This Women’s History Month, US Sailing celebrates trailblazers who are not only excelling in their fields, but are also breaking barriers and advocating for inclusivity. As the CEO of Women Who Sail, former Vice President of the National Women’s Sailing Association, and a seasoned competitive sailor, Ayme Sinclair embodies that title. She is a pioneering African-American woman making waves—quite literally—in the world of sailing.
Sinclair did not grow up sailing but was invited by a friend aboard her boat around nine years ago, and what started as a fun outing quickly became a full-fledged passion. She wasted no time diving into 
competitive sailing, racing aboard the J/109 Sweet Caroline. After experiencing a bit more of the sailing world, Sinclair saw an opportunity to reshape the industry by making it more accessible and diverse.
She began chronicling her sailing journey on social media, amassing a community of over 119,000 followers and showing the world that sailors come in all colors. Her advocacy translated into real-world action when she formed the first women’s sailing team to compete in a race in Lamu, Kenya, a historic moment that challenged gender norms in a traditionally male-dominated space.
Beyond her presence on the water, Sinclair is an influential communications executive. As the CEO and Founder of Sinclair Social a leading communications agency, she has worked as a United Nations communications consultant. Her expertise has earned her nominations for prestigious awards such as the Bill Gates Foundation Goalkeepers Award and the United Nations SDG Media Summit Leadership Award.
One of her most notable contributions was organizing a fleet of 18 boats to welcome climate activist Greta Thunberg as she sailed into New York Harbor for the United Nations General Assembly Climate Action Summit. This initiative involved half a million members of the sailing community, marking one of the UN’s most significant media moments around sustainability.
Sinclair has taken a leading role in discussions on how to promote greater diversity and inclusivity in sailing, moderating a 2020 online US Sailing panel on “Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Sport of Sailing.”
“For me, it was really exciting to see the effects of sailing and how empowering it was for women,” Sinclair told US Sailing. “But I also recognized the importance of expanding that empowerment to include people of all backgrounds.”
Sinclair remembers attending a National Women’s Sailing Association conference, stating, “while I loved the idea that women were teaching women, the only disappointment in being there was that I was the only person of color. So as I became more and more involved in the organization it became more and more clear to me that this is an initiative that we really need to focus on.”
She underscored the importance of embracing differences, creating equitable opportunities, and fostering a welcoming environment. As Sinclair eloquently put it, “Diversity is the invitation to the dance, equity is making sure you can get to the dance, and inclusion is making sure that when you’re there, you actually get out on the floor and dance.”
Sinclair’s mission is clear: to create spaces where people from all walks of life feel welcomed, valued, and empowered. Whether on the deck of a sailboat or in a boardroom, Sinclair continues to champion change, proving that the horizon is limitless for those willing to set sail toward progress.
As US Sailing celebrates Women’s History Month, Ayme Sinclair continues to inspire future generations of women and underrepresented communities to take the helm and navigate uncharted waters.