Controversy Arises After Sailing Coach is Fired

By: LOG STAFF

A Two-time Olympic sailor for Canada who joined the national sailing team’s coaching staff three years ago was fired only nine days after telling Sail Canada she was pregnant and intended to take maternity leave.

Now, Lisa Ross wants her job back. Ross was in Andora, Italy, in March of 2023, coaching Canadian sailors at the European championship when she was preparing to take off to Spain for her following competitions and training camps. Then, the 46-year-old said she partook in a video call on March 17 with Sail Canada’s CEO, Don Adams, and high-performance director, Mike Milner, when she was instructed to pack her bags and return to Canada following the news that she was terminated.

pressure.

Starting legal action to get my job back and speaking about this situation publicly are not decisions I made lightly. We need to have a conversation about women, mothers, and parents in high-performance sport.

L eaders and coaches should not have to choose between their role in Canadian sport or being a present and engaged parent. Family should not be seen as a limitation or a barrier to success. I have not sacrificed my pursuit of excellence because of my family.

I am a better coach because I am a mother – I have a broader perspective on my career, sport, and life. I am more purposeful in being value-driven in my coaching practice.

University

Bridget Green, 2025, Cornell University

Maddie Hawkins, 2024, Dartmouth College

Dana Haig, 2022, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

M ichelle Lahrkamp, 2023, Stanford University

Vanessa Lahrkamp, 2026, Stanford University

Mia Nicolosi, 2025, Yale University

Colleen O’Brien, 2024 Boston College

Honorable Mention Women’s All-American Skippers:

Caroline Bayless, 2023, Brown University

Emily Bornarth, 2024, US Coast Guard Academy

Eva Blauvelt, 2025, US Naval Academy

Cordelia Burn, 2025, Harvard University

Sarah Burn, 2024, Harvard University

Piper Holthus, 2025, Georgetown University

Elizabeth Kaplan, 2023, Bowdoin College

Blaire McCarthy, 2023, Brown University

Michaela O’Brien, 2024, Boston College

Ciara Rodriguez-Horan, 2022, Tulane University

“It was strange and shocking,” said Ross in an interview with Th e Canadian Press . “ It was a five-minute phone call where I was fired, basically, without cause. I was in Europe. I was in the middle of a planned six-week trip.”

Sail Canada credits a lack of funding for the termination, not her pregnancy.

B elow is a statement issued by Lisa Ross on May 29:

“On March 8, I told Sail Canada that I was expecting my third child.

Nine days later, I was abruptly fired while working in Europe, halfway through a six-week training and competition block.

At the time I was the only female coach within the nine-member High Performance coaching staff, a group which had recently added two new male coaches.

I love my sport. I love representing Canada and hope to inspire the next generation of young Canadians. I love the challenge of supporting my team to reach their full potential and perform under

On The Horizon

By: LOG STAFF

CYC Summer Small Boat Regatta (June 17-18)

From June 17-18, the Coronado Yacht Club (CYC) will host the Small Boat Regatta. The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in the current version of The Racing Rules of Sailing. Eligibility and entries are limited to fleets of three or more sport/small boats. In addition, they must have skipper members in good standing of Yacht Clubs or Sailing Organizations recognized by US Sailing. Previous boats that have entered are Mercury; Moth; F18; Laser; 420; FJ; J70; J24; Harbor 20, but other fleets are welcome. All entries must be submitted by June 15 at 3 p.m. The regatta fee is $65 and includes a taco party on June 17 at the CYC. Trophies will be awarded on the evening of June 18 to the top finishers in each class after all the races have concluded. For the complete Notice of Race, please

I have been involved in high-performance sport for over 20 years. During t hat time, the systemic under-representation of women in high performance c oaching has not changed. At the Rio Olympics (where I coached for Canada), only 20 [percent] of Canadian coaches were women. At the Tokyo Games, this number dropped to 16 [percent].

This lack of representation continues at the provincial, university and community levels. I believe that women should b e seen as leaders in every aspect of high-performance sport. Not just coaching other women, but leading organizations and teams, regardless of gender.

I believe we must make the Canadian Sport system better, so it truly becomes a healthy and inclusive environment for everyone and where we understand that humanity – including being a parent –does not limit performance and success but fosters it.

I want to thank everyone who has supported me so far. I’m looking forward to resolving this issue and getting back on the water doing what I love.” visit https://www.regattanetwork.com/ clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/26209/ NORSummerSmallBoatRegatta2023.pdf.

Southern Crossing Race (June 25)

On June 25, the South Lake Tahoe Windjammers Yacht Club will host the Southern Crossing Race. This race will be governed by the rules defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing and is open to monohulls with an LOA of 18 feet or greater. Boats shall hold a current PHRF rating. The race committee may assign or adjust a boat’s rating to comply with ratings established by the SLTWYC and/ or Lake Tahoe PHRF Committee. Eligible boats must register online at the Regatta Network no later than 10 a.m. on June 25; the registration fee is $50. The racing venue will be on the waters of South Lake Tahoe, with the starting and finishing line near Tahoe Keys. Prizes will be awarded based on entries. For the complete Notice of Race, please visit https:// www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/ regatta_uploads/25864/SOXNOR.pdf.