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 Sailing

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

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

⚓ Join the SheHelms Community — it’s free

❤️ Support the Podcast & Help Keep SheHelms Free

⛵ Sailing Training, Mentoring & Professional Skippering with JoJo

You can also help SheHelms grow by following the podcast and sharing it with another woman who sail or would like to.

YouTube | Instagram | Facebook