On a breezy afternoon at Pier 40, seven women and four crew members set sail, hoping to experience the bay and San Francisco in a new way.

From Oct. 22 to Oct. 25, the Tall Ship Academy hosted a three-day sailing adventure for women hoping to learn or refine their sailing skills. The Tall Ship Academy is a nonprofit organization partnered with SF State's Recreation and Leisure department, which reaches out to females of all ages to create experiences that encourage personal growth.

“I want to challenge myself and also forget about the next few days of work,” Jessica Gammell, 38, said.

Gammell is a teacher and dean of students at Leadership High School, a small public school in San Francisco. She heard about this sailing opportunity through a friend who recommended it.

“Most of the people who come on the trips, and are involved with the organization, find out through word of mouth,” Nettie Kelly, the director of the Tall Ship Academy since 2001, said.

Kelly said that because the academy doesn't have a huge marketing platform, she relies on people spreading the word and sharing their experiences with their friends to attract newcomers.

The women took a sunset sail and anchored Oct. 22 at Pier 40. The following day, Kelly and the crew taught the women basic sailing skills. On the final day, each participant was given the opportunity to control the boat, testing what she had learned the previous two days.

The women had to raise $1,200 each to participate in the trip. Some sent e-mails requesting donations to friends and family, while others paid for it themselves.

“I depend on my husband a lot when we sail, so I hope to come out of this a little more independent,” Susie Hamblen, 38, said.

Hamblen, who has always been into boating, said she has two friends coming with her on this trip, with whom she hopes to become closer.

The academy partnered with SF State in 2003, which has proven to be critical in the program’s continued growth. According to Kelly, the organization is able to use the school’s computer labs and office space, while tapping the faculty and student body to offer volunteer and internship opportunities.

“The partnership has been beneficial for us and also them,” Kelly said.

The academy hosts a semester course for high school girls, which is broken into three parts. For the first six weeks the students attend classes at SF State to learn the techniques needed for the sailing trip. The following six weeks they take aboard the ship, testing what they learned in the classrooms on the sea. In the final weeks of the class, they return to the classroom to complete projects and use their new skills for internships at local businesses and organizations.

For more information on upcoming Tall Ship Academy trips, visit www.tallshipacademy.org.