A Woman at the Helm in More Ways Than One
"Since 1987, Doan has led women’s and mixed race teams, doing the Caribbean circuit every year on C&C 41s and then on her own C&C 37+ Mustang."
For more than 40 years, Captain Val Doan has been every inch a sailor, passing on her knowledge and seamanship skills to others.
“My mission is to instill safe sailing practices in order that people can then feel capable of sailing over far horizons on great sailing adventures and see the world from a new perspective,” said Doan.
A member of the LaHave River Yacht Club, Doan is the Director of Junior Sailing there. “We have a great summer CANSail program where kids can learn in a fun, safe environment.”
More than that, Doan also leads the Club’s Women at the Helm initiative.
“Women at the Helm grew out of the LaHave River Yacht Club Ladies Skipper Race that was held annually. We held a free weekend course in 2011 focused on women learning how to sail yourself safely home, and build confidence in skills and knowledge, to remove the fear factor that many have with these procedures. They learned how to helm, perform crew overboard retrievals, VHF operation in emergency, safe flare and fire extinguisher usage, anchoring, plus many more emergency procedures such as breaking a shroud, starting the engine, lowering sails and getting back to dock quickly. They practiced docking to build their skill level, as that is always a higher anxiety-causing manoeuvre,” said Doan. “Since then, WAVE Sailing School at the LaHave River Yacht Club has held a free day-long course each summer, now increased to three free days each summer.”
The first two Women at the Helm sessions this year were held in June. A third is scheduled for Aug. 25.
“We start with a chalk talk of rules of the road, race rules, then go out to do four or five practice starts with a fleet of 10 boats. After lunch, we go back out and hold two fun races that 30 to 40 women participate in with the owner of each boat aboard. These classes have been super successful, and in great demand, with so much enthusiasm and fun had by these like-minded women who want to learn and increase their skill level each time they go sailing,” said Doan.
In 2023, Doan was presented with WOW, Women on Water Leadership Award by Sail Nova Scotia for demonstrating “outstanding achievement in sailing education, leadership, mentorship and health promotion.”
The award was created in 2007 in memory of Pamela Lerch and is committed to developing the potential of women in Nova Scotia through the sport of sailing, as well as promoting and improving the health of women through effective mentoring and education.
Through the years, Doan has taught and certified hundreds of women, couples and mixed groups on flotillas in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, helping them achieve their Intermediate certification level which allows them to charter their own boat. She has also facilitated the offshore training of hundreds of delivery crew, many of them women, who have gained enough skills and confidence to go cruising on their own boats.
Doan’s seafaring journey began in 1985 making deliveries to the British Virgin Islands on brand new C&C 41s for North/South Charters. She then became a charter Skipper and Canadian Yachting Association certified instructor up to Offshore level for Harbourside Sailing.
“Eventually I gained my MCA 200 Ton Captains license and sailed over 200,000 offshore miles with my business Mustang Deliveries,” she said.
Her most recent projects involved managing the build and then captaining Sunreef 74’ and Perry 57’ private catamarans for one family over 15 years.
Since 1987, Doan has led women’s and mixed race teams, doing the Caribbean circuit every year on C&C 41s and then on her own C&C 37+ Mustang ( Hull No.8, now Iteru ).
“Eventually I founded and led Team WAVE — Women Against Violence Everywhere. We were the first Women’s team to win the Newport-Bermuda Race in 2006, on its 100th anniversary race. I received the Navigators Award for that race aboard a Frers 49 Synergy,” said Doan.
When she’s not teaching Sail Canada levels at the LaHave River Yacht Club in the summer, “signing up crew for winter courses in the British Virgin Islands is my focus, as well as Eat, Play, Sail Retreats for women,” said Doan. “It allows me lots of opportunity to mentor new and returning sailors.”
Doan has cruised extensively around the world. “My particular favourites that I go back to repeatedly are the South Pacific and the Mediterranean,” she said.
www.atlanticboatingnews.com/2025/08/12/a-woman-at-the-helm-in-more-ways-than-one/
Comments
Post a Comment