Episode #158: Jerelyn Biehl on Championing Women’s Sailing

This week’s host, Moe Roddy, is joined by Jerelyn Biehl to chat encouraging more and more women and girls to take an active role in sailing. Jerelyn has championed women’s and girl’s sailing for over 40 years and recently was honored with the 2024 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award.

Hear about Jerelyn’s magical summers sailing to Catalina Island growing up, how she started solving issues for women and girls, how we can involve more women and girls in sailing and sailing leadership positions, what she’s most proud of in her career and with her sailing family, and why it’s crucial to listen and have patience on and off the water.

Here’s a sample of what we discuss in the episode:

• What inspired you to encourage girls to take an active role in sailing? 
• What are the differences between women and men when sailing?
• Were you surprised to win when you got the Leadership in Women’s Award this year?
• How would somebody join the National Women’s Sailing Association if they wanted to?
• What was it like training and competing without a coach?
• Were there any highlights of sailing FJs in college?
• Did the family’s marine hardware business influence Jerelyn’s love of sailing?
• What would Jerelyn say to girls and women who want to learn how to sail?

Learn more about the National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) at WomenSailing.org.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast spots — follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling the Good Jibes!

Check out the episode and show notes below for much more detail.

Show Notes

• Jerelyn Biehl on Championing Women’s Sailing
  • [0:22] Welcome to Good Jibes with Latitude 38
  • [0:50] Subscribe to Latitude 38 at Latitude38.com
  • [1:13] Jerelyn Biehl
  • [2:35] Verified accomplishments
  • [3:33] Sailing siblings
  • [4:31] Biehl family marine hardware business
  • [6:25] Did you come up through a junior sailing program?
  • [7:23] What was it like to be a girl sailing at that time?
  • [8:48] Did you parents foster your love for sailing?
  • [9:46] LA Yacht Club and Mission Bay Yacht Club
  • [11:40] Do you remember your first race?
  • [12:10] Jerelyn’s mother, a trapeze, and a shark
  • [14:05] High school sailing in California
  • [16:25] Practicing in Marina del Rey without a coach
  • [17:54] The only girl sailing in a single handed Pacific Coast event
  • [18:45] Were there any highlights of sailing FJs in college?
  • [19:31] What did you major in in college?
  • [20:11] When did you find the time to get married?
  • [21:42] You raised some pretty amazing sailors
  • [25:58] Stiletto hulls
  • [28:23] Getting in business with Sherri Campbell
  • [30:31] What inspired you to encourage girls to take an active role in sailing? 
  • [33:39] What would you say to organizations who want to involve more females in our sport?
  • [34:37] The differences between women and men when sailing
  • [35:31] What would you say to girls and women who want to learn how to sail?
  • [38:16] What are you most proud of? 
  • [42:09] The St. Francis Sailing Foundation 
  • [43:07] The second woman to ever be the Commodore
  • [46:00] In 2019, I decided: it’s going to be our year. We’re going to have a women’s cruise.
  • [49:11] Were you surprised to win when you got the Leadership in Women’s Award this year?
  • [50:36] How would somebody join the National Women’s Sailing Association if they wanted to?
  • Short Tacks
  • [51:41] What’s the one thing you won’t get on a boat without?
  • [52:38] What’s your favorite book not about sailing?
  • 53:33 Which child invites you to sail with them most? 
  • [54:02] If you could have coffee with anyone alive or dead, who would that be and why?
  • [54:59] What’s your favorite boat design?
  • [55:53] What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned over your professional career?
  • [56:18] What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from sailing?
  • [56:45] Who’s inspired you most in your life?
  • [57:45] Where is your favorite place in the world to sail?
  • [58:13] What’s the one question you wish I’d asked that I didn’t ask and how would you answer it?
  • [1:01:02] Is there anything you want to leave our audience with that is really important to you?
  • [1:02:47] Make sure to follow Good Jibes with Latitude 38 on your favorite podcast spot and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
  • Got a great sailing story to submit? Do so at [email protected]
  • Subscribe to Latitude 38 at Latitude38.com
  • Check out the September 2024 issue of Latitude 38
  • Theme Song: “Pineapple Dream” by Solxis