July 1, 2026 By Community Editor Erin Elefante (photos by Joshua Ross)
The Hingham Yacht Club was bustling on June 30, as girls and women of all ages gathered for the Jill Drohan Girls Junior Regatta, an annual event celebrating girls in sailing while honoring the life of a beloved longtime HYC member, tireless volunteer, and fierce advocate for women’s sports.
Volunteers who were lifelong friends and neighbors of Drohan and her family showed up at the crack of dawn to set out breakfast, run the registration, display beautiful photos of their friend, and ensure that things would run smoothly as over 90 young women from the region set out to sail on a “bluebird day”.
Hingham Yacht Club has always hosted a regatta, and HYC Commodore Dan White explained that last year they thought having an all-girls regatta would be a great way to support women and girls getting out on the water. They tried out the concept, and by all accounts it was a rousing success. “It’s run mostly by women, and it’s very empowering,” White explained. When Jill passed away recently, White recounts that about ten people had the idea all at once that it should named after Drohan. “We have this matriarch of Hingham sailing; we should name it after her.”
The girls we spoke with were all so excited and impressively prepared, rigging their sails, packing supplies, and discussing the wind and weather conditions for the race. Twelve-year-olds Annabelle Sexton, Ellie West, and Abby Burns explained that as older sailors, they sail 420s which have two people in a boat because there is too much for one person to manage. Younger sailors typically take out Optis, which are a more confined space and suitable for one person. They love participating in regattas and the theme days offered throughout the season.
Caroline McDevitt, 10, is on her third year of sailing and is sailing on an Opti. “I feel a little nervous, but I’m always really happy to do the regattas. I love being with my friends.” The most challenging part for her is when the winds are very strong and makes it hard to control the sail. McDevitt has this advice for those considering taking up the sport, “If anyone wants to try sailing, it might seem scary at first, but once you get the hang of it, it seems much easier and is really fun.”
Caroline Egan, 10, explained that there are safety boats with coaches and other adults out on the water in case anyone needs help or has a question. “If you need a little confidence or someone to talk to, the support boats are there to help you.” Many of the girls mentioned that these support boats will also occasionally give out some candy to keep spirits high.
Ten-year-olds Emily Bunstein and Juliette Greenlee participated in the all-girls regatta last year, and it’s a first for Egan and Caroline Martin,10. They like the idea of an all-girls race because “it’s nice for girls to get a chance to win.” A lively discussion broke out about the weather conditions and the best technique to get back into your boat if you go into the water. They also shared some good advice, “Don’t let boys beat you!”
Emily Walsh, 11, won the all-girls regatta last year and is excited to race again this year in her Opti. She’s been sailing for four or five years, and loves being on the water all day. The all-girls regatta is enjoyable because “everyone gets along.”
There were lots of laughs throughout the day as people alluded to how calm the all-girls regatta is, and how they noticed great sportsmanship the previous year. As girls had close finishes, they turned and congratulated each other right away, and there were no issues out on the water. The vibe in the room was spirited and joyful, and you could feel the camaraderie amidst the sailors, something Drohan would have loved, according to those who knew her well.
Through a mix of laughter and some tears, everyone agreed that Drohan would have been in her element seeing this. Longtime friend Murnie Leary shared, “It’s so exciting and Jill would be so happy to know this was happening. She didn’t like a lot of fuss, but this is something she would have loved.”
Two of Drohan’s four daughters, Hillary Flynn and Courtney Monnich, agreed that she would have loved the all-girl element of the day. “She was all about women’s sports, and a huge advocate for girls and women because she was doing things before it was common for women do to them,” Flynn said. All four of Drohan’s daughters sailed in high school at Milton Academy, and the whole family would often be spotted sailing aboard Drohan’s 210 sailboat, fittingly named Mother.
When the Hingham Yacht Club asked the family about naming the regatta after Drohan, they felt it was serendipitous that the event hadn’t been named the previous year, and that an event so in line with the way she lived her life could remember her. “She was so courageous and everyone’s most adventurous friend.”
“She was all about fun, but she also wanted to win,” Flynn and Monnich said, and everyone around chimed in to agree that she was highly competitive and laughed that she would never let her girls win anything. “She was a winner.”
It was a joy to watch the HYC community come together for such a vibrant and empowering event so in line with the legacy Drohan left, with young women embracing their courageous and adventurous side as they set sail on a beautiful Hingham day.
