Welcome to the first SheHelms Sailing Podcast.

Today I’m delighted to be talking with Sadie Johnson, a sailor from California who shares the honest reality of buying her first boat and learning to skipper it along the way.

Sadie tells the story of how a sailing club opened the door to a life on the water, why she eventually bought a 1976 Cal 34, and the steep learning curve that followed.

We talk about:

* buying your first boat

* overcoming the anxiety of boat ownership

* manoeuvring in marinas and learning from mistakes

* the value of supportive sailing communities

* women in sailing and the allies helping to create change

* solo sailing, Catalina Island, and future adventures

* why engineering, curiosity and asking questions make better sailors

It’s an honest conversation about confidence, resilience and discovering that every sailor, no matter how experienced, has something new to learn.

Whether you’re dreaming of owning your first boat or already navigating the challenges of life afloat, I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation.

About SheHelms

I’m JoJo Pickering, a professional freelance skipper, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and founder of SheHelms Sailing.

SheHelms is a women-centred sailing community bringing women together to build skills, confidence and connections on the water. Through the podcast, articles, monthly Zooms and our free online community, we share practical knowledge, inspiring stories and honest conversations about sailing life.

If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, share it with another sailor, and come and join us.

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Very welcome aboard.