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Currently from Newport, RI, Betsy Alison is the Director of Adult Education Programs for US Sailing. Her primary focuses are the development and promotion of education programs like Safety at Sea, Keelboat, Powerboat and Adaptive sailing to grow participation of sailors and other boaters in the USA. Prior to her current position, Betsy served as the Head Paralympic Sailing Coach for the USA from 2000 through 2016 where US sailors earned 7 Paralympic medals.

Betsy was the first female sailor inducted into the US National Sailing Hall of Fame in the 2011 inaugural class. She is a 5-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year in the USA, the only person male or female to have been honored that number of times.

Betsy has won multiple World Championship and National titles in many sailing disciplines and classes including the Para Non-Technical World Champion - Female, Shields (3x National Champion), Women’s Match Racing, Yngling and lightning classes, Adams Cup, Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship to name a few. In November of 2005, she was honored by the Pierre de Coubertin International Fair Play Committee with a diploma in the career category for her ongoing contributions to the sport of sailing and its participants. Betsy currently serves on the Match Racing Committee and Para World Sailing Committee (chair from 2015-2024) at World Sailing and is a former member of the World Sailing Council.

She will be sharing her insights on 10 great ways to enjoy your time on the water.