Australia will send two teams to compete at the inaugural Women’s International Championship in Newport, Rhode Island this September. The teams, led by Katie Spithill and Olympic sailor Karyn Gojnich, will represent the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron respectively.
The regatta will run from 12–19 September at New York Yacht Club Harbour Court using the club’s fleet of IC37 keelboats.
Spithill said crew selection focused on building adaptable and committed teams. “For me it started with people, not positions,” she said. “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.” She said the Sydney-based squad includes sailors from varied competitive backgrounds.
Gojnich said her team combines experienced racers with emerging sailors. “We are fielding a team with varying levels of experience, from Olympic hopefuls to national competitors and aspiring sailors,” she said. “Everyone has come forward with tremendous enthusiasm and commitment to learning, developing as a team and becoming highly skilled sailors.”
Gojnich represented Australia at three Olympic Games and competed in the first women’s Olympic sailing event in Seoul in 1988. She said women’s sailing had progressed significantly, but further work remained. “When the women’s events were introduced at the 1988 Olympic Games, the intention was to even up the gender balance,” she said. “However, we are not there yet, there is still more progress to make.”
Despite competing separately, both Australian teams plan to work together in preparation for the championship.
Spithill said the crews would share training opportunities and technical knowledge ahead of the event. “There’s a shared goal of raising the level of women’s sailing in Australia,” she said.
The teams are also training aboard Australia’s only IC37 keelboat ahead of the transatlantic trip to the United States. The inaugural championship will feature international crews racing identical IC37 yachts designed by Mark Mills for the New York Yacht Club.
