Over the last two decades, countless mothers, daughters, sisters and best friends have learned to be confident captains and first mates, honed successful racing technique, and enjoyed the camaraderie of Bitter End's Women on the Water Week.

In October 2011, Anna Tunnicliffe, Robin Stout, Pam Wall and other pros to be announced will lead women in this week long event.

Here's the tentative schedule:

Saturday --Arrivals and Welcome Harbor Cruise (Get to Know the Instructor(s) and fellow participants)

Sunday --AM: Skills Assessment & Laser Racing October 21--PM: Skills Assessment & Hunter Racing

Monday --AM: WOW 101 (Basics), PM: On the Water; or WOW 201A Boathandling  aboard IC 24s

Tuesday --WOW 102 (AM and PM--sail with confidence); or WOW 201B Tame the Spinnaker (AM); Bluewater Sailing on Express 37 (PM); Sailing Gear for Women at Sea (showcase).

Wednesday --Optional Anegada Trip and Twilight Racing, or private tutorials.

Thursday --IC 24 Regatta (for racers); or WOW 202 (intermediate/advanced Cruising Clinics)

Friday  --IC 24 Regatta (for racers); or WOW 202 (intermediate/advanced Cruising Clinics)

Closing Dinner 

Pros That Lead the Week
Anna Tunnicliffe has skippered the 2009 and 2010 Pro Am Regatta Weeks, and is slated to return in 2011. Hot on the heels of being a finalist (and a crowd favorite) at the 2009 Pro Am, Anna jetted off to Korea to pick up the ISAF Female Sailor of the Year award. And the 2010 season so far has been equally illustrious. She announced that she would change disciplines and focus on the match race event at the next Olympic Games. And already she is being considered a front runner for the Gold. After taking the Silver Medal at the 42nd annual Semaine Olympique Francaise in Hyeres France (a World Cup Match race event), she won the XII International Women’s Match Race Criterium in Calpe, Spain, beating the world’s top ranked match-racer along the way. To refresh your memories, in 2008, representing the USA, she was the Olympic Gold Medalist and Number One-Ranked Woman Laser Radial Sailor.

In fact, she has been the world's number one-ranked women's Radial sailor for most of the past 20 months after returning to the top spot in the ISAF rankings. Prior to that, she was a three-time Intercollegiate Singlehanded National Champion, and three-time collegiate All American. Most recently, she won the 2009 Miami Olympic Classes Regatta, and was named Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. For more: www.AnnaTunnicliffe.com.

Andrea Metcalf is a healthy lifestyle coach with over 30 years experience helping people lose weight, get in shape and meet their goals.  Author of Naked Fitness, A 28 Day Proven Weight Loss Program for a Slimmer, Fitter, Pain Free Body (Vanguard Press), and fitness contributor to NBC Chicago, Better TV, Oprah.com and the Huffington Post, Andrea brings energy, motivation and inspiration to help people make changes that last.

Andrea stays fit and healthy to practice the things she loves: sailing, scuba diving and skiing.  Andrea has sailed the BVI fives times and raced sailboats with her family in Chicago for many years. Her web site is www.andreametcalf.com.

Pam Wall has been a frequent cruising visitor to the Bitter End, regaling our guests with stories of far away lands, and cruising exploits. Her profound knowledge of offshore sailing and enthusiasm for it are infectious. Pam and her husband and two children spent seven years circumnavigating the world, and later on, spent a year sailing across the Atlantic. Her presentations of these experiences are informational, awe-inspiring and a hit with all who have seen them. Pam has worked for West Marine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida since 1992, when she completed her world cruise, except for one year she and her family took to once more cruise together on their sailing adventure across the Atlantic.

Robin Stout lives the cruising life every day, aboard Mermaid, a 51’ sailboat, in Redondo Beach, CA, with her husband, kids and a dog named Austin. She has cruised Mexico and the South Pacific, where she filmed a segment for Latitudes and Attitudes TV called “Austin’s Adventures.”

While serving as the editor of Living Aboard magazine, Robin is refitting Mermaid for another cruise, with her sights set on rounding Cape Horn.

She is also an avid racer and has competed in local, national and international competitions.

Schedule your own Women on the Water Week!
Now, to respond to your busy schedules, we offer you the ability to learn from the women rock stars in the familiar format of Women on the Water Week, in the one-of-a-kind destination of Bitter End on North Sound, on your timetable.

If you have a group of women (that would fill at least 10 rooms) that you know would enjoy participating in this weeklong event or would like to plan a five or six day event, contact our Office of Special Events, and we'll start planning. If you are interested in joining up with a group of other adventurers, and have more flexibility in your travel schedule, email usThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and with a large enough group, we will create the event to mesh with everyone's schedule.

[Of course, if you are determined to learn to sail or hone your skills, you are always welcome to take classes at the Bitter End Sailing School, where you can even get certified in small keelboat sailing.]