Ten years ago, Margie Woods set sail across the Pacific alone. In the decade since that crossing, In the decade since that crossing, sailing and life have taught her in ways she never expected. She has become a more skilled, attuned, and seasoned sailor, but some of the most profound lessons she has learned have little to do with boats, weather, or navigation. Instead, they point to something deeper: self-trust, listening inward, and claiming her own inner authority. In this talk for the Women’s Sailing Association of Santa Monica Bay, Margie will share the lessons that surprised her most, and how sailing became a powerful mirror for learning to trust herself on the water and in life.
Margie is a third-generation sailor who has been sailing since childhood and is a USCG-licensed Master. She has over two decades of experience as a boat owner and has logged approximately 10,000 cruising miles as skipper, along with many more miles as crew. She learned her foundational sailing skills from her father and expanded her training as an adult through US Sailing courses. Margie is an ASA-certified sailing instructor and an active mentor to women sailors. She is a Staff Commodore of the Pacific Singlehanded Sailing Association and a former Fleet Captain of the Women’s Sailing Association of Santa Monica Bay. She is deeply committed to creating opportunities for women to develop confidence, self-trust, and seamanship through meaningful experiences and mentorship on the water. Beyond sailing, Margie is also an artist and educator who works with women using art as a tool for healing, self-expression, and self-trust in their lives.