The Sailing World Mourns the Loss of Legendary Cruiser Pam Wall
Pioneering sailor, circumnavigator, and well-known cruising lecturer Pam Wall passed away on Friday at age 80. An outpouring of love, gratitude and remembrances has swept through the internet over the weekend for ‘Grandma Ocean’.
“Pam was a legendary sailor from a generation of legendary sailors, the OG ‘strong woman at sea’ figure that has so inspired my wife, Mia, and others,” wrote Andy Schell in Sail. “Pam grew up sailing on her father’s racing boat on Lake Michigan. Later, while living in Florida, she was swept off her feet by a strapping Australian solo sailor named Andy Wall who had big cruising plans.”
Pam and Andy would go on to have two children, Samantha and Jamie, who they raised while circumnavigating the globe aboard the iconic Freya 39 ocean racer Kandarik — Pam kept the boat “in perfect condition on her backyard dock in a canal in Fort Lauderdale until the day she died,” Schell wrote.
“Pam’s life was at once tragic and inspirational. She lost Samantha and Andy to cancer in quick succession yet remained one of the most passionate and positive people I’d ever met. Pam always reminded me of my own mom, who I lost to cancer in 2012, and became a kind of Grandma Ocean to Mia and myself, and later to our son, Axel.
“But we weren’t unique. Pam’s family became the sailing community, and she took many a young cruiser under her wing. She worked together with West Marine for years helping cruisers outfit their boats for long-distance voyaging and continued to give lectures and share her stories into her late 70s.”
“Pam Wall was a friend to me and so many others in the sailing world. She brought so much joy and light to the world with her continuously positive outlook and wonderful stories. The world will miss you, Pam, as will I,” wrote our friend Ben Shaw. “Rest in peace, thank you for the inspiration,” write our friends Quincy Cummings and Mitch Andrus of QM Travels.
Did you know Pam Wall? Did you attend one of her lectures? Please comment below, or email us here.
I met her at Strictly Sail Pacific a number of years ago. I attended one of her lectures. She was a beautiful person, she possessed a wealth of knowledge and experience. I enjoyed meeting her.
Pam and I worked at West Marine simultaneously for about 15 years. She was well-known as being the cruising expert in the Florida market, and that’s saying a lot knowing how many superb cruisers there are in the southeast. Her infectious optimism, her encyclopedic knowledge of boat parts, and her wealth of personal experience were always available to customers and audiences at boat shows or cruising get-togethers. She was asked to be the guest speaker at the U.S. Naval Academy Safety at Sea Course about 10 years ago, and her topic was how she and Andy had modified their Westsail 32 in scores of way to make it a better cruising boat. I don’t know what the audience expected, but they were completely blown away by her incredible knowledge, humor, and enthusiasm for cruising under sail. She was a treasure and will be sorely missed.
Hey Pam, when you see him, tell Andy we miss him as well! Smooth seas.
Pam was influential in my own choice of boats, a Freya 39, and sister ship to Kandarik. She and I had many conversations about the design and our respective adventures. Of all the inspiring people who could speak at boat shows, Pam topped the list. Her diminutive size gave her credibility when she said “If I can do it, you can do it.” Losing Pam is losing a good friend and likeminded cruiser.
I was lucky to work with Pam at West Marine & see her in action at Boat Shows. When in Ft. Lauderdale for work we had a fun dinner at her home with Pam & Andy, getting to see their beautiful boat & hear more of their tales.
The Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference has lost a dear friend in the passing of Pam Wall. She was an engaging presenter who happily shared her adventures, her love of sailing and her extensive knowledge of cruising with us as both a keynote speaker and instructor. She was an inspiration to women sailors and will be greatly missed. Fair winds Pam.
About 15 years ago, when I had recently become marine superintendant at the Bermuda Sloop Foundation (operating the Spirit of Bermuda sail training ship) I came shopping at West for some thing or other, and Pam took me under her wing. She arranged a discount, but more than that, she gave good advice, and offered to connect us to people we should know in Bermuda. After that I would see her sometimes in Lauderdale, sometimes other places – always friendly and helpful. She will be missed.
I knew Pam thru working on her father’s power boat (Cheetah 49′) and bought her car (yellow VW Thing) when they start their “land based” family. And was a good friend of her sister (who lived next door) in ft. lauderdale. Often did electrical work on their 32′ Westsail when it was docked behind their house. She really was as good as they say…and then some!