25th January, 2026

Eight Bells

I am at that point in my life where I am having to say goodbye all too often. Sometimes it is due to a long illness. Other times it is simply from aging. And sometimes it is when a tragic accident takes a loved one; like what happened to my dear friend, Jane Thomas. On Sunday, January 11, Jane fell down a flight of steps which resulted in a severe brain injury. One week later, on January 18, 2026, Jane passed away. Her husband, Kenny, was by her side.

I don’t think anyone ever imagined a world without Jane in it. She was beloved by so, so many. Her touch reached far and wide. My connection with Jane was born out of our mutual love for sailing. And that is how I remember her. As a sailor first. But it didn’t take long before we became friends.

I met Jane in 2008, or maybe even earlier. I think it was Bonnie Chaney who introduced us. Jane was putting together an all-women crew to compete in the Wet Wednesday races held by Anacapa Yacht Club. Bonnie was part of her crew and asked if I wanted to join. It was early in my sailing experience. I was shy and, frankly, intimidated. I knew nothing about racing. I didn’t see myself as an athlete, nor competitive. Surely, I couldn’t fit in with these women who were ocean racing. Ocean racing! It took a few weeks but with the encouragement of both Bonnie and my husband, I took the leap.

When Jane came up with the idea of starting an all-women crew, she didn’t have her Tartan-10, Wai Lani. That came later. It was Tom Warden who rallied behind Jane and lent her his sailboat, Mystic Flyer. There was usually about six of us who would gather on Wednesday evenings. For my first race, I believe it was Jane, Bonnie Chaney, Nanette Pacel, Alison Gabel, Mary Howard, and me. Bonnie was the only woman I knew. Bonnie had her own sailboat and had raced with Jane previously. She was retired like me. Nanette was a petite woman with long brown hair and a warm smile. She was the baby of the group. While most of us were in our 50s, Nanette must have been in her 40s. When asked about her background I learned she was an elementary school teacher. Prior to moving to Oxnard, she and her husband had sailed the east coast and lived on an island for several years. Alison was also of slight stature and had shoulder-length brown hair. She was serious, focused and prepared. Alison was a United Airlines pilot on courtesy leave (This was during the 2008 financial crash.)  She and her husband, Allan, had just bought a boat and were preparing to go cruising – south to Mexico and maybe across the Pacific. Eventually, I noticed it was time to leave, and still Mary hadn’t shown up.

“I’m sure she’ll be here in a minute,” Jane said.

As if on cue, we heard Mary call out, “I’m coming!”

I looked up to see a fiery redhead in a tight-fitting skirt and stockings, with heels in hand, running across the grass and toward the gate. What an entrance! I will never forget that image. Mary had just come from her office. She was an attorney who was learning to sail and had done some racing. She was smart and quick and had a strong personality. In fact, all the women I had just met were smart and quick and had strong personalities. Especially our skipper. Jane came with a sailing pedigree. I don’t know all of her experience, but I remember she cruised Mexican waters with Kenny, had extensive racing knowledge, and lived in the marina on their schooner, Sunglade.

Jane had fair skin and blonde hair and was also of slight stature. She couldn’t have been much over five feet tall. But what a powerhouse. She was fearless and determined. Her passion for sailing, and particularly racing, was contagious. She was a natural teacher and enjoyed sharing her knowledge. She taught me about racing and teamwork. She was kind-hearted but also a fierce leader. She expected much from her recruits. And she led by example.

Weeks turned into months and the five of us (Alison left for distant ports.) learned our strengths and developed a steady rhythm as a team. We formed a bond that led to deep friendships. As Jane watched us grow in competence and confidence, she realized how productive it can be when women sailors teach other women to sail. She witnessed how we supported and encouraged each other. This was the inspiration behind the inception of the Channel Islands Women’s Sailing Association.

One day, I got a call from Jane. She saw a need to provide women with an easier, and more affordable option to learn to sail. “What do you think about starting a women’s sailing club?” She asked me. “As a paper club with no overhead, we could charge minimal dues. With our support and shared knowledge, it would be a way for women to enter the sailing community. We need to bring in more women sailors!”  When she brought the idea to the Mystic Flyer racing gals, we all agreed and offered to help. So, in 2010, after much research and a lot of work, the Channel Islands Women’s Association (CIWSA) was born.

Fifteen years later, CIWSA is still alive and going strong. So much of the credit goes to Jane who has been the backbone of CIWSA since the beginning. Year after year, she worked tirelessly teaching women to sail and to race. She bought her own racing boat, Wai Lani, a tartan-10, and staffed it with an all-women racing team. Her coaching led to several wins for Wai Lani.

Her philanthropy didn’t stop there. She mentored young girls too, some of which never had been on a boat before. Jane touched so many lives and it is my hope that her legacy will live on through CIWSA.

It is true, I knew Jane first as a sailor. But Jane was so much more. She was a true friend. One you could trust. One you could count on. I will miss her. I already do.

Rest in peace my dear friend.