Today we’d like to introduce you to Ava Wilson
Hi Ava, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2020, Team Convergence’s co-project managers, Ava Wilson and Megan Gimple, met at the University of Rhode Island while racing on the college sailing team. In 2023, taking on the J/70 class, Ava and Megan began to put together an all-women’s team to compete around the U.S. Starting at the Key West race week, the team has gone on to race all across Florida, Chicago, Charleston, and soon internationally. In a newly established division working to bring more women into the sport, the “Mixed Plus” division requires a team to have 50% or more team members to be women. We have been campaigning as an all-woman team in the Mixed Plus division, and we have gone on to win the division at the Miami Bacardi event in March and Charleston Race week in April. With the opportunity to race around the world, we utilize our platform to inspire women to join the sport of sailing. We most recently have been admitted to the 2024 J/70 World Championships in Palma, Spain, in September. As the only all-female boat and one of the few female drivers, we are exceptionally excited to race against the top competition.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a bumpy road. Being an all-female team in a male-dominated has come with unfortunate experiences. From unwanted comments to being doubted. Although we’ve experienced these downsides, we have overcome them by bonding over communal experiences and working to make the sport more inclusive.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Our team members have different backgrounds and occupations. I personally have just graduated from the University of Rhode Island. This is where I met my co-project manager, Megan Gimple, while on the University sailing team. Our tactician, Madeline Gill is a North Sail sail designer and pro-sailor. Our bowwoman, Aisling Sullivan is a sailing coach and our fifth, Hadley Camp works in finance.
Together, we are an all-women’s team in the J/70 class, hoping to encourage more diversity in our sport.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Charleston is a great sailing venue! With ripping current, great wind, and fantastic nightlife, our team had an absolute blast on and off the water. The only downside was our commute to and from the sailing center over the bridge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://teamconvergencesai.wix.com/home
- Instagram: team_convergence
