Flag Officers
The Board is made up of five Flag Officer positions (Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Secretary, and Treasurer) and up to five additional Directors. Contact the Commodore if you are interested in serving on the Board and giving back to the OWSA Community.
When I was young, my mother would call to me when I was too far out in the waves swimming in Manzanita Bay. Today, when I need to heal, I head to the water. I think it was a natural fit that I found a community in OWSA. I joined in 2000, but it seems like just yesterday. The confidence and skills I gained through sailing in the last 24 years bled into my professional life and made me a better teacher and human being. The lifelong friends that I made along the way challenged me and pushed me to become even better.
I bought my first sailboat a year after I joined OWSA. My husband, Michael, felt it was important for me to own a boat if I wanted to really get to know sailing. My first boat, Wayward Star, was a Catalina 22 with a 7 swing keel. I purchased it for a mere $5000. It was a great beginner boat for me. She was responsive and forgiving at the same time. From Wayward Star, I moved up into my 1984 Newport 30 MIII, Blue Heron, because I needed more range I and wanted to really go places in my vessel. Blue Heron is my forever boat. My Newport carried me and an all woman crew across the Columbia River Bar, up the Washington coastline and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. From there we sailed into the San Juan and Gulf Islands.
These past years I had the pleasure of chartering as skipper. The first cruise was to the Gulf Islands in September 2022, then the San Juan Islands in September 2023 and lastly the BVIs in March 2024. With each charter I gained more experience in planning and preparing for a cruise, and I increased my knowledge and skill of docking and boat handling.
Over the last 24 years in OWSA, I met many women on Blue Heron during Wednesday Night Sails who were at the beginning of their sailing endeavors. I watched them grow into first mates, then boat owners, then cruising skippers themselves. This is how OWSA empowers women. I look forward to helping guide OWSA through its 30th year.
Email: commodore@owsa.net
Contact the commodore for questions about the board meetings and community outreach.
Growing up in San Francisco, as a kid I saw pretty white triangles floating on the water and airplanes floating in the air. The two have become my passion. My first flight at 10 years old started my love and pathway to aviation where I worked in Portland for 12 years. At the same time, I was introduced to Sailing and became a Catalina 22 boat owner. I never would have expected that Sailing would become my life so instantly as aviation did. As an adult the vision of pretty white triangles are a whole different world now and have taken me on an unbelievable journey.
When a friend introduced me to OWSA I immediately became a member and participated in my first Wednesday Night Sail, then I was invited to crew on various boats. I continued to learn from OWSA flotilla cruises, classes that were offered and most recently the BOAST program. That is when my skills started to grow beyond basic sailing.
OWSA is a place to build confidence, meet like minded women, get involved with the community and develop sailing skills through their education opportunities. For those reasons I love being your Vice Commodore.
Email: vicecommodore@owsa.net
Contact the vice commodore about membership meetings.
I love the water and the wind and have since I was a kid. I grew up with two lakes nearby. One of my best friends family had a beach house on Lake Erie on the Canadian side across from Buffalo. Wed ride our bikes over the Peacebridge using our library cards as ID and spend the day on the water.
The other Lake, Chautauqua Lake is where I learned to sail. The Boys and Girls Club where kids spent the day, has many activities, including sailing. Donated Lightnings were our learner boats. With most outings starting with bailing out the boats affectionately named the minow bucket or something similar. We learned the basics and safety protocols and spent many hours sailing our fleet.
I also had friends with small sunfish, kites, and other dingy type boats which we donned our life jackets and took off the dock sailing all day by ourselves, down toward Jamestown and back to Mayville.
When I moved to Oregon I bought a well loved Lido 14 that I trailered to Hagg Lake, the Willamette and one time to Willapa Bay.that last one was a little scary.
Then I got a taste of bigger boats and the Columbia because of a PE class requirement for PCC. I could take basketball, badminton, or.drum role please..Sailing! Portland Sailing Center at Harbor One were the instructors. I didnt find my way to OWSA until I went to a friends graduation celebration at Rose City Yacht Club and someone there asked me if I knew about OWSA. I joined immediately!
As a volunteer I ran Wednesday Night Sails for 2 ½ years, and chaired the Sail for the Cause when we raised over $40,000 for Susan G Komen. Ive helped with many events, meetings, programs pitching in where needed.\
Because of OWSA Ive sailed in the BVI, USVI, Grenadines and Grenada, Bay of Islands in New Zealand, the Gulf Islands, San Juan Islands. And just returned from 10 days on a catamaran in St. Lucia.
I live on a floating house and my sweet little Clipper Marine 21, Periwinkle is tied the dock at the house and is part of WNS.
I am happy to give back to OWSA by serving as the Rear Commodore during this interim phase. My nonprofit and previous board experience should be helpful in drafting new by laws for member approval and aiding Julie in her Commodore tasks.
Email: rearcommodore@owsa.net
Contact the rear commodore for questions about awards, donations and community outreach.
Fran McKay, Secretary
My sailing journey began in 2018 as a crew member on a Capri 22 racing team in Illinois. After moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2022, I couldn't wait to get back on the water! In 2024, I earned my ASA 101 certification through Island Sailing and became a proud member of OWSA. By 2025, I was excited to join the BOAST program on Calypte. I love sailing, and I'm thrilled to continue developing my skills while making new friends and connections along the way.
In my professional life, I'm a Financial Advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. I live in Camas, WA with my husband. Our youngest daughter will be attending the University of Oregon starting in Sep 2025. I also have four adult children in the Chicago area along with five grandchildren, and one daughter in Austin. Aside from sailing, I enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends. I'm passionate about community service and currently serve as the Secretary for both OWSA and the Rotary Club of Greater Clark County in Vancouver, WA.
Email: secretary@owsa.net
Contact the secretary about meeting minutes, the annual report and business registry records
I grew up on the water waterskiing. It wasnt until my teens that my sister took me for a sailboat ride on Elk Lake near Bend. We were in the middle of the lake and I noticed sailboats going around us. I said to her, I dont think we should be here. Years later, I found out we were in the middle of a national regatta.
Years later, I sailed on a Zap with the wind blowing out of the south so strong they were using the south runway for landings. On that adventure we blew out the main sail, broke one of the lines and had to motor back to the slip.
After that, my next adventure on a sailboat was in the BVIs. That was an experience of a different nature. The Captain had just got his ASA 101 and thought he knew more than my experienced husband. We couldnt have possibly used that much water. Well, he wouldnt let us fill up so we had no water for a day.
Then, in 2013, I decided to learn how to sail. My brother-in-law gave me his boat he built. It was fun, but it wasnt a race boat. So I bought my current boat in 2022 and have been having a ball figuring it out and how to race.
Email: treasurer@owsa.net
Contact the treasurer about OWSA's 501(c)3 status, accounts payable & receivable and department budgets.
Thank you to the amazing Commodores that have provided vision and leadership to OWSA over the years:
| 2023 - Allison Chown | 2016 - April Deines | 2009 - Julia Tucker | 2002 - Mary Stupi Brocks |
| 2022 - Laura Gadley | 2015 - Dondi Kathman | 2008 - Edie Felix | 2001 - Mary Woiccak |
| 2021 - Jennifer Hall (Wiseman) | 2014 - Ashley Paterson | 2007 - Cathie Dluehosh | 2000 - Linda Wanitschek |
| 2020 - Shancy Holland | 2013 - Ellen Van Rossum | 2006 - Susan Estes | 1999 - Alice Patten |
| 2019 - Delona Lang | 2012 - Susan Gierga | 2005 - Judi Davis | 1998 - Cheryl McNaughton |
| 2018 - Tressa Yellig | 2011 - Kitty Church | 2004 - Sue Johnson | 1997 - Gail Taylor |
| 2017 - MC Rydzewski | 2010 - Wendy Hatchadourian | 2003 - Donna Mac | 1996 - Susan Burns |
| 1995 - Sherry Robinson |
