Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) is focussed on celebrating International Women’s Day at the 2026 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta today – and there is plenty to celebrate here with so many women involved out racing, on start crews, driving media boats, taking photos, chairing the Protest Committee and taking care of administrative work.
MHYC Sailing Manager, David Staley, who spends time ashore and on the water in his role, is a vocal supporter of women in the sailing ranks. He said this morning, “There are so many talented female sailors in Australia and at our event, along with those officiating and in administration roles. International Women’s Day is definitely something we enjoy celebrating each year at the regatta.
Lisa Callaghan is the skipper of Mondo, which she owns with Stephen Teudt. She is also President of the Sydney 38 class and is here aiming to win the Sydney 38 NSW Championship and is currently in third place.
Mondo placed second to Conspiracy in the last NSW Championship, but Callaghan has her mind set on claiming the title for her team this year. In December she skippered Mondo to win the Sydney 38 Division and placed second in IRC Division 4 of the Rolex Sydney Hobart, so the Mondo crew is ready.
Catherine Thornton-Rofe, who works in Sailing Administration at MHYC is busy also skippering her J/24 Kaotic at the regatta. She took out top female helm in January’s J/24 Hodges Sandringham Australian Championship 2026 in Melbourne. has two Sydney Hobarts to her credit and holds the position of Vice Commodore at Manly Yacht Club, where she sometimes races with Callaghan.
Stephanie Cook is the co-owner of the Summit King 40, Jambo, racing in Performance Spinnaker Division 1. Cook is one of the mainstays of the regatta and has other women aboard, as does the crew of their competition, including on She’s the Culprit. Women are spread across the different classes and divisions this year, which would not have been the case as recently as 10 years ago.
Ali Braden is flying under the radar at the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, driving a media boat for Margaret Fraser-Martin, one of the event photographers. “I like doing this (driving), because I can get up close to the racing and see it from a different perspective,” she says.
At 18, Braden was the youngest female sailor to contest the 80th Sydney Hobart in December, racing on Pacific Road Xanthus, which placed fourth in Division 3. She plans to continue on with offshore racing, but her main game is the Olympic class 49erFX skiff.
Ambitious Braden, who is also a sailing coach and part time restaurant waitress, says “International Women’s Day is to celebrate the achievements of all woman around the world. In sailing there are a lot of women to celebrate.”
Julie Hodder, a past Commodore of MHYC, is a volunteer on the MHYC start boat this weekend. Hodder, a respected offshore sailor with 13 Sydney Hobarts and myriad other ocean and Harbour races behind her, has raced as an owner and as navigator for others, with great results to her name.
In this 21st year of the regatta, Hodder says of International Women’s Day, “The day is good for recognising women and their achievements. I looked back at my photo page from five years ago today – at a picture of all the women taken on the beach here at the Club. It makes me proud to see how far they’ve come.
“Looking out from the start boat yesterday, I was amazed to see the amount of younger women out on the water – it felt good to see that.”
Hodder continued: “After sailing yesterday afternoon, I was talking to some of the younger women who raced and they agreed they were celebrating all those women who came before them and opened up the so many opportunities that have come their way and made life easier for them.”
Pittwater’s well-known sailing sisters, Clare and Juliet Costanzo, are racing – on separate boats. Claire is on the Botin/Carkeek GP42, Ambition, owned by Chris Dare, a Victorian who now lives in Tasmania. It’s the same boat she did the 80th Sydney Hobart on – her fourth. Ambition is leading both Open Division 1 and the Super 40 class after today’s three windward/leewards.
Juliet is sailing on the VX-One One Design, No Excuses, which put to bed 3-3-4 results on windward/leeward courses yesterday and is just outside the money going into today’s final races. She did her fourth Sydney Hobart in December on Richard Hudson’s Pretty Woman. The sisters are also decorated match racers and their futures are bright.
Kathy Johnston, or ‘KJ’ as she is known at MHYC where she has worked for the past five years where she is an appreciated team player. “I work in the Sailing Office, on reception. I’m a jack of all trades,” says Johnston who joined the Club as a member in 1989.
In her roles, Johnston has seen a lot of women come through the doors of the Club over the years and says, “International Women’s Day is a fabulous initiative that we celebrate it at the regatta every year.”
There are so many other women involved in the regatta, volunteering in a plethora of roles. Erica Kirby is a national judge and Chair of the Protest Committee and there are a number of women on start boats such as Rosemary Merrington, a dedicated fixture at many sailing events around Australia.
Merrington is in the team on Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club start boat running races for the Super 30 Cup, Super 40, Fareast 28R Australian Championship and International J/24s on Course Area E. On Course B, is another regular, Robyn Tames, the Course Race Officer for RANSA, looking after Performance Class Spinnaker Divisions 1 and 2.
Ladies, today we recognise and celebrate you all.
Di Pearson/MHYC media
For full results, photos and more, please visit: https://www.shr.mhyc.com.au
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