The St Heliers resident recalls showing up at rescues to be met with puzzled looks from men.
"When I introduce myself as skipper, I usually get a second glance. I'm not what they expect - it makes them remember women can do anything. Afterwards, they come up and say how well I've done the job."
It's a scenario that makes her smile. She is one of a growing number of women putting up their hands to volunteer for a service that rescues almost 7000 people every year - yet struggles to receive funding.
About 17 per cent of the country's 2406 Coastguard volunteers are female.
Ms Ross says she finds the work therapeutic and a chance to reboot.
"I like making quick decisions for a good outcome."
But she says some decisions made by others leave a lot to be desired - including "frustrating" call-outs assisting people who should have known better.
"We often get jobs in the dark. People go out with no lifejacket or GPS then put in a distress call and try to describe where they are. It's hard to do when you're in darkness."
Ms Ross suggests people carry a VHF radio so other boats in the area can listen in and assist.
The 37-year-old grew up on the coast of Howick and has always had boating in her blood.
After training as a nurse she became involved with Kawau Coastguard in the mid-90s.
"On the first day they asked me to drive the boat through the northern channel in large swells without a steering wheel.
"They wanted to challenge me. It was exhilarating - I got hooked."
Ms Ross worked her way up the hierarchy and after three years became president.
She returned to the big smoke in 2000 after landing a job at Auckland Hospital and joined Coastguard's Auckland branch.
The relocation made her realise her experience up north had been valuable.
"The jobs in Kawau were bigger. Conditions were worse, it's more exposed and you don't get as much support from other boats.
"In Auckland, the Maritime Police will be there plus six or seven others and you're never far from the shore."
Ms Ross is mother to 4-year-old Logan and 22-month-old Rebecca, and admits being a mum, working for Coastguard and holding down a full-time job has been a juggling act.
She works as a senior clinical research associate overseeing FDA drug trials on behalf of drug companies and has to travel at least two days each week.
"Being a mum was a higher priority for a while - I had to take time off Coastguard."
Her husband Alister works as a police sergeant at Auckland Airport and she plans around his rotating shifts.
"If he's at home I can help with Coastguard, but we've only got one weekend a month. I can't bail out then, it's not fair and the kids are still dependent - but he goes on his hunting trips so it works both ways."
And the fact is, Coastguard can't afford to lose volunteers like Ms Ross, after the recession saw a drop in support.
"Five years ago we had lots of people on call - their employers were happy to let them go. They're harder to find these days ... demand on workplaces has increased."
Coastguard chief executive Patrick Holmes says as a nation of seafarers, many New Zealanders would be surprised to realise the extent to which Coastguard relies on the public dipping into their pockets and the money from trusts and sponsors.
The Government provides $1.8 million to the service but it costs $12 million a year to run. As well as the boats, it costs to train each volunteer - both in the water and the air - so they can respond to emergencies effectively.
"There's a misconception we're part of a Government department, but we're not."
* Coastguard's MayDay appeal runs until Saturday May 13.
CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW TO DONATE.
Make an automatic $25 donation by calling 0900 SOS SOS (0900 767 767). Make a donation at your local ASB or directly into Coastguard's ASB account, 12-3209-0434030-01 (reference with MayDay and your surname)