Dream Further – Don’t Change Your Dreams – Change the World! This is the theme of a three minute video by Nike. NOT seeing people who look like us, NOT having access to skills, education and mentors and NOT having access to opportunity are dream killers. In order for us all to solve the big challenges facing our world and humanity—girls (and boys!) need aspirational role models, education and access to opportunity. Read More
“People hire people who look like them—and that is the problem.” –Muffet McGraw, head women’s basketball coach at Notre Dame.
She NAILED it! You can’t be what you can’t see. I was stunned to read her words ‘Did you know that the Equal Rights Amendment was introduced in 1967 and still hasn’t passed?’ Are you kidding me? I grew up in an ERA world—Title IX. I never questioned my right to vote and I saw lots of girls like me playing sports. As we battle for women’s healthcare in the US, the right to own property and become literate in developing countries and human trafficking is still one of the biggest businesses in the world—the need for women leaders in every sector is real and BIG.
‘What Your Daughter Learns When She Learns to Sail’ — This article appeared in Thrive Global. In addition to the eight listed in the article (and below) is the overarching trait of confidence. Putting a tiller in a girl’s hand, whether it be a sunfish on a small lake or on a Volvo 60 racing 33,000 miles around the world, gives her the confidence that she can handle life’s challenges and direct her course.
Katie Pettibone, Co-Founder of the Rising Tide Leadership Institute talks about the professional all-women entry in this year’s grueling Sydney-Hobart race. Bringing with them not only a message that women can win—but also a dire message of the dangers of plastic in our oceans. Read More
January is a great time to ask ourselves about our vision for the year ahead. We will achieve so much more if we are intentional about where we want to go – rather than racing blindly from one day to the next.
To start answering these big questions – we first need to seek clarity on what we’ve already done. Yes – first – ask more questions! The BEST clues as to what will bring us joy, adventure and fulfillment in the days ahead are embedded in the life we have already lived. Below is a short list of questions to get you started.
I challenge you to carve out some time for your self, and start THINKING.
To a great 2019!
L2B
Whoa! We are halfway into January with the buzz of New Year’s resolutions, and crowded gyms already behind us.
As we get back into the flow of life, it’s a great time to ask ourselves about our vision for the year ahead. We will achieve so much more if we are intentional about where we want to go – rather than racing blindly from one day to the next.
What do I want to accomplish?
Where do I want to go?
Who do I want to serve?
To start answering these big questions – we first need to seek clarity on what we’ve already done. Yes – first – ask more questions! The BEST clues as to what will bring us joy, adventure and fulfillment in the days ahead are embedded in the life we have already lived. Below is a short list of questions to get you started.
I challenge you to carve out some time for your self, and start THINKING.
To a great 2015!
L2B
The Big Ten Network recently asked University of Illinois alumni Linda Lindquist-Bishop why she calls the leadership institute she co-founded ‘Rising Tide’?
Linda racing with team Delta
Linda explains, “Our goal is to improve everyone’s life by improving women’s lives. A rising tide lifts all boats.”
To add more women leaders to the equation we can’t just inspire and equip – we also have to change the acceptance for what women can achieve, with those who can provide or prevent access for women at the leadership table.”
Competing on the high-tech, high-performance platforms of sailing, aviation and motor sports equips women for leadership, creates acceptance for their abilities at the leadership table, and inspires other women to step up and lean in to leadership opportunities. Read more at: Big Ten Network
Final leg of SATT 2014
The EFG Sailing Arabia The Tour 2014 finished with an international prize giving ceremony. Affixed to the second story of The Wave, (the base for Oman Sail and the ceremony location) were the national flags of all the teams skippers. I was moved to see the red, white and blue up there- fluttering in the breeze among the other countries’ flags representing our US contribution to this sporting endeavor that is opening minds and opportunities across a wide region. And I was again conscious of how grateful I am to have been born in a country that has provided me the opportunity to acquire skill sets that equipped me to come here and contribute in this important adventure in Oman. The Omani women from past year SATT races who have been on our team also showed up to celebrate with us – a testimony to the multi-national camaraderie that has been forged amongst us on and off the water. Raya and Raaja both were there – now more determined than ever to rejoin the keelboat team and keep racing! They will join Ibtisam to race in France on the J80 with Mary Rook in April.
2014 Omani Women’s Sailing Team and SATT 2014 results
SATT 2014 Award Ceremony
After the ceremony, we headed back to the hotel for a quick shower and then to Muscat’s Opera House to have dinner at a fabulous Indian restaurant – The Indus. The winning teams of EFG Bank and Team Delft were also present as we mingled with the sponsor and their VIP guests. I was grateful that this gave me a chance to thank the sponsor personally for providing us this life changing opportunity. While the other Omani girls headed home, Ibtisam was able to join us, She also thanked the sponsor, telling him how much fun the race was and what it meant for her to be able to compete. We all loved having a relaxing evening, with no pending early morning start(!), It gave us time with the other teams to laugh over our shared experiences throughout this year’s SATT
Going Forward: The Omani Women’s Team plans to compete in several keelboat events in Europe, starting on J80s (small but responsive sailboats with asymmetrical spinnakers) and to begin match racing. They are excited and motivated. I do hope that these young women, new in their confidence to sport, sailing and their own developing skills, continue to race on this Tour. They learn quickly and are athletic. Additionally, life at sea (the eating and using the bathroom) did not worry them a bit – which is no small issue. They all said it was an adventure they will never forget and were thankful for the opportunity to learn and compete. I still am in contact with most of the girls we have trained and coached over the past three years, and will always be connected even though vast oceans separate us. This is the beauty of sport.
Celebrating at the end of SATT 2014!
My plan is to head back to California and dive into California state politics with my job at the Civil Justice Association of California (2000+bills to read! As if California needs 2000 new laws)… Also racing the Formula 40 catamaran Shadow in San Francisco, riding motorcycles, and a couple of flying lessons are on the schedule in the next month.
Thank you for following this adventure, and I look forward to sharing the next!
-Katie Pettibone
The morning is here – its the final leg for Sailing Arabia The Tour. Today the third place finish is up for grabs between us and the TU Delft Dutch Team. A better spirited kind group of wonderful young men I have never met. Whoever prevails, its been an honor and a pleasure sharing this tour with them and sailing against them. The tour has been quite a journey. We have seen the pro-team EFG Bank find their footing early on, and dominate the race as expected, and as I have previously mentioned our team’s results already achieving the goals I had personally set for this event. Today we will be match racing against Delft, but our maneuvers and nuanced trimming simply are not equal to theirs, as we have four very new sailors who still are learning the roll tacking and gybing.
Headed into Mussanah
Yesterday was Leg 6B ~ of what ended up being a two-part leg from Dibba to Mussanah. The wind was forecast to be a light sea breeze, but then to die all night, making arrival to Mussanah impossible on the timeline we needed for todays start. The amended plan was then to race the afternoon through the parked ships outside the Strait of Hormuz, and make our way down the rumbline until 6 pm. Then motor all night and reach Mussanah. After a quick rest, we then would have a day race. Which we did. Unfortunately, during the amending on the water, the race committee unfortunately transposed a number on the way point of the first afternoon finish – although at the finish it affected no one because it was clearly stated again and again over the radio that we were to finish leaving the committee boat to port. We all did.
Khaloud steering into Mussanah
It was a line up going in. Messr Frankfurt, led by skipper Marcel Herrera and navigator Cory Rousselle caught the mistake on the paper, and instead of going straight headed up after finishing. Since we were on his tail, literally, we thought it was to avoid us. Well, although they weren’t prejudiced by the paper mistake, their plan was to protest the committee and get everyone thrown out – which is what happened. It doesn’t change their position overall but it did knock us to fourth place. And left bad tastes for many in the fleet. We and Delft had asked about the protest flag enroute to Mussanah – unaware of the technical mistake on the amendment, and they denied that it was about anything.
Inport racing: The afternoon race found the Delft team loosely match racing us, going into their epic high mode off the start line and getting a small jump on us. This pretty much stayed the positioning through the race, and they finished ahead of us. We looked for opportunities to take a passing lane to attack, but when the wind shifted far right we had a parade into the finish line again, and it was pretty much done. The Omani women were still happy to beat their brother boat, Team Renaissance, and are very happy with what they have achieved.
Raham enjoying the ride!
What’s next? Our two Oman Sail instructors, Huda and Khuloud, will continue to teach sailing to guests and kids, although I believe they will remain available to race on occasion. Huda really showed promise as a trimmer, and I told her yesterday how pleased I was with her progress, and hoped she would continue. Ibtisam will continue to race on the team, and will continue to take on a boat captain role. Raaja- who was not with us and was to have skippered the team – apparently will come back to the program to do more sailing. Raham, from the Oman Navy, will go back to her duties in the Navy but will occasionally race with the team. Raja, who missed SATT because of emergency surgery on her wisdom teeth, will also continue racing. Oman Sail has plans to reach out and develop talent in young women, and try to identify those in athletic programs already to see if they will give sailboat racing a try. Their commitment to the program, and their efforts are extraordinary and are such a gift to the region. It is an honor to be a part of it and see their work. Small steps, but incredible opportunities here.
After the finish and today’s prize giving, there will be a dinner with the event sponsor at Muscat’s Opera House. I hope to be able to thank him personally for his vision and support. It will be a nice way to end this year’s Sailing Arabia The Tour.
Leg 7 Results ~ TU Delft Dutch Team raced ahead, for an exciting first place finish! This victory resulted in an overall third place for them, and put the Omani Women’s Team into fourth place for SATT 2014. Read more about Leg 7.
What an amazing journey! More to come.
The day has arrived to finally leave this slice of heaven – Six Senses at Zighy Bay – where we have been resting for a day after the challenging 104-nautical mile leg 5 from Ras Al Khaimah to Dibba. This amazing resort has sponsored the all-women’s team, and we have been absolutely blessed with staying at their villas, and of fantastic hospitality. The resort is ecologically friendly, focuses on sustainability and simply is a “must” if you are in the region. All of us wish we had another day here, and were joking we should sabotage the race committee boat so we would have to stay!
Six Senses Resort – Zighy Bay
The weather forecast has been for light wind, and we were generally intending to motor for awhile till the wind fills in. However, today’s forecast by Predict Wind looks more promising, so perhaps we will get sailing sooner than previously anticipated. The game is on with Delft Challenge, as currently only .25 separates us in 3rd and 4th position. Normally we would plan on match racing them, but on Leg 6 – 140 miles from Dibba to Musannah – combined with the fact that they have a couple of points of sail that we simply cannot match, we have to use that strategy plus one to simply win. Their maneuvers are tighter than ours as well, so if we get into a gybe/tack-off – it won’t go well for us.
Yesterday we turned the boat over to the Omani women to race, and were onboard simply to coach. Epti drove, Huda trimmed, Khuloud took the bow, and Raham the mast. It was very light wind, so we only got one race in. They did a great job though, and we found that they definitely have been learning and picking up more than we thought. I believe that they defer to us as the experts, so previously it was hard to know where they exactly were in their development. It is very encouraging and I was pleased to see how far they have come. They also came from behind to beat their brother team, Rennaissance, so they were very excited. Later they put the boat away as well – folding sails, putting flags up, etc. It was really cool to see.
Only two legs left. Whatever happens I am extremely happy with what the team has achieved and am looking forward to the last two legs of SATT!
Eptisom – Inport Racing
Folding Sails after Inport Racing
Sailing Arabia The Tour (SATT) – a 760-nautical mile course that spans over four countries from Bahrain to Muscat, Oman, with eight of the region’s premier marinas playing host as stopover venues during the seven legs of the course.
To inspire, educate and equip women leaders to compete and succeed in the global economy