Directors
Sarah Knudsen, Education Director
Sarah learned to sail at the age of 10 on a San Juan 21 in Klamath Falls, OR and moved to Portland in February 2022. Her previous sailing experiences include Wednesday night races, regattas, and volunteering for the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda. She joined OWSA in June 2022 to make connections with other women passionate about sailing and hopes to further her education and earn sailing certifications. In May 2023, Sarah and three other OWSA women obtained their ASA 101/103/104 certifications from San Juan Sailing and Yachting aboard Kipper Kite in the San Juan Islands. When not dreaming of sailing, Sarah is found playing board games with her husband, walking her dogs, or telling a joke too punny to repeat. In her professional life, Sarah is an Total Rewards Analyst at a global logistics company and operates her own HR consulting firm. She has experience in small business and nonprofit management, human resources, accounting, and strategic planning.
+Email: education@owsa.net
I am proud to be part of our sailing community. As a teenager, I learned to sail a 17 Lightning on Elliott Bay (Seattle). I was smitten! I continued exploring our sport on the Charles River in Boston, and later with friends and family who owned sailboats. In 2021 I retired from a career in urban planning and architecture, moved to Northeast Portland and soon discovered affordable ways to sail on the Columbia. Since then, I loved participating in Wednesday Night Sails, and cruising in the San Juans and the British Virgin Islands with flotillas. I enjoy networking and meeting people. My partner Paul and I became Associate Members of Portland Yacht Club in January 2025. We enjoy volunteering as crew members!
Email: social@owsa.net
Bio coming soon.
Email: programs@owsa.net
I started sailing in 2019, taking ASA 101 and 103 classes with my then teenage son. It was a great chance to spend time together, until he left for college (go Beavers!) I joined OWSA to meet other sailors and improve my skills. In addition to sailing, I spend my free time hiking and backpacking as well as traveling in my Sprinter Van.
Email: operations@owsa.net
Erika Spooner, Marketing/Fundraising Director
Sailing was never on my radar growing up. I took my first sailing class around 1996 at Island Sailing Club with a couple of girlfriends. I joined the club and worked on improving my skills earning my Bareboat Certification, then taking Coastal Navigation and Advanced Coastal Cruising. Racing at ISC became a passion and a chance meeting led to me joining an all-male crew on one of the big boats. It wasnt long before I was racing everything on the river, as well as a few regattas outside of Portland. I was mostly active with OWSA volunteering for Sail for the Cure. I got married, honeymooned by chartering in the Gulf Islands, and continued sailing for a handful of years. But raising my two boys and other activities with my family took my attention from the water. My boys are grown (and mostly grown) now, so I'm coming back to sailing and back to OWSA. I'm looking forward to refreshing my skills, doing some cruising, and spending time sailing with women who love it too. Im a Graphic Designer and Ive spent the last several years fundraising for a local nonprofit, and I look forward to using my experience to give back to OWSA.
Email: marketing@owsa.net
