Newport, R.I. \u2014 Australia will send two strong teams to the inaugural Women\u2019s International Championship this September, alongside the host nation and Canada. The teams, led by renowned match racer Katie Spithill and three-time Olympian Karyn Gojnich, are poised to make significant contributions to the event while promoting female participation in sailing in Australia.<\/p>\n
Crew selection is vital to their preparations. Spithill, representing the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club from Newport, Australia, emphasises a holistic approach to team assembly. \u201cFor me it started with people, not positions,\u201d she explains. \u201cI wanted a group of women who are not only great sailors but who are adaptable and genuinely want to be part of something bigger. We are fortunate to have a large squad of very talented sailors here in Sydney, so the hardest part was that some people missed out. We\u2019ve got a mix of backgrounds\u2014some with high-performance racing experience, others with different pathways\u2014and that diversity is one of our strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n
The inaugural New York Yacht Club International Women\u2019s Championship will take place from September 12 to 19 at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, R.I., utilising the Club\u2019s fleet of 20 IC37s, designed by Mark Mills. This powerful, sporty keelboat rewards cohesive crew work and athleticism. The event is supported by founding partner Rolex and regatta sponsor Helly Hansen.<\/p>\n
Gojnich, sailing under the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron burgee, also prioritises diversity in her team. \u201cWe are fielding a team with varying levels of experience, from Olympic hopefuls to national competitors and aspiring sailors,\u201d she states. \u201cEveryone has come forward with tremendous enthusiasm and commitment to learning, developing as a team and becoming highly skilled sailors. We are a development team, so I\u2019m excited to see just how far our team can come over the coming months and into the regatta.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gojnich has a rich history in Olympic sailing, having represented Australia in the 470 class in the 1988 Olympics and subsequently in the Yngling class in 2004 and 2008. She has witnessed the transformation of sailing into a more inclusive sport for women. \u201cWhen the women\u2019s events were introduced at the 1988 Olympic Games, the intention was to even up the gender balance, and to have more women sailing,\u201d she reflects. \u201cHowever, we are not there yet, and there is still more progress to make.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite being competitors, the two teams share a common goal of promoting women\u2019s sailing in Australia. Spithill remarks, \u201cIt\u2019s fantastic to have two teams representing Australia at the inaugural event. There\u2019s a shared goal of raising the level of women\u2019s sailing in Australia, so it makes sense to support each other where we can. We plan to cross over during training days, as well as share insights and setups, and generally learn from each other\u2019s experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bonding over the use of the only IC37 in Australia, both teams will focus on mastering the boat\u2019s nuances and refining crew work ahead of their journey to Rhode Island. \u201cWe have some time booked to jump on board an IC37 for the first time,\u201d Spithill notes. \u201cWe are very grateful to co-owners Scott Lawson and David Ferguson, who are kindly letting us use their new boat for some training. In the meantime, we have been out on an MC38 and spending any spare time studying videos of past events in IC37s. It looks like a really fun boat to sail\u2014but will definitely keep us honest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gojnich, who has been active in sailing for nearly four decades, continues to be passionate about participating in significant events. \u201cThe NYYC Women\u2019s International Championship fills a much-needed step in the sailing trajectory,\u201d she states. \u201cThe design of the boat, along with NYYC providing a fleet of IC37s, is a thoughtful transition from club and national racing to high-performance keelboat competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sailors interested in joining the teams are encouraged to complete the Women\u2019s International Championship Crew Finder here<\/a>. The information will only be accessible to qualified Women\u2019s International Championship skippers.<\/p>\n 2026 New York Yacht Club International Women\u2019s Championship #WomensSailing #SailingAustralia #NYYC #WomensInternationalChampionship<\/p>\n Interested in seeing more Racing News? Click here<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\tPost navigation<\/p>\n
**Sept. 12 to 19, 2026**
**Newport, R.I.**
**Competing Skippers:**
Ragna Agerup (NOR), Nicole Breault (USA), Marie Klok Crump (DEN), Hannah Diamond (GBR), Sarah Douglas (CAN), Eliane Fierro (MEX), Karyn Gojnich (AUS), Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick (USA), Michelle Lahrkamp (USA), Dominique Proyoveur (RSA), Lisa Ross (CAN), Katie Spithill (AUS), Ida Swensson (SWE), Hannah Swett (USA), Laura van Veen (NED), Lena Wei\u00dfkichel (GER), Katrina Williams (BER), Christina Wolfe (USA) and Lijia Xu (CHN).<\/p>\n