New Women’s Championship in 2023

Noroton Yacht Club (Darien, CT) will host the inaugural Susan Widmann Sinclair Women’s Championship, an umpired fleet race regatta to include a dozen of the country’s top women sailors. Sailed in the Club’s fleet of Sonars, the 2023 event will be sailed June 16-18 on Long Island Sound.

“The Sinclair Women’s Championship is something our Club has wanted to do for a long time,” noted Noroton Commodore Bobby Lawrence. “With the increasing support of women’s regattas, both nationally and at Noroton, this is a great way for us to use our fleet of Sonars to increase opportunities for top women sailors.

“It also allows us to honor a women who played an important role in Noroton Yacht Club’s history and heritage. All of us at Noroton look forward to this Championship becoming a major part of the growing women’s championship circuit.”

In addition to being awarded the new Susan Widmann Sinclair Women’s Championship trophy, the winning skipper will receive a berth to compete in New York Yacht Club’s 2024 Women’s Championship.

Entry for this Championship is by invitation only based upon the skipper’s sailing resume. To be considered, interested sailors must submit a detailed sailing resume to Event Chair Nancy Pearson by February 10 at nancy.pearson@harborcrest.com.

The Notice of Race can be found on Yacht Scoring at https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eid=15609.

This championship and trophy are dedicated to Susan Widman Sinclair, a lifelong member of Noroton Yacht Club who competed in the Lightning, Tempest, J/24, and Sonar Classes, most with her husband David as crew. In 1962, Sue won the Adams Trophy, US Sailing’s Women’s Sailing Championship. That same year she was named the Martini and Rossi Yachtswoman-of-the-Year (now sponsored by Rolex) alongside Bus Mosbacher as Yachtsman-of-the-Year.

“Sue was a mentor and inspiration to a generation of women sailors, at Noroton and beyond,” said Lawrence. “Our creating this new championship in her name reflects her contributions to our Club and women sailors everywhere.”