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Dawn Riley: America's Cup Captain
Quicktime Movie:
Women in Yachting and Racing
At thirteen, Dawn Riley sailed with her parents aboard a 36-foot yacht
from Detroit to New York and then to the Caribbean. Sailing became
her great passion, and in 1992 Riley became the first woman to be
actively involved in sailing an America's Cup yacht. Three years later
she became captain of the America3 and the first
all-women America's Cup team. She wrote a book about her experiences
titled Taking the Helm.
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Dawn Riley, Age Four
Courtesy of Dawn Riley,
America True,
San Francisco, California
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Dawn Riley began sailing with her family
in the Detroit, Michigan, area at an early age. At thirteen, she and
her family went on a yearlong cruise down the East Coast to the Caribbean.
Shortly after that experience, she began racing sailboats competitively.
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The Day the Duchess of York Went out
Sailing
1989
Courtesy of Dawn Riley,
America True,
San Francisco, California
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Dawn Riley had her first experience with a Whitbread
Round-the-World Race in 1989 aboard Maiden. The race covers
32,000 miles, circumnavigating the globe in six legs. The team of
twelve women navigated ice floes, rounded Cape Horn, and worked in
shifts, each sleeping only four hours at a time. In 1993-94, Riley
participated in the Whitbread again after being asked to take the
position of captain for the all-women's team on the U.S. Women's
Challenge.
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America's Cup 1992--Dawn Riley Aboard
America3
Courtesy of Dawn Riley,
America True,
San Francisco, California
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In 1992, Dawn Riley was the first woman to
be selected as a crew member aboard an America's Cup vessel. She served
as backup pitman for America3, the winner of the 1992 America's
Cup. In 1995, Riley was team captain of the first all-women's team
to attempt to win the America's Cup, again aboard America3.
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