Speaking of definitions, and back on the topic of this thread, perhaps I should rephrase my original question and ask "Why so few women on the HELM?"

To me, skipper and helmsperson are not synonymous words. On a two-person cat, there is a helmsperson (driver) and a foredeck person (sail-handler). Both of those people are members of the crew. And either of them can be the skipper. The skipper is the person who calls the shots, makes the decisions, plans the tactics and strategy, decides when to zig and when to zag.

Sometimes the skipper is the driver and sometimes he or she is the sail-handler.

I can understand why a lot of women do not feel comfortable with being the skipper, but I can NOT understand why they would not want to drive if the other crew member is the skipper.

Obviously, driving is the least physically demanding job and, in most cases, best suited to a woman (lighter touch on the helm, better feel for the speed, more able to focus and concentrate on the telltales and keeping the boat in the groove). Women learn this stuff really fast.

In the light to moderate wind conditions that dominate most of the U.S. in the summer, it makes the most sense for the woman to be at the back of the boat steering and the man up forward where most cats need the weight in light air. In heavier air where you need the weight back (and where the woman might be more intimidated steering in big seas and wind), switch and put the woman in front and the man in back.

And you can even switch positions during the race, depending upon who does what best on different parts of the race course. Back in his early days on the Tornado, Rick put his youngest son (about 10 years old at the time) on the helm so that Rick could be out on the trapeze and handle the sails and call the shots. Rick would be on the helm for the start and maybe for crucial mark roundings, and then they would switch places so Todd could steer and Rick could be in a better position to balance the boat and trim the sails and call the shots on the open portions of the course.

If a 10-year-old child can helm a Tornado, any grown woman ought to be able to helm any beach-cat.