Published: Friday, January 16, 2004 at:8:56 PM




Highlights From the 2001 Women’s Week at the Bitter End Yacht Club
Excerpts reprinted courtesy of the West Marine Web Site and Newsletter



It is difficult to accurately describe the physical beauty of the Bitter End Yacht Club in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. There is no other place quite like it in the world. Imagine high lush hills surrounding a fully protected azure sound. Beach fringed islands are scattered around this alluring inland-sea [North Sound].

The resort has romantic hillside rooms reminiscent of something Hemingway or Maugham would inhabit. Ceiling fans, spacious porches with huge hammocks, almost-outdoor showers, exposed beam ceilings, stone walls, and island furniture make every room a sensuous dwelling rather than a sterile hotel room. And then, for me, the very best of all, there are three enormous meals a day. Seated outside on the patio overlooking the blue water with the palms swaying overhead made each meal a special event in itself.

Add to this a great group of interesting women, from all over the country, who want to learn how to sail, or just want to improve their sailing abilities. Sprinkle in several instructors from the very famous, like Betsy Alison, to the little known, like Pam Wall, and you have the ingredients for a wonderful week! I was privileged to be asked to participate in the yearly “Women’s Week” at the Bitter End. This annual event has been giving women the opportunity to visit a gorgeous exotic resort and at the same time improve their sailing skills.

But to really comprehend why the Bitter End is perfect for this event, you must understand that the hotel boasts the biggest Watersports program imaginable. Gord-O is the man who makes this all happen. He manages all the sailing boats that include a fleet of Sunfish, Lasers, Vanguards, Hobie Cats, Freedom 30’s, Picos, windsurfers of every size and shape, Rhodes 19’s, and many more. This huge beachfront water sports area is run efficiently with extremely friendly staff.

“Women’s Week” had girls from Bel Air, California to New Hampshire, from Boca Raton, Florida to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from New Jersey to Chicago. The students came with various sailing skills and some with no knowledge at all. There was one wonderful lady who had never sailed before in her life. The program was simple and well organized. Have fun meeting together, take part in instructional sailing all morning, eat a huge lunch, sail all afternoon, swim, snorkel, watch slide shows, exercise, and generally have a great time while improving sailing skills. Sailing treasure hunts, match racing and vigorous exercise were all blended into the week of perfect weather.

I know that the women who participated in Bitter End’s “Women’s Week” all left with a feeling of having wonderful new friends and new confidence in their own sailing abilities. The added benefit of sun tanned skin (and maybe even waists a size larger from all the great food), was just another bonus we all enjoyed! If you know any women who want to have a really marvelous week of sailing instruction set in a perfect tropical atmosphere, well, I cannot recommend enough the great opportunity that the Bitter End can offer. I only wish that this type of sailing week for women could happen more often. I think I will suggest that to Gord-O! — Pam Wall

Join us for this year’s Women’s Week, November 9-16, 2002, featuring expert instructors Betsy Alison, Martha Parker (Mackechnie), Pam Wall, Karen Neri, and a certified fitness trainer.

Come for Our Women’s Sailing Week
November 9 – 16, 2002

Featuring Expert Sailing Instructors: Martha Parker (MacKechnie) Karen Neri and Betsy Alison

Joined again this year by: Pam Wall from West Marine (Pam’s family cruising slide presentations are not to be missed)

Join us for our 11th Annual Edition of this Popular Week. Learn in the Tropics aboard Lasers & Vanguard 15s, J-24s, Freedom 30s, and our Express 37 (racing & cruising). Great Day Excursions & Evening Activities

Special Rates for Singles and Women’s Groups—or come early for our Pro Am Regatta (featuring famed skippers Dawn Riley & Marie Bjorling)

A Wonderful Vacation… Spouses/significant others welcome.