“She Sailor Sea Stories” Presented By Clearwater

By Madison Langweil

Three different women with three different stories spoke on Monday, March 22, to over 100 individuals fixated on their lives involving a boat, the Clearwater Organization, and the Hudson River. The three women: Cate Cronin, Betsy Garthwaite and Cindy Smith were hosted by Clearwater’s Sail Logistics Coordinator, Amali Knobloch.

Clearwater’s first female captain in 1980, Cate Cronin, began by admiring the people and objects around her; whether the women cooking for hungry people in small spaces or identifying the surrounding dangers.

“With no women role models as deck crew or captains, I knew I’d have to find my own way and I’d use my galley skills as a launching pad,” Cronin said.

Greenpeace Captain, Peter Willcox, saw the potential in her and helped guide her to reaching the potential he saw. As taking upon a new role as captain, Cronin was terrified, but this fear helped propel her to embrace the “spontaneous evening music jams” that drew her in.

“Thank you to all the Clearwater crews and community for giving me a chance and guiding me along the way. I’ve tried to pay it forward by doing the same for the women and men who sailed with me,” she said.

Cronin’s leap of faith was shared by Betsy Garthwaite who took over captainship from 1992 to 1996. Her 40 years of experience was difficult for her to share in just a few minutes she said.

“I believe that when the river and the sloop and people come together sometimes, we can create magic,” she said. “It certainly worked its magic on me.”

Garthwaite passionately told her connection she had with the sloop, the river and with the community she grew with.

“I wouldn’t trade my time with Clearwater for anything in this world,” she said.

Cindy Smith, woman captain in 1994, happily proceeded to tell her more joyous events and her more gruesome ones. Smith planned on going into teaching, but when she came across the educational and outdoor component to Clearwater, she was instantly stuck with delight.
“Where I can do education and sailing was like the most amazing thing ever,” Smith said.

All three women developed their own connection to the water and the sloop, but were amazed by how much it shaped each of their lives.

To feel as if one was on the sloop, Knobloch shared the playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4H9YYCeGOFUnGELuA2p4uM?si=li7gjC2hQseobDEUiRxR9A&nd=1
Three more stories will be told Monday, March 29, by three more powerful women.