Jennifer Isler
Encyclopedia
Jennifer J. Isler, best known as J. J. Isler and also known by her maiden name of J. J. Fetter (born December 1, 1963 in La Jolla, California) is an American
yachtswoman
from San Diego, California
, United States
. She is a two-time Olympic medalist and a world sailing champion. She was a starting helmsman in the 1995 America’s Cup races. A pioneer in the sport of women’s sailing, she was the first woman inducted into the Sailing World Hall of Fame.
She was born into a sailing family, the youngest of three children of Jane and Tom Fetter; he is a former commodore of the San Diego Yacht Club
. She began sailing Sabots
when she was 7 years old. She learned to sail and race in the Juniors program at the San Diego Yacht Club, sailing mostly in Sabots. An intense competitor, she disliked the fact that girls and boys were viewed differently in sailing. "The junior regattas were open to everyone, but there was a winner's trophy and a 'first girls' trophy," she recalled recently. “I always wanted just to be first, and hand that other trophy off as 'the first boy trophy’. … I finished second, third and fourth in the Sabot Nationals, but never won, meaning I was always getting that 'first girl' trophy, and I hated it." At the time, many of the West Coast’s leading yacht clubs didn’t even have facilities for female sailors. She once had to dress for a race in a yacht’s club’s parking lot.
Her horizons expanded in high school, when she started racing boats other than Sabots, particularly 420s
. She was recruited by several colleges, and chose Yale
because they promised her she could compete on the varsity team, not just the women’s team. At Yale she was the first woman captain of the sailing team. She became only the third female sailor in the history of intercollegiate sailing to be named an All American.
She went on to win medals in the National, European, and World championships in 1987-1988 in the women’s 470s
. She won the World Championship in 1991. She also won the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship in 1986. She has been named the Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year four times.
She won a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics
and a silver medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics
, skippering in the women’s 470 class
.
She was the starting helmsman and tactician for the all-female Mighty Mary USA-34 team for most of the 1995 America’s Cup defense trial races
, until she was replaced by David Dellenbaugh in a controversial move.
With her then-husband Peter Isler, another champion sailor, she co-wrote the book Sailing for Dummies.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
yachtswoman
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
from San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She is a two-time Olympic medalist and a world sailing champion. She was a starting helmsman in the 1995 America’s Cup races. A pioneer in the sport of women’s sailing, she was the first woman inducted into the Sailing World Hall of Fame.
She was born into a sailing family, the youngest of three children of Jane and Tom Fetter; he is a former commodore of the San Diego Yacht Club
San Diego Yacht Club
San Diego Yacht Club is a yacht club located in San Diego Bay. Its address is 1011 Anchorage Lane, San Diego, CA 92106. It is located in Point Loma across from a spit of land known as Shelter Island.- Facilities :...
. She began sailing Sabots
Sabot (dinghy)
The Sabot is a sailing dinghy that is sailed and raced singlehandedly usually by young sailors in various places around the world.It is a hard-chine pram 8 feet in length with a maximum width of 3'11" . The Sabot is equipped with a dagger board and a 36 square-foot Bermuda-rigged sail...
when she was 7 years old. She learned to sail and race in the Juniors program at the San Diego Yacht Club, sailing mostly in Sabots. An intense competitor, she disliked the fact that girls and boys were viewed differently in sailing. "The junior regattas were open to everyone, but there was a winner's trophy and a 'first girls' trophy," she recalled recently. “I always wanted just to be first, and hand that other trophy off as 'the first boy trophy’. … I finished second, third and fourth in the Sabot Nationals, but never won, meaning I was always getting that 'first girl' trophy, and I hated it." At the time, many of the West Coast’s leading yacht clubs didn’t even have facilities for female sailors. She once had to dress for a race in a yacht’s club’s parking lot.
Her horizons expanded in high school, when she started racing boats other than Sabots, particularly 420s
420 (dinghy)
The International 420 Class Dinghy is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy with centreboard, bermuda rig and centre sheeting. The name describes the overall length of the boat in centimetres . The hull is fibreglass with internal buoyancy tanks. The 420 is equipped with spinnaker and optional...
. She was recruited by several colleges, and chose Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
because they promised her she could compete on the varsity team, not just the women’s team. At Yale she was the first woman captain of the sailing team. She became only the third female sailor in the history of intercollegiate sailing to be named an All American.
She went on to win medals in the National, European, and World championships in 1987-1988 in the women’s 470s
470 (dinghy)
The 470 is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy with a centreboard, Bermuda rig, and centre sheeting. The name is the overall length of the boat in centimetres . The hull is fibreglass with integral buoyancy tanks. The 470 is equipped with spinnaker and trapeze, making teamwork necessary to...
. She won the World Championship in 1991. She also won the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship in 1986. She has been named the Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year four times.
She won a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Sailing at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program....
and a silver medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics
Sailing at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program....
, skippering in the women’s 470 class
470 (dinghy)
The 470 is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy with a centreboard, Bermuda rig, and centre sheeting. The name is the overall length of the boat in centimetres . The hull is fibreglass with integral buoyancy tanks. The 470 is equipped with spinnaker and trapeze, making teamwork necessary to...
.
She was the starting helmsman and tactician for the all-female Mighty Mary USA-34 team for most of the 1995 America’s Cup defense trial races
1995 Citizen Cup
The 1995 Citizen Cup was the defender selection series regatta for the 1995 America's Cup, held in the United States. Three defense syndicates competed over four round robins and a semi-finals series in order earn a berth in the Citizen Cup finals; the winner earned the right to defend the...
, until she was replaced by David Dellenbaugh in a controversial move.
With her then-husband Peter Isler, another champion sailor, she co-wrote the book Sailing for Dummies.
See also
- Sailing for Dummies, by J.J. and Peter Isler, 2nd edition, Wiley Publishing, 2006, ISBN 978-0-471-79413-0
- Interview when named to the Sailing World Hall of Fame