I also found this bit quite... sad. > Until recently, though, there was no one here specifically teaching women how to pilot boats, and encouraging them to do

I also found this bit quite... sad. > Until recently, though, there was no one here specifically teaching women how to pilot boats, and encouraging them to do so. The idea that the only way a group of people can particpate is through invitation feels so discouraging to me. It implies a group of people surrounded by water who had no aspiration to even try, and sounds so patronising.