I agree with David M. Years ago, I taught sailing on
San Francisco Bay.
Classes were made up of four students and an instructor, sailing boats from 19 to 27 feet.
Many of the
classes were mixed -- male and female -- though we tried not to have spouses or significant others paired in the same classes. At that time, many of the students were physicians, nurses, pilots, and
cabin attendants.
The females did just as well as the males. A good instructor can tailor his/her course to interest and skill levels, and in small classes can even provide "individualized" attention for each student.
San Francisco Bay sailing can be challenging. The winds and tides are such that in a few weeks you get in more sailing and learning than you would in a whole season or two in other areas, including my home waters (Chesapeake Bay).
While I applaud Womenship and other female-only instruction, and believe their courses might be right for some females, they are by definition aberrant situations -- they do not replicate the male/female mix found on most cruising boats. For that reason alone, I'd favor a coed class situation with an experienced instructor.
Bill