On a sparkling winter Sunday on Pittwater, RPAYC proudly hosted the first-ever Kay Cottee Women’s Development Regatta, a celebration of skill-building, camaraderie, and cross-club connection designed especially for female sailors. The day brought together 26 participants, 7 coaches, and 11 volunteers from clubs as far as Port Macquarie, along with sailors from MHYC, Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC), RSYS, Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, and RPAYC. The goal was to encourage learning and confidence through a supportive, hands-on day of coaching and racing in the Club’s Elliott 7 fleet.
The tone of the day was set early. Upon arrival at RPAYC’s Halyards Café at 8:00am, crews, both local and visiting, were warmly greeted by staff and volunteers. There was a shared air of nervous excitement, a gentle tension in the room as women sipped coffee and put on name tags. These name tags played a small but meaningful role; they helped bring strangers together across clubs, roles, and sailing backgrounds, enabling all 44 participants to connect quickly and personally.
Each Elliott crew sat at their own table alongside their assigned coach. Over introductions, sailors were invited to share what they hoped to work on throughout the day. Some hesitantly mentioned spinnakers. Others raised helming with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. Racing starts and mark roundings drew quiet groans and a few nervous laughs.
Vice Commodore Julia Hornsby welcomed the group with warmth and energy, sharing the inspirational story of Kay Cottee, the first woman to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world, and expressed Kay’s enthusiasm for lending her name to this new RPAYC initiative. Though prior commitments prevented Kay from attending in person, her pioneering spirit was keenly felt.
With a brisk schedule and good-humoured energy, crews headed to the dock to rig their boats with their coaches. Lachie and Angus had kindly arrived early to set the sails and uncover the boats, allowing for a smooth rigging process. The first drama of the day unfolded early, when one RPA sailor took an unplanned swim off the dock during setup. Thankfully, being local meant a quick trip home for dry clothes and a speedy return to the action.
On the dock, the atmosphere shifted again, from nervous chatter to focused teamwork. With varied familiarity among the crews regarding the Elliott 7 setup, coaches adjusted their support accordingly. Volunteers Bob Rayner, Peter Farrugia, and Josh Paulson assisted from the water, while coaches including Pru Bennett, Katie Spithill, Alice Lydement, Elyce McClelland and Bayley Taylor, and others provided calm, expert guidance aboard the boats. Team photos were taken, the “before” shots capturing fresh faces and tentative grins, and soon the first boats were being towed to begin the morning training session in the little pond.
With a forecasted nor-wester threatening to drop below 5 knots, conditions remained gentle but steady throughout the day, perfect for learning. Crews practiced sail handling, helming, and asymmetric spinnaker hoists in low-pressure conditions while learning about boat balance, sail trim, and communication. Coaches guided sailors through tacks, gybes, and drops, and in this training window the transformation was remarkable. Radios started chirping with confident voices: “We’re feeling great and ready to get racing!”
The afternoon featured four windward-leeward races, each a two-lap course featuring a top mark with offset and a bottom gate, skilfully managed by Race Officer Elaine and her team. In Race 1, Elliott 4 from NCYC sailed a smart course to finish first. The level of concentration was high and the sense of achievement even higher; all boats used spinnakers, and every helm was female.
Race 2 brought fresh tactical thinking as the RPAYC trio of Julie, Julie, and Roslyn narrowly crossed ahead of the next finishers. The racing was close, and competitors began adjusting their strategies, eyeing breeze patterns, anticipating wind shifts, and learning in real time from the one-design format.
By Race 3, confidence had grown dramatically. Crews were getting aggressive on the start line, leading to two individual recalls. “If you’re not getting an OCS occasionally, you’re not really pushing hard enough,” remarked one of the YD volunteers, a sign of growing race awareness. Despite a minor spinnaker tangle aboard Boat 6, all crews recovered swiftly with support from the on-water team. Elliott 1, with RPAYC’s Isabelle, Louisa, Jill, and Fionna, took out the win, followed closely by Elliott 2’s Carolyn, Mon, and Nicola.
Calm, precise communication was a hallmark of the event. There was no shouting, just mutual encouragement, troubleshooting, and clear tactical decisions.
Race 4, held in trickier fading breeze, demanded smart strategy. Elliott 8, featuring the cross-club crew of Alison, Barbara, and Kylie from Port Macquarie and Sydney Amateurs, found a perfect pressure line on the Bayview side and secured the final victory of the day. They were supported by coach Pru Bennett, whose mentorship contributed to their steady performance.
Back onshore, the emotional tone had shifted once again. From nerves and hesitation to joy and pride, the feeling was unanimous – what a day. Sails were rolled, boats washed down, and stories bubbled among the sailors. Former YD sailor Hannah McCutcheon helped guide boats into pens and heard the buzz firsthand. Crews swapped highlights and recounted breakthroughs while enjoying a warm afternoon presentation on the terrace with drinks, cheeses, olives, and shared reflections.
Prizes donated by Pantaenius were awarded to the most improved crew, Wyn, Willa, and Mon, whose growth throughout the day was truly commendable. The coaches’ remarks were that they wished they could nominate all the sailors for most improved awards – it was so hard to choose! Wine from RPAYC was awarded to Elliott 3 (Julie, Julie, Roslyn and coach Katie), Elliott 4 (Danielle, Christine, Roberta and Melissa with coach Bayley), and Elliott 1 (Jill, Isabelle, Fionna, Louisa and coach Lachie) for consistent racing in the afternoon session.
The success of this inaugural event was made possible by a community of passionate sailors, volunteers, and supporters committed to building confidence, connection, and opportunity for women in sailing. Enormous thanks go to our dedicated volunteer team of Elaine Fowler, Ted Anderson, Julia Hornsby, Peter Farrugia, Nicole Butcher, Liam Bennett, Bob Rayner, Josh Paulson, Josh Gillies, Belle Holdsworth. Not to mention our Sail Training Office staff, Adam Hellyer, and Rob Brewer — whose calm expertise and generous time made the day seamless from dock to finish line. A heartfelt thanks also to our incredible coaches Lachlan Wallace, Angus Musgrave, Katie Spithill, Bayley Taylor, Alice Lydement, Elyce McClelland, and Pru Bennett, who brought patience, positivity, and encouragement aboard every Elliott. The day marked not just a regatta, but a turning point, and we can’t wait to welcome even more sailors to the next one on Sunday 31 August.
Interested in joining the next event, either as a participant or volunteer? Reach out to RPAYC-Sailtraining@rpayc.com.au or contact Emily at emily.mccutcheon@gmail.com