About Us
Why is it called Wind Goddess Retreats?
Why is it called Wind Goddess Retreats?
Why is it called Wind Goddess Retreats?
My name is Annie Gardner.
Years ago, while resting after a team building charter in the Virgin Islands, my fellow female captain friends and I were reflecting on the wonderful week of a job well done. Working with the Garmin Cycling Team which does high level competition including the Tour De France, we accomplished our goals and theirs
My name is Annie Gardner.
Years ago, while resting after a team building charter in the Virgin Islands, my fellow female captain friends and I were reflecting on the wonderful week of a job well done. Working with the Garmin Cycling Team which does high level competition including the Tour De France, we accomplished our goals and theirs: Enabling them to bond tightly as a group, and learn about themselves in the process. Suzette dubbed us all (the female captains) goddesses. When I relayed the story to my husband Eric, he named me his wind goddess. With this in mind, I have been sharing with other women that we are all Goddesses.
Name your passion, and claim it for yourself.
What kind of Goddess are you?
SAILING HISTORY
Why is it called Wind Goddess Retreats?
Why is it called Wind Goddess Retreats?
I grew up in Miami and moved to San Diego at 23 yo. Sailing was part of life in my family, so I was given a little boat at age 9, learned basic skills and independence, and as I grew, so did the boats I sailed on. Next was a Sunfish, then a Hobie 16. I was hooked. Family vacations were spent sailing to the Bahamas and the cruising lifest
I grew up in Miami and moved to San Diego at 23 yo. Sailing was part of life in my family, so I was given a little boat at age 9, learned basic skills and independence, and as I grew, so did the boats I sailed on. Next was a Sunfish, then a Hobie 16. I was hooked. Family vacations were spent sailing to the Bahamas and the cruising lifestyle was embedded in my soul. By age 16 I discovered that racing was exciting and started crewing, then driving my dad's 36' sailboat in Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys.
In 1981, for a college graduation present, my parents let me take their 37' racing yacht to compete in what was equivilant to the offshore world championships, the SORC. I repeated this in 1982 with a bigger, faster ,sponsored yacht, and did this both years with all women. It was a first in sailing history and we cracked open that ceiling. In 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a silver medal was placed around my neck at the Windsurfing Exhibition. Since then I've won over 20 national titles and 5 world championships on sailboards and Hobie 16's (the largest one design catamaran class), and in 2019 won the Hobie 16 World Championships once again. In 1995 I was chosen to navigate on the America3 Women's Team to compete for the America's Cup. Over the years I've run numerous sailing clinics for women and men from offshore racing to windsurfers. I've had a 100 ton USCG Merchant Marine License for almost 30 years, and am now ASA certified to captain in the Mediterranean. Over the years, when not racing or raising kids, I worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver for 20 years as a captain teaching and facilitating team building on sailboats in San Diego and the Virgin Islands. In addition, I was a commentator for major sailing events including the Americas Cup. From 2015-2020 my husband Eric and I cruised on our 47' Catamaran named El Gato doing teaching charters along the way. We started in France, hit over 40 countries, and sailed over 40,000 miles, winding up in San Diego when the pandemic forced us to abandon our South Pacific dreams.
Making lemonade out of lemons, we are enjoying our time back home and have been cruising Mexico and Southern California. In 2021 I started Wind Goddess Retreats after going on a yoga retreat with girlfriends in Spain. Taking women sailing for a week or two seemed so natural for me that after captaining for another company in Mexico I decided to go out on my own. It's been a wonderful opportunity for me to share my passion for the sea, meet and introduce women to nice big catamarans while helping them form new friendships, and I can't believe how fortunate I am to be able to share this amazing world of cruising to women who are adventurous and happy to explore the world by boat.
My sailing experience is an important aspect of this retreat.
You are in good hands, and having a captain you can trust and are comfortable with will make your trip relaxing as well as fun.
Why is it called Wind Goddess Retreats?
Sometimes I have a first mate, and sometimes a flotilla.
In the Mediterranean my husband Eric joins me as my first mate.
He is a certified ASA instructor as well as holding a US Coast Guard Merchant Marine License for 50 tons yachts. We've sailed half way around the world together and there is no one I trust more to be on a boat with.
When
Sometimes I have a first mate, and sometimes a flotilla.
In the Mediterranean my husband Eric joins me as my first mate.
He is a certified ASA instructor as well as holding a US Coast Guard Merchant Marine License for 50 tons yachts. We've sailed half way around the world together and there is no one I trust more to be on a boat with.
When we have a flotilla I bring in top notch female captains who also have captains licenses and have been around yachts and teaching for many years. Always know you are in good hands with us no matter who is on board as your captain.