Hi, I’m Sarah — also known as The Snail Sailor.
I’ve been on the water since I was ten, learning to sail on a San Juan 21 on Klamath Lake. I didn’t know it then, but those early days, the light winds, the simple joy of trimming a sail just right, and the patient voices teaching me that slow is smooth and smooth is fast would shape the rest of my life.
Those early days sparked a love for the water that only deepened with time. I carried those lessons of patience, focus, and quiet confidence into every chapter of my life. In many ways, that’s where The Snail Sailor truly began.
After moving to Portland in 2022, I dove headfirst into the local sailing community and found a home I didn’t even know I was missing. I previously skippered Calypte, an Ericson 27 in the Oregon Women’s Sailing Association (OWSA) Boat Owner and Skipper Training (BOAST) program, and I’ve raced on boats like Wild Women (Martin 242), Kite (Thistle), and in the Blueflash Sailing Foundation Melges 20 fleet. I’ve earned ASA 101/103/104 certifications, completed Safety at Sea in 2025, and volunteered both at the 35th and 37th America’s Cups, doing anything I could to stay close to the sport.
I also spent time as the Education Director for OWSA, a role that deepened my passion for teaching, mentoring, and helping new sailors find their confidence. Even though I’m no longer in that position, the OWSA community continues to influence the way I show up on the water and in life.
I now live in Bend, Oregon, surrounded by the Cascades, and I’m looking forward to making the nearby Cascade Lakes my sailing home in the coming year. There is something special about exploring new waters with the same slow-and-steady spirit that has guided me from the start.
Next, I will be sailing as crew on Leg 7 of the 2027-28 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. It’s a coastline-to-coastline adventure across the Americas, full of grit, teamwork, and endless learning. I wrote more about what this journey means to me in my Born for the Race post, and I’d love for you to read that story if you want a deeper look into why this leg feels like the next chapter I was always meant to step into.
What keeps me hooked on sailing is how accessible and transformative it is. You don’t need to be the fastest or the strongest. You need curiosity, strategy, and a willingness to grow. That’s where my Snailor mindset comes from. Slow and steady isn’t just a phrase to me; it’s the way I approach every challenge, every mile, and every new horizon.
Whether through coaching, volunteering, or simply logging time on the water one deliberate mile at a time, I hope to keep growing this sport and sharing the freedom, empowerment, and joy it has brought into my life. If my journey inspires someone else to step aboard for the first time, that’s the best outcome I could ever ask for.
Slow and steady wins the race!
Sarah