Newport bound

Building opportunities in women’s sailing

Spithill, the team’s co-founder and skipper, said Women Racing was established to create sustained opportunities for female sailors rather than focus on a single campaign.

“Women Racing was never intended to be a single campaign or a single regatta,” Spithill said.

“It was created to bring together exceptional women, create opportunities and build a platform that continues to grow long after the finish line.

“The inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship is an incredible place to begin that journey, but it’s only the first chapter of what we hope Women Racing will become.”

Jackson, who will serve as co-founder, crew boss and trimmer, said the team aimed to combine competitive performance with a broader commitment to developing opportunities for women in sailing.

“We’ve all spent our careers chasing opportunities to compete at the highest level,” Jackson said.

The Shaw and Partners Women Racing campaign is about making sure those opportunities continue to grow for the women coming after us.

“To be part of the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship is incredibly special, and I’m proud to be part of a team that’s focused on both performance and the bigger picture.”

Shaw and Partners Financial Services CEO Earl Evans said the partnership reflected the company’s focus on supporting high-performance people and creating opportunities.

“Women Racing is about much more than a single regatta; it’s about creating opportunities, inspiring future generations and showing what can be achieved when talented people are given the support to succeed,” Evans said.

“We’re proud to stand alongside this team as naming rights partner and wish them every success at the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship.”

Palm Beach Motor Yachts and Buckingham Marine Services have joined the campaign as Platinum Partners, while Vaikobi, Oroton and the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club will support the team as Supporting Partners.

Australian team targets Newport

The New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship will bring together 20 teams representing leading yacht clubs from around the world.

Hosted at New York Yacht Club Harbour Court, the event will be sailed in the club’s fleet of one-design IC37 keelboats, placing the emphasis on teamwork, tactics and crew performance.

The program includes two official practice days followed by five days of racing. Rolex is the founding partner of the championship.

Spithill said the New York campaign represented another step in the development of Women Racing and its goal of creating greater visibility for elite female sailors.

“This team is the next chapter in that journey,” she said.

“The inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship gives us an incredible opportunity to showcase what’s possible, while continuing to build something that extends well beyond a single event or campaign.”

Shaw and Partners Women Racing team

Katie Spithill – Co-founder and skipper
Stacey Jackson – Co-founder, crew boss and trimmer
Emma Roberts – Team communications and logistics manager, mast
Nina Curtis – Trimmer
Tara Blanc-Ramos – Bow
Clare Costanzo – Tactician
Alice Parker – Runners and strategy
Sarah Parker – Mainsheet
Juliet Costanzo – Grinder
Abby Ehler – Pit

Squad

Katherine Dawson, Jess Angus, Angela Farrell, Nicole Butcher, Bayley Taylor, Lisa Denvir, Jemma Hodgson, Georgia Tuckey and Ruby Sholten.

Event details

New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship

Dates: 12–19 September 2026
Venue: New York Yacht Club Harbour Court, Newport, Rhode Island, USA
Fleet: One-design IC37 keelboats
Teams: 20 international yacht club teams
Format: Two practice days and five days of racing
Founding partner: Rolex

womenracing.com.au
nyyc.org