Meet Shannon Bush, Most Successful Women’s Skipper in Etchells History
Shannon Bush was never a shrinking violet. Growing up, she was surrounded by all boys as far as siblings and cousins.
“You have to be tough and hold your own. You learn how to adapt and survive,” said the 11th place finisher at the 2023 Worlds.
Bush has maintained that mentality throughout her life — whether it be running the family cattle ranch in Refugio, Texas or skippering an entry at the AON 2023 Etchells World Championships. In business and play, Bush fears no one and never backs down.
That approach has served Bush well over the years and she has become the most accomplished female skipper in Etchells class history. She has finished ninth at back-to-back Worlds — first off Rapallo, Italy in 2013 and again in a 93-boat fleet off Newport the following year.
“These guys are ruthless on the water and if you don’t have thick skin and are confident in your sailing abilities you’re going to get cleaned up,” Bush said. “You need to have that Alpha type that easily says ‘I have rights and I’m going in there’ at risk of life, limb and boat’ or else you’re going to get walked on.”
Bush started sailing at the age of 5 as part of the junior program at Texas Corinthian Yacht Club in Kemah. She raced a Sunfish in junior regattas up and down Galveston Bay. She took a break from the sport while attending boarding school and Sweet Briar College, but resumed sailing after returning to Texas following the death of her father.
Bush grew up sailing with her parents aboard a Soling and returned to that class since she had familiarity with the keelboat. She was an active member of United States Fleet 1 on Galveston Bay.
However, the trajectory of Bush’s sailing career changed by circumstance in the early 1990s. After competing in the annual season-ending Labor Day Regatta, all the Solings at Texas Corinthian Yacht Club were stored on lifts. A Tropical Storm that developed into a Category 1 hurricane hit the Galveston Bay area on Tuesday and wiped out the entire fleet.
“We knew there were Etchells at Houston Yacht Club across the bay so we looked into it. One thing led to another and I bought my first Etchells in 1992 and started sailing locally,” Bush said. “A couple years later, someone said you should go to Miami and do the Jaguar Series. I’ve been coming here ever since.”
There were no female skippers in the Etchells class when Bush started competing at the grand prix level. In fact, there were very few female crew. She initially campaigned with a completely Corinthian team featuring fellow Texas Corinthian Yacht Club members Charlie Dickey and Eric Ellis.
Bush eventually brought aboard professionals and sailed for a decade with Brad Boston and Curt Oetking. Together, they won several Winter Series events as Bush began to build a reputation as a leading contender. She sailed La Tormenta to 11th place in a 62-boat fleet at the AON 2023 World Championships.
“I hope people don’t view me any differently than any driver out there. I’m just as fierce a competitor as anyone else on the racecourse,” Bush said. “No one is here for the pickle dish. This is not an easy fleet or an easy boat and you’ve got a lot of Type A personalities here. If I wanted to collect sparkling trophies, I’d be in another class.”
Canadian Andy Cumming has been racing against Bush for years and said everyone in the class has the “utmost respect for her.”
“Shannon is an excellent skipper and has won a few Jaguar Series races over the years. She is a proven performer in this class,” Cumming said.
Joe Morris, a former Olympic sailor, called tactics for Bush during the 2023 Worlds, which were hosted by Biscayne Bay Yacht Club with assistance from Coral Reef Yacht Club and Shake-a-Leg Miami.
“It’s pretty clear to me the other skippers have total respect for Shannon. I know how rare it is in this class to have a female skipper, but Shannon has all the abilities of anyone out there and some abilities I have never seen before,” Morris said. “It’s been a pleasure to sail with her. Truthfully, when we’re racing it does not even enter my mind that she’s a woman. She’s just as dedicated and talented as any helms person out there. She is very analytical and wants to be involved with the decision-making process.”
Bush, who just completed her 10th Etchells Worlds, has only met four female skippers in her entire time in the class. She has become good friends with Jean-Claude Strong, an Australian skipper who finished 43rd at this year’s championships.
“You tend to gravitate to someone such as yourself who is in a minority, so I’ve gotten to know JC pretty well,” Bush said.
There was a significant number of women crewing at the AON 2023 World Championships and many took the time to express admiration for Bush.
“A lot of the female crew come up to me and say they are amazed that I am driving,” said Bush, who is unsure whether any will attempt to follow in her footsteps. “Driving one of these boats is not easy. You need to be mentally and physically strong. I do a lot of weight training throughout the year because holding onto that stick for a 90-minute race is tough.”
Cumming would like to see more female skippers in the future and said that is an area in which the Etchells class needs to improve. The Toronto native is doing his part by Erin Sauder, his foredeck crew for worlds, drive Blackadder II for the summer series back home.
“There should be more women steering at major regattas and hopefully we can make that happen moving forward,” he said.
Bush served as vice chair of the International Governing Committee and is currently co-chair of the North American class. She was an IGC governor for many years and was responsible for organizing the 2019 World Championships held off Corpus Christi, Texas.
