About Us
Meet the Sea Bags Women's Sailing Team. We are a group of strong, experienced, and passionate racing champions who have come together to take the thrills and incredible challenges of J/24 and Etchells sailboat racing to new heights. We are a close-knit group of women spanning generations who trust and support one another, especially when the going gets tough.
As a team, we know the disappointment of not crossing the finish line first, and we also know the extraordinary thrill of victory.
Goal for the year:
Our primary goal for the 2024 season is to be the top female team at every regatta, including at the J/24 North American Championship in St. Petersburg, FL; the J/24 Corinthian U.S. National Championship in Sayville, NY; and the Downeast Regatta in Portland, ME. We strive to place in the top ten at the Downeast Regatta and continue to climb the leaderboard at other events.
We are also looking forward to our second season in the Etchells fleet in Portland, ME, and will be traveling to our first Etchells regattas in New England this season. We aim to achieve a top-three Mixed Plus finish at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta in Marblehead, MA.
While these are some of our past accomplishments, every new racing season is a challenge to do better - to be the best racers we can be.
In the last few years, we accomplished:
2023, 2022, and 2021 J/24 U.S. National Championship Top Female Boat
2021 Thistle Women’s Nationals Champions
2019 J/24 World Championship Top Female Boat and Top Female Skipper
2019 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta, Marblehead, 1st Place
2017 J/24 World Championship Top Female Boat and Top Female Skipper
Our Captain
Captain Erica has raced in numerous World, North American and National Championships in multiple types of sailboats and hopes to inspire other women to compete at the highest levels of the sport. With this team she has received the Top Female Skipper Award and Top Female Team Award at the majority of the championships the team has competed in over the last nine years including winning the prestigious Jaeger Women’s Trophy in 2017 for finishing first among all female teams in the J/24 World Championship in Ontario, Canada and again at the World Championship in Miami in 2019. She was inducted into the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA) Hall of Fame in 2018.
In her words, “Every time we are on the water is an opportunity to learn, to improve, and to become the best racers we can be.”
About Sea Bags
In 1999, Sea Bags made a bold commitment to build a trustworthy company with sustainability and US manufacturing at its core by recycling sails into nautically inspired totes and accessories on the working waterfront in Portland, Maine. Since its founding, Sea Bags has recycled over 1.5 million pounds of sailcloth and continues to be a world leader in recycling and repurposing sails that would otherwise end up in landfills. Additionally, Sea Bags deeply believes in giving back to its local community and sponsoring a women’s team of champion sailors who have deep appreciation and respect for our oceans and environment reaffirms this commitment.
Sailing for Sustainability
The Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team is among a growing number of sailors worldwide who are bringing greater attention to the importance of saving our oceans and protecting our environment. Wherever the Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team races, we also raise awareness of Sea Bags’ Sail Trade Program. Through the program, individuals can donate their used sails and may receive a Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team Tote in exchange to help support our team and mission.
Support The Team
Help the team score more victories this year with the 2024 Sea Bags official Women’s Sailing Team Full Sail Collection tote bag, bucket bag, or wristlet. Embellished with the signature sailing team logo and paired with hand-spliced hemp rope handles.
20% of sales of Full Sail Collection are donated to the Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team.
