Newport, R.I. — Australia will send two strong teams to the inaugural Women’s 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.
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. “For me it started with people, not positions,” she explains. “I 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’ve got a mix of backgrounds—some with high-performance racing experience, others with different pathways—and that diversity is one of our strengths.”
The inaugural New York Yacht Club International Women’s Championship will take place from September 12 to 19 at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, R.I., utilising the Club’s 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.
Gojnich, sailing under the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron burgee, also prioritises diversity in her team. “We are fielding a team with varying levels of experience, from Olympic hopefuls to national competitors and aspiring sailors,” she states. “Everyone 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’m excited to see just how far our team can come over the coming months and into the regatta.”
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. “When the women’s events were introduced at the 1988 Olympic Games, the intention was to even up the gender balance, and to have more women sailing,” she reflects. “However, we are not there yet, and there is still more progress to make.”
Despite being competitors, the two teams share a common goal of promoting women’s sailing in Australia. Spithill remarks, “It’s fantastic to have two teams representing Australia at the inaugural event. There’s a shared goal of raising the level of women’s 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’s experiences.”
Bonding over the use of the only IC37 in Australia, both teams will focus on mastering the boat’s nuances and refining crew work ahead of their journey to Rhode Island. “We have some time booked to jump on board an IC37 for the first time,” Spithill notes. “We 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—but will definitely keep us honest.”
Gojnich, who has been active in sailing for nearly four decades, continues to be passionate about participating in significant events. “The NYYC Women’s International Championship fills a much-needed step in the sailing trajectory,” she states. “The 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.”
Sailors interested in joining the teams are encouraged to complete the Women’s International Championship Crew Finder here. The information will only be accessible to qualified Women’s International Championship skippers.
2026 New York Yacht Club International Women’s Championship
**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 Weißkichel (GER), Katrina Williams (BER), Christina Wolfe (USA) and Lijia Xu (CHN).
#WomensSailing #SailingAustralia #NYYC #WomensInternationalChampionship
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