Women on the Water (within Jackson Park Yacht Club)
Every other Thursday during the boating season, you can find Jackson Park Yacht Club women boaters gathered together to learn something nautical, enjoy a sail on Lake Michigan, or build connections with other like-minded women. Six years ago in February 2020 African American boaters Karen Harris, Delia Urgesi-gray and Chiaka Paterson discussed building a Women on the Water (WOW) organization based on the Charter idea of Encouraging and Empowering Women Boaters and creating a forum for networking . What began as a women’s luncheon evolved to be a cherished institution by women boaters all across the City and a catalyst to create more safe spaces for women. Shared leadership has been provided by Chiaka Patterson, Amanda Brinton, Lynette Rhymes and Arlis Ball.
Chronological Highlights
March 2021 - Chiaka Patterson and Karen Harris curated and Co-Chaired the first major WOW event on March 28, 2021 – a free virtual Zoom seminar Women on the Water: Encouraging and Empowering Women Boaters”. This event garnered national attention in the sailing community with over 125 women registered from across the country. Topics included Beginning Boating, Racing and Race Committee, and Climbing the Bridge (The road to becoming Commodore).
September 2021 – JPYC WOW agreed to host the 20th Annual National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) Women’s Sailing Conference on
September 10–11, 2021. On the water training, lectures and online/streaming attendance options were offered. Chiaka Patterson and Karen Harris Co-Chaired this event that covered: Core seamanship and navigation, Sail trim and reefing, Foul-weather sailing (handling heavier conditions), Racing skills and strategy, Diesel engine basics, Knot tying and line handling, Other land- and water-based “how-to” workshops, keynote & inspiration and networking. The Conference theme was “Sharing Sailing” – JPYC was showcased as an example of a diverse sailing community, with a large community of women and minority sailors and a growing Women on the Water program.
Spring 2022 - Crowleys Yacht Yard “Yachtapalooza” event hosted their first WOW leadership panel and asked JPYC’s WOW leadership to help coordinate representation of other women advocates. JPYC’s Chiaka Patterson spoke on the panel.
Spring 2022-2025 – JPYC WOW hosted its first “City-Wide Women Sailors and Boaters Mixer and Happy Hours” that brought together women boaters and aspiring boaters from across the city. 2025 Marked the sixth year hosting this popular networking event.
2025 -JPYC WOW continues to meet and serve as a strong advocate for women’s participation and leadership in Chicago’s boating community.
Chiaka Pattereson