5 Females in Boating

Since March is Women’s History Month, MarineMax has decided to celebrate it by sharing a few stories about some fun and fearless women that know more than a thing or two about being on the water. These ladies have some very impressive stories, from being a captain to owning and maintaining a boat at the age of 21! Check out these inspiring stories and share them with others who love boating as well!

  • Sandy Yawn

    1. Captain Sandy Yawn

    Captain Sandy Yawn may be one of few female superyacht captains, but she never doubted she could operate a large vessel, meet her clients’ needs, and manage a crew with ease and grace. See how this 27-year industry veteran found fame on Bravo’s “Below Deck Mediterranean,” and skillfully navigates the needs of her clients, crew, and any unforeseen problems aboard the yacht in this exclusive MarineMax interview here.

  • Megan Coyle on a boat

    2. Megan Coyle

    Meghan Coyle and her husband, Jacob Coyle, grew up on the water and want to pass down their passion for boating to their three young daughters. They consider it “their happy place.” Discover why they chose the versatile Aquila 32 Sport. As Meghan shares: “Women enjoy boating and being on the water as much as anyone, and the ease of operation of the Aquila 32 Sport makes boating alone with children or girlfriends not only possible but enjoyable as well.” Take a look at the Aquila 32 Sport here.

  • Erika Albritton

    3. Erika Albritton

    While other people her age are contemplating a first home, Erika Albritton was more interested in picking out her first boat. And just like picking the finishings on a new home, the 21-yeat-old was able to easily custom-build her Sea Ray SPX 190 Outboard to her specifications. For now, her passengers are limited to family members while she gets comfortable handling the boat. But next on the list are her teammates on the National Champion Buckshot Cloggers competition dance team. Read all about our full interview with her.

  • April Smith

    4. April Smith

    April Smith and her husband have lived aboard an Aquila 44 Yacht Power Catamaran, One Eyed Dog, with their one-eyed dog Abby, since 2019. They are avid boat enthusiasts and Great Loop adventurers. These two have had the adventure of a lifetime on their boat, have met many great people, and honed in on their boating skills. Find out more about April and her boating journeys here

  • Janet A. Urbanowicz

    5. Captain Janet A. Urbanowicz

    Captain Janet A. Urbanowicz is a New Jersey State Police boating safety instructor and a private captain. She fell in love with boating in her 20s and soon focused on getting her captain’s license. However, studying nursing full-time took priority. Rather than give up her dream, Urbanowicz continued boating, then refocused on obtaining her license toward her 50s. See how this captain accomplished her dreams in our Boating Broadcast here.

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