These days, as I walk the pup along the docks, I count the growing number of sailing and fishing vessels lining up in the harbor. Their colorful hulls bob gently, with crews carefully prepping these graceful “swans of the sea” for the season. Soon, the harbor will fill with beautiful white and grey sails—many competing in world-renowned regattas. Among those sailors, I’d wager most know the name—and the energetic force behind it—Martha Parker.
Martha Parker is the founder and owner of Team One Newport, a retail and custom sailing apparel and gear business she launched 40 years ago in Newport. Her motivation? As one of the sport’s first female professional sailors, Parker found it nearly impossible to find competitive sailing gear designed for women. After working with designers and manufacturers to suggest more practical solutions, she realized that her then-employer didn’t share her vision for growth. She decided to strike out on her own, building a business that met a growing demand—and, along the way, she helped increase the number of women racing competitively.
Parker’s firm has since become the premier outerwear and customization company for sailing, racing, and yachting enthusiasts across the world. In 2008, Parker was asked to open an independent Patagonia store in Newport. Both locations, anchored on Lower Thames Street, serve a dedicated community of competitive and recreational outdoor athletes.
Parker attributes her success to her boundless energy and perseverance, hard work, and the incredible individuals and management teams who have supported her across the decades.
“I have an AWESOME team behind me,” Parker said. “I am blessed that I have a lot of energy, and I think I’m still 29!”
An Entrepreneur and Competitor from the Start
Parker grew up racing with her family, alongside four brothers and a sister, and she also loved gymnastics and dancing. She still enjoys dancing today. She now serves as Chairperson of the Newport Contemporary Ballet Board of Directors.
Asked what inspired her to pursue racing before many women were in the sport, she shared a pivotal moment from a 2024 interview with Newport This Week:
“When I came to Newport in 1984 to compete in the Admiral’s Trials, I was one of four female sailors and received my nickname, ‘Bow chick.’ I met John Kolius aboard the African Warrior, and he saw I was doing bow sailing well. After that, I started getting recommended to other teams.”
Bow sailing is a demanding role requiring balance, strength, and tactical awareness—skills Parker likely honed from years of gymnastics and dance.
“John Kolius was the first world-class sailor who took me under his wing,” she recalled. “After skippering Courageous in Newport in 1983 as the youngest America’s Cup skipper ever, he was the guest skipper on a race boat that I was crewing on, and he asked me to join his team as Bowman. That led me to race globally and become one of the first female pro sailors. We won many regattas around the world with great teammates who saw me as a skilled crew member, and not necessarily as a woman; they treated me as an equal.”
One of her favorite memories was a long-standing partnership with the Bitter End Yacht Club in the British Virgin Islands.
“In 1991, they invited us down to the BEYC to shoot our catalog at the resort, and it was a partnership that lasted years with the Team One Newport crew traveling to the islands and creating an amazing catalog of great products at one of the most beautiful sailing destinations in the world.”
On the business side, as Parker celebrates 40+ years in business, she tips her hat to all those who have supported her.
“There were a lot of late nights and early mornings getting orders out in the early days. I had a great group of friends who came to work for me, and I couldn’t pay them much, but they came to live with me, and we made it work. We had a lot of meals that included peanut butter and jelly, hot dogs and whatever was on sale at Almacs! We would go out at night, race on the weekends and summer evenings, and go frostbiting in the winters! We got to know all the other yachties in town, and it was fun.”
Parker recalled her father saying she was always determined to prove any nay-sayers wrong. Her advice to young entrepreneurs is “Be passionate. If you stay focused, it will work.”
“I built my business one customer at a time.”
She continues to credit the many people who have helped her build the business over the last 40+ years. “I am so grateful to all these smart, caring, and kind people. I remember lending officers at banks who helped me in a pinch, and credit managers who allowed me to pay off invoices over time, as well as great customers who gave me helpful suggestions. I am appreciative of all of them to this day.”
Parker added that she is proud and honored to have built supportive partnerships with Team One Newport’s vendors. “We now travel the US working the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, as well as partnering with the largest regattas in the country. We work with our partners to design, produce and sell the official merchandise for these major regattas. It is a wonderful way to service the racing sailors and get to know them!”
Parker is passionate about Newport. “We have one of the BEST communities in the world. I’ve been fortunate to travel the world, and when I come over any of our bridges, I know I am HOME. And, on top of that, we have the best sailing in the world!”
Happy Sailing!
Michele Gallagher is a dedicated supporter of local businesses, and the founder of City-by-the-Sea Communications.