Meet Jerelyn Biehl from San Diego
US Sailing and Sperry have partnered to recognize local sailors for contributions made to their respective sailing communities. Sperry Local Ambassadors have a passion for sailing and they share that passion with others to get out on the water and support the growth of our sport. The Sperry Local Ambassador for the 2019 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship (July 20-24), hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC), is Jerelyn Biehl.
As Commodore of the San Diego Yacht Club and a leader in the national sailing community, Jerelyn has been a role model for all sailors, especially young women. She has done an incredible job at creating practical, innovative programs to encourage more women of all ages to get active in sailing.
She skippered a boat competing at the Women’s Keelboat Invitational event in the J/22, hosted by SDYC, and invited women who didn’t know how to sail to crew for her during the race. Jerelyn also created a Vixen Cruise event for all women. Women sail and motor their boats offshore to Catalina Island for a long weekend of fun and camaraderie. The club hosted a weekend training event to teach women how to drive their own boat and they had 40 participants.
Raised in a maritime family, Jerelyn grew up sailing Sabots and Club 420s, and later in life sailed the Snipe competitively at a high level. Jerelyn has served as the Executive Director of the International Snipe Fleet, and is a partner in One Design Management, which supports and administers One Design Sailing Fleets.
She has raised two sons, who are outstanding sailors in their own right. Cameron is a competitive Kiteboard sailor and lives in Santa Cruz. Graham was the 2003 Junior Snipe World Champion and represented the US Sailing Team for the 470 class in the Beijing and London Olympic Games.
A Q&A with Jerelyn Biehl
What is special about your local sailing community and the water that surrounds it?
“San Diego is known for our laidback lifestyle and our sailors are super open and engaging, welcoming and inviting people to get on the water. Because we sail 365 days a year, we are on the water a lot and there is constant activity. Our sailing varies from flat water in San Diego Bay and Mission Bay to rolling swells in the Pacific Ocean. This has been a special year for me and I’m happy to get more women on the water!”
What/who inspired your love for the water?
“My parents had me on the water before I was born, and kept sailing instilled in our family throughout their lives, which I’ve now passed on to my boys.”
If there is one thing the sailing community could do to become more sustainable, what would that be?
“Being constantly mindful of not putting ANYTHING in the water. We need to protect our playground!”