Although she faced stiff competition and sometimes unkind remarks from her male counterparts, she did not let the comments take her away from the job she signed on for, and that year the boat won its class in competition. Unable to obtain work in advertising after her graduation, she moved to Florida and took work as the only female crew member on a Frers 45. At 13, Dawn had the opportunity of a lifetime when her family took a year and sailed their 36-foot wooden boat down the Eastern Seaboard to Grenada.Īfter high school, Riley entered Michigan State University as an advertising major, but stayed with her first love as she captained the women's sailing team for the school. She in turn passed the love of sailing to her son Chuck, who continued the tradition with his daughter Dawn. Her great-grandfather was a sail-maker who passed on his knowledge of sailing to his daughter, Riley's grandmother. Sailed with first all-women's Whitbread Round the World Race team (1989) became first woman invited to try out for an America's Cup team (1991) won first place in Santa Maria Cup, Baltimore, Maryland, and Women's Cup, Portofino, Italy (1992) was team captain of the first all-women's crew in the America's Cup (1995) set a record in the 153-mile Newport-to-New-York Race (1997) named Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year (1999) became first woman to manage and captain an America's Cup team (2000).īorn in Michigan in 1964, Dawn Riley grew up with saltwater in her veins and an education in sailing that stretched back three generations. Born in 1964 in Michigan graduated from Michigan State University.

American sailor who became the first woman to captain and manage a boat in the America's Cup.

Roger penske yacht