Costanzo completes perfect weekend to win John Messenger Women’s Match Racing Regatta
Juliet Costanzo and her Women’s Racing Team from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club have completed an undefeated weekend at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, claiming victory in the 2026 John Messenger Women’s Match Racing Regatta.
After finishing Day 1 with a perfect record, Costanzo continued her dominant form through Sunday’s semi-finals and Final, defeating CYCA’s Heidi Ferguson 3 – 0 in the semi-final before overcoming Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s Isobel Payne 2 – 0 in the Final.
The victory capped an impressive weekend for Costanzo and her team, who did not drop a single match across the two days of racing.
Following the completion of the round robin on Sunday morning, the top four teams progressed to the semi-finals, with Costanzo, Payne, Isabella Holdsworth (RPAYC) and Ferguson advancing to the knockout stage.
As the top-ranked skipper, Costanzo faced Ferguson in the first semi-final and continued the form that had carried her through the round robin. Three consecutive victories secured a commanding 3 – 0 win and a place in the Final.
The second semi-final proved a much tighter affair between Payne and Holdsworth.
The pair traded wins throughout the best-of-five series, with Payne taking the opening match before Holdsworth levelled the score. The pattern continued through the next two races, leaving the series locked at 2 – 2 and setting up a winner-takes-all fifth match.
Payne prevailed in the decider to secure the series 3 – 2 and book her place against Costanzo in the Final.
Holdsworth and Ferguson then met in the Petit Final, where another closely fought series unfolded. Ferguson claimed the opening race before Holdsworth responded in the second, but Ferguson took the deciding third match to secure the series 2 – 1 and third place overall.
The Final saw the weekend’s two strongest performers, Costanzo and Payne, go head-to-head for the title.
Costanzo proved too strong, winning the opening two matches to complete a 2 – 0 victory and secure the 2026 John Messenger Women’s Match Racing Regatta title without suffering a defeat throughout the event.
The result provides an ideal final preparation for Costanzo and her Women’s Racing Team ahead of the New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship later this month.
Payne finished the regatta in second place following an impressive weekend for the RSYS team, while Ferguson secured third for the CYCA ahead of Holdsworth in fourth.
Teaghan Denney completed the regatta in fifth place, with Chelsea Williams finishing sixth and Emily Armitstead rounding out the seven-team fleet in seventh.
The John Messenger Women’s Match Racing Regatta once again brought together emerging female match racing talent, providing valuable high-level competition and another opportunity for Australia’s leading young women match racers to test themselves on Sydney Harbour.
Final standings
- Juliet Costanzo (RPAYC)
- Isobel Payne (RSYS)
- Heidi Ferguson (CYCA)
- Isabella Holdsworth (RPAYC)
- Teaghan Denney (RNZYS)
- Chelsea Williams (CYCA)
- Emily Armitstead (Ascham/CYCA)
Article c/o CYCA