I decided this was the perfect opportunity, so I booked a Sailing class – ASA 101 for my husband and I to do something fun and adventurous and to see if it was actually as fun as it looked. I had always admired sailboats from afar, driving over a bridge, I always wondered ‘how does that work’? After sailing in the Pacific Northwest for a weekend in July – I had my answer, and a new obsession. We wanted to keep the momentum going, and on advice from our instructor, we knew we needed to be consistent and commit to learning the right way. As soon as we got back to CA, I signed us up with Modern Sailing in Sausalito because they had a fantastic reputation, and I saw they had more female captains as instructors than any other school nearby.
American Sailing: What is your most memorable sailing experience?
Elizabeth Henderson: There are SO many! One of the most transformative was attending the Women’s Sailing Seminar just 2 months after I had started sailing in 2022 – for the first time I was not the only woman on a boat, and it was such a welcoming and encouraging experience! This year, I returned to pay it forward as an instructor for other women who were new to sailing, and it was the best feeling ever! At the moment – last weekend (Sept 23/24) I was sailing with a pod of humpback whales off the coast, gently sailing along with a Southerly, heading South from Drakes Bay back down to SF. My Husband and I were taking our Beneteau Oceanis 38.1 out for the weekend at anchor, and both ways up and down the coast, we were surrounded with spouts and tails, and several would breach – thankfully at a safe distance from the boat. I will never forget how majestic they were and how small I felt – It was surreal! As the Sun set, it was pure magic with the sunrays piercing the cloudy sky, and the ocean sparkling like glitter. Pictures like that just affirm that THIS is why I am obsessed with sailing.
American Sailing: How has American Sailing played a part in your growth as a sailor?
Elizabeth Henderson: ASA has been invaluable in giving me the proper training to jumpstart my sailing life, but it has also been a key part of my personal growth. Throughout my ASA classes, I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the very best instructors, and met so many inspiring people. It’s the perfect ‘life long learning activity’, and it’s been great to learn something totally new – and know that I will never stop learning. The sea and a sailboat are always there to teach you something.
The most transformative class was my ASA 104 , which happened to be on my 40th birthday. I had been waiting for that ‘thing’ many women say happens at midlife, that kickoff of self assured confidence and knowing who you really are. Sailing did that for me – it’s given me that special kind of freedom that is so utterly empowering. Now I just remember I can sail a 40′ boat out there in ‘the slot’, gusting to 30 kts, at night, and dock it in a downwind slip. I got this!
12 months in, I knew I needed to level up my practice time and skills, but since we didn’t own a boat, the chartering bill was not sustainable, and the rules on club boats were limiting the range skills I could practice. Having the ASA certifications allowed us to join SailTime San Francisco, and prove that we were competent enough to be entrusted with a fractional share of a lovely Beneteau Oceanis 38.1. Having access to such a nice boat and all the time on the water would not have been possible otherwise. It’s been a game changer for developing my sailing to have the chance to practice night sailing, go on longer overnight trips and to go ‘off shore’ and explore the coast. Best of all, I have found a lovely community of other middle aged women sailors, all from ASA schools in the area. It’s been amazing to have the chance to skipper and build a crew of like minded ladies who sail. It also allowed me to get an IPC so we can bareboat charter abroad.
While certificates and classes aren’t everything, when they are combined with lots of practice, ASA gave me a solid foundation of skills to build on and the confidence that keeps me excited to learn more. Learning to sail this past year has changed me, and changed my life. Before I knew it I was registered for 108, and we will be sailing from San Francisco to Los Angeles, arriving on my 41st birthday! When the weather is too lousy, and I can’t get out on the water, I fill the time with the ASA webinars. Advanced Sail Trip with Bill Gladstone series was a real game changer for refining my sailing skills! Others have taught me how to use Navionics, do weather routing with predict wind, and John helped me understand I was not ready to buy a boat yet, but has sage advice for when I do! The cruising series by Andy and Lisa Batchelor as well as the heavy weather and storm tactics have been a great way to expand on the course materials. Sometimes the ASA courses can feel like a firehose of information all at once, but these seminars are great to slow it down and take a deeper dive into a particular topic, and have been great prep for the 108 test. As a science teacher, I know going to school can’t teach you everything, but unlike a lot of sailing youtubers who just decided one day to buy a boat without a clue, or the salty guy who has been ‘sailing for 30 years’ but never learned to tie a proper cleat hitch (he even argued with an instructor- true story!), I feel like I am starting from a good place, and l will have a successful sailing life ahead! ASA will continue to be a part of my journey wherever I go.
American Sailing: What is your favorite aspect of American Sailing membership?
Elizabeth Henderson: Access to great instruction – and I am very into the logbook stickers!
American Sailing: Why should people become an ASA member?
Elizabeth Henderson: It’s a fantastic resource for all levels of sailing, and a wonderful network of instructors! The discounts are also helpful – and saving money is a rare thing when Sailing. The discounts pay for the membership in no time. Having the levels of certifications is also helpful to communicate to others where you are at in your sailing training and experience as well. The ASA program makes it accessible and provides a clear pathway to accomplish your goals and realizing your sailing dream, even if you never knew you had one. Overall it’s a great organization that supports education, ocean stewardship and creates a space that welcomes everyone to experience the beauty of sailing.
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