Where Women Say Yes to Fun and Adventure
Where Women Say Yes to Fun and Adventure
A look at Wind Goddess Retreats and all-women sailing charters in paradise
A few months ago, a friend of ours reached out about an all-women’s sailing trip. He was planning on surprising his wife with the trip and wanted to know if Chezarae, my wife, would want to go with her. Although his wife would have had fun without a companion, he thought she would enjoy the experience even more if Chezarae went along.
We speak with our friends about sailing every once in a while. All of us have dreams of retiring and sailing full time. For my wife and I, we owned a Lancer 27 while I was stationed at Camp Pendleton. My sailing yacht was named Sv Lonesome Dove. Before we go any farther, I know what you’re thinking. “Aaron, a 27’ boat cannot be a yacht.” Unfortunately, you’re wrong. Want to know why?
Check out this essay, “Defining a Yacht,” by yours truly, and put another wrinkle in your brain.
In fact, we didn’t just own a sailboat; I lived on her for the two years I was stationed there. So did my kids when covid popped off. Turns out a 27’ yacht with three liveaboards is actually a 9’ boat (You’re not allowed to use that anecdote as a counter argument for a 27’ yacht). I loved it when my wife was able to fly in and we could sail around SoCal and when the whole family came down and we could sail to Catalina Island. Great memories!
Anyway, we love to sail, and it’s been a few years since I retired and we sold our boat, so when our friend called and informed us of his plans, we were in!
The charter that he researched and settled on was called Wind Goddess Retreats. This essay will look at how easy it is to do the same on your end, my wife’s experience on the charter, and then take a closer look at an interview I had with the owner of Wind Goddess Retreats, and charter skipper, Captain Annie Gardner. Her bio is extensive, so I’ll just link it here, but trust me folks… she’s as legitimate as they come.
As for our experience, I think it was a great one. Wind Goddess Retreats is top notch. You’ll read more about Captain Annie and her experience as a sailor and skipper, but from a land-legged potential patron, one couldn’t ask for a smoother process.
I should have started by saying this is something you can surprise the lady in your life with. Captain Annie will communicate with a male spouse or partner to schedule, register, and coordinate travel and charter arrangements so it can be a surprise.
To wrap up the process in a nutshell:
Visit the site and select a scheduled charter.
Contact Captain Annie and let her know which charter you’re interested in.
You will receive a questionnaire and deposit information.
Once the deposit is paid, you’re almost done. Captain Annie provides detailed instructions for planning your travel (including international documentation requirements), for items to bring, for customs and courtesies aboard a sailing vessel and chartered cruise on the website and via direct communication. Additionally, she provides the contact information for other members of the cruise so you can get to know the people you’ll be taking the adventure with.
That’s it. Time for the adventure!
It’s not quite wham, bam, thank you ma’am, but it’s close and easy enough for a group of Marines to figure out, so I know you can too.
There’s something on Wind Goddess Retreats’ website that sums up the experience. Captain Annie encourages you to “Join the list of women who just say yes to fun and adventure in paradise!” And if you have a special woman in your life who deserves an adventure and a break from the daily grind, I’m here to tell you— this is a good one!
On the trip, I didn’t really speak with my wife. She reached out via text to let me know she made it, and again to let me know she was heading back (we were thankful that she decided to trade in paradise for home and return to us), but other than that, she was soaking it all in.
Snorkeling, local cuisine and libation, comfort and camaraderie with other women, a tan, and of course, sailing! When my wife returned, I asked her what she thought.
I’m ready to go back! The whole experience was perfect, and Captain Annie was just amazing. We were thrown right into learning the boat and how to sail, working the lines and working together.
Two of my favorite things from the trip were sleeping outside on the deck with the water sloshing below me and the stars shining above and pulling into a mooring or anchoring somewhere. There would be people on other boats watching and then comment how impressive it was to see us— an all-women crew— work this huge boat so efficiently.
I loved the pace of the trip. I could do as much work on the boat as I wanted, or I could lounge around in the sun or swim. I found a new passion and new friends, and I absolutely cannot wait to get back out there!
But don’t take it from just her. You can check out some of the other testimonials here.
As for costs, I think they were more than reasonable, especially for the experience and accommodations, but they do vary depending on which charter you select and how much privacy you’re looking for on the cruise. For example, you could book out a full cabin and have it to yourself, but that would cost you more than sharing a cabin with someone. There was nothing surprising about what was included or, more importantly, what was not, but you can read about the details here.
I think you’ll find the cost, both reasonable and comparable to other vacation ideas.
Most vacations are great and provide much needed food for the soul— Wind Goddess Retreats does that like any other. However, there are things that can only be found on a vacation like this. A vacation where a woman can travel alone in safety and comfort and have an adventurous experience. A vacation where women can learn a skill (or improve one), free of male influence— or our splainin’— and build friendships and memories on the open seas! Though there is a cost associated with any vacation, it’s likely this one will go down as priceless.
Before putting this essay together, I wanted to speak with Captain Annie and ask her a few questions. I think this account of our conversation will answer most of the questions someone might have, but if you have lingering questions about why one should choose this sort of vacation, and why Wind Goddess Retreats is the one to choose, don’t hesitate to reach out to Captain Annie directly. Her website and contact information will be provided at the end of this essay1.
Okay, what you’ve stuck around for— my Q & A with Captain Annie. Enjoy!
The Sword & Pen: Why an all women crew? Are men ever welcome?
Captain Annie: Number one reason - to create more opportunities for women. A little history of my all women experiences:
I’ve always been passionate about being on the water. Sailing is a means to an end. I love to be in it and on it and have always lived near an ocean. When I was growing up in Miami in the 80’s there were very few women on the water sailing. Lots of men though. I was racing with my dad one day and a young man yanked a winch handle out of my hands. I was 16, frustrated and furious. That insult fueled my fire and desire to be better, and eventually helped me recognize that sailing with women would not have the same consequences.
We had a regatta once a year for women only, and most of the women didn’t sail after they attended sailing camp. So, I helped form a women’s sailing organization that allowed us to sail every month. In 1981, I was the first female to skipper an all-female crew in a world class ocean racing regatta, the SORC which in those days was equivalent to the world championships. Why all women? Because that was my crew, and because we didn’t have opportunities to race at that level with men. No invites. That year there were 80 yachts from around the world, and only one with 7 women, ours. Of the other 5 women in the fleet, 4 were chefs and one was a navigator. I knew how hard it was to get on a boat, so I asked my dad to give me his boat as a college graduation present. When he said yes, we made history. Women from around the world were reaching out with letters once the word got was spread (no internet or cell phones but somehow it leaked).
The next year I was sponsored, given a faster and better boat and we raced with 12 crew, almost doubling the number of women in the fleet. In 1983, I moved to San Diego and helped form another local women’s sailing organization and then organized a yearly event called Women’s Week Offshore which was sanctioned by our national sailing authority, USYRU. My friends and I hosted events, at cost, [across] the country. Women were taught (by volunteer rockstar status male sailors) how to improve their skills and it was a success for several years. The grass roots were growing. I was in my 20’s and was intent on getting more women on the water. From there I tackled, and focused on windsurfing, my other sailing passion, and won a silver medal in the 1984 LA Olympic Windsurfing Exhibition. After I retired from professional windsurfing, I started racing small catamarans and have won 3 women’s world titles, the last one in 2019. But I never stopped loving to sail on ocean going sailboats. In 1995 I was a member of the first all-women’s America’s Cup Team called America3, serving in the afterguard. We made history and empowered more females around the world. 3 billion media impressions [have] a trickledown effect for sure.
Between 1995 and 2013 I worked with the University of Denver MBA program doing team building events. I had to get a captain’s license for insurance purposes and have kept that current since then. The beautiful thing about sailing is, you can start at any age, you can stop for a while, and pick it right back up again. And the older you are, and the more you sail, the more experienced and better you are. What I really love about sailing is that you NEVER stop learning.
2015 - 2020 gave me a new focus. I fell in love with Eric in 2011, we bought a catamaran in France in 2014, and began our world tour CRUISING! We only stopped because of Covid and that’s when the idea of Wind Goddess Retreats was born. Eric has always called me his Wind Goddess. I love looking out on the water and reading the patterns and ripples.
But why do only women cruises? Just as men like to do things with their male friends sometimes, women do as well. But in the past, women’s groups have not necessarily been geared towards sports or adventures, but more like book clubs and knitting groups. As we evolve and grow as a society, and especially with the help of Title 9, women are learning that we too can play sports and plan some great outdoor adventures. I’m trying to create more opportunities for women to think outside the box. When there are only women on board, we can learn at our own pace, feel relaxed without any sexual pressures or typical roles being assigned to us. Men are stronger by nature, so we tend to rely on them for tasks that we can do too, and we need to use technique instead of brute strength. Sailing is great like that. It is an equalizer. It takes brains, sensitivity to nature, technique, and knowledge to sail a boat well. Leaving the men at the dock helps women be empowered. They have to rely on a female captain to keep them safe, both physically and mentally. I’m modeling the way for other women to know that if they want to, they can be in charge of a big boat too. The other nice thing about all women crew is that women are communicators. We love to talk and listen. So, there’s a lot of sharing and caring. Many of us tend to open up and share intimate details about our lives [with] new friends quite easily. So, the conversations on board can be quite fascinating and we find ourselves learning a lot about not sailing topics as well. With even one man onboard these topics would take a much different turn. Another reason for only women is our bodies. We don’t have to be self-conscious in a bathing suit when there are no men onboard. So, in effect this makes everyone more relaxed. If someone wants to swim topless, they can! Plus, we take showers on the back of the boat so there’s less worry about privacy.
AND... I'm doing my first mixed crew this summer in Croatia!
My husband who is also a captain is coming and we will have 4 couples and 3 single females onboard. We can’t wait! In the future I’m hoping to do more and more couples-charters with Eric.
The Sword & Pen: What is it about working with an all women crew that you find most rewarding?
Captain Annie: I love to encourage women to find more independence and strength, while learning new skills or perfecting their techniques. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to have had some excellent coaches and it’s nice to be able to pass on the knowledge while not in a stressful situation like racing. Cruising is the best platform! The friendships that are created on board are also extremely rewarding but not just for me. Living on a boat for a week means there is time for everyone to really get to know each other. And after the cruise is over, women are staying in touch and sharing news through our WhatsApp group chats. They share when they are back on a boat, or taking a class, or even personal news that they know we’d all care about. In the end, it’s all about people.
The Sword & Pen: Are all charters working charters, or do you offer full-service charters?
Captain Annie: The WGR are not working charters. The one Chezarae was on was geared towards teaching and learning but usually they are more about cruising and playing with learning coming naturally through what we do during the day. I always need help with anchoring and catching a mooring ball, so I call it the anchor crew, and we take turns cooking, but otherwise there’s not any “work” involved by the guests unless they want to. Full-service charter means you have a captain and a chef. I haven’t done that yet as there’s always a few women onboard who find the galley is their happy place. I do too!
The Sword & Pen: Given the information you provide on your website, what's the one thing you would want to stress to future Wind Goddesses?
Captain Annie: Cruising on a large catamaran is absolutely the best! And once you're hooked, there are so many places you can go. Starting in the BVI’s is the perfect location for getting your feet wet.
Because I’ve been sailing there for so many years, I know the islands like the back of my hand and know all the little tricks of when to be where and what islands to go to and which ones to skip, which stores to shop in, which restaurants are worth visiting, and so on.
The weather is almost always perfect, the islands are close together, so you don’t sail all day to get somewhere, it’s safe so no worries about someone boarding and stealing your stuff, the beaches are white, the reefs are healthy, and the islands are simply gorgeous. After you’ve done the BVI’s, most people are hooked on sailing.
I’m looking at other locations for return customers and those who want to see more places. Croatia and the Grenadines are my first choices.
The Sword & Pen: What does the ideal crew member bring to the table?
Captain Annie: In cruising, the ideal crew member is open and flexible to new ideas and schedules, is happy to share their own stories and experiences, and is eager to chip in and help anyone else.
In a racing situation, the ideal crew knows their role and does it with enthusiasm and focus.
The Sword & Pen: Does your husband do the same thing for Mariner Men?
Captain Annie: Eric is a captain and certified ASA instructor and has been consulting and helping people, mostly couples, find their perfect catamaran. He works primarily with the men teaching them loads of info about their boat once they purchase it. He sometimes does deliveries for them as well. I’m enlisting his help for my couples-charters on OPB (other people’s boats - charter boats) and we also do [educational] charters on our own catamaran, El Gato, a Catana 472 catamaran we’ve owned since 2014. Check out our blog that began in 2015 and covered all our travels from the Med, the East Coast, the Caribbean, Cuba, Mexico and more!
We are a great team and have modeled the way for many other couples who are starting out.
The Sword & Pen: Other than your website, is there a place we can find out more about what you do?
Captain Annie: Check out the YouTube video by the O’Kelley's about us.
The Sword & Pen: Is there anything else you’d like for readers to know?
Captain Annie: After 6 years of cruising nonstop over 40,000 miles, being together 24/7, we know what it takes to be a good team. So, we love doing teaching charters with couples who want to live the dream of cruising on a catamaran. Teams need to divide and conquer. So, he gets into the nitty gritty of engines, water makers, and battery controls with the men, and I encourage and empower the women who generally speaking are onboard with the idea of buying a boat and cruising, but it wasn’t really their idea. I like to show them how lucky they are, how lucky He is that she said “yes,” and that there are tons of jobs they can do to make the ship run smoothly.
Navigation for example. Nowadays it’s easy to use the new systems to know where you are and where you want to go. I teach them which apps to buy, and how to use them. Weather is another very important factor in safety, so I show them which apps and how to be proactive. Women are normally careful and detail oriented so when it comes to planning this is a great role for them. They just need to know where the information is and how to use it so that’s my focus. We’ve taken couples on their first overnight sails, and I team up with the woman and he teams up with the man. I’m all about showing her how smart she is, and how she is a very important person on this team who needs to speak up if something doesn’t look or feel right. Be the Safety Officer. Some men like to forge ahead without caution so it’s good to have that balance.
Thanks for staying on board with this one all the way into safe harbor. I hope that you learned something about sailing charters, and especially all-women charters.
For myself, I love spending time with my wife, and sharing in adventure, and I thoroughly enjoy sailing with her, but everyone needs some time away from the grind of daily life and responsibility— time alone with others of their sex— time to learn and grow with their own.
This trip was a great opportunity for my wife to do just that, and quite frankly, Chezarae— and I know Maritza and the other Wind Goddesses too— had earned it. I hope you will consider making the time and setting aside the money for the lady in your life to do the same.
Until that time may come…
Fair winds and following seas, and of course, Semper Fidelis!
To speak with Wind Goddess Retreats directly, Captain Annie asks that you please reach out at Contact Me (windgoddessretreats.com)