1 November, 2026
Entries Are Now Open!
Gather your women sailors and send a team to the Kay Cottee Open Women’s Regatta, hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Join us for two days of racing, teamwork and friendly rivalry on Pittwater!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this empowering day on the water. We can’t wait to see you on the start line!
Sunday 1 November 2026 | RPAYC
An invitation is extended to all yacht owners to join the inaugural Kay Cottee Women’s Open Regatta.
Who Can Join?
Everybody; allowance for 66% of the crew, including the skipper, to be women.
Event Schedule – Sunday 1 November
⏰ Race briefing: 10:00 am
🚩 First Warning Signal: 12:00 pm
⚓ Elliott 7: up to 3 races.
⚓ORC Divisions: up to 3 races.
🏁 No races will be started after 3:45 pm
Course: Two windward/leeward races and one Around the Cans race. Courses will be described in the Sailing Instructions.
Presentation & Wrap-Up
🏆 Celebrate the regatta with a presentation and the awarding of the Kay Cottee Perpetual Trophy to the winners in each division, and cheer on your fellow sailors.
- $50 ORC Rated Yachts
- $150 – Charter an Elliott 7
If you have any questions about the event, you can contact the Sailing Office via email, sailing@rpayc.com.au or (02) 9998 3700
Crew Register
Available Crew
| NAME | EXPERIENCE | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|
| Belinda Laurie | Skilled | Done courses with flying fish. Racing on the Clarence river Yamba own boat 44Xyatch + RL24 trailer sailer. Am wanting to do more racing & gain more experience |
| Rohini Nair | Beginner | Have done some twilight and some experience in trimming |
| Belinda Parkes | Skilled | Would like to find a boat to borrow and helm or lease Elliott and gather a crew or can join a crew as experienced bow. |
| Victoira Muller | Beginner | I've sailed regularly on an Adams 10 at Lake Macquarie every Saturday for the past five summer seasons, mainly working the jib and spinnaker winches. I'm happy to take on other roles too. I'd love to join a crew for an upcoming women's regatta, ideally on a keelboat. If you know of a skipper looking for an experienced crew member, I'd really appreciate an introduction. |
The Sailing Office will compile a list of crew available as listed. Contact the Office for the listed people’s contact details. 9998 3700
Where Are We
Contact the Organising Authority
Kay Cottee: A Pioneering Voyage Around the World
Kay Cottee AO made maritime history on 5 June 1988 when she became the first woman to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world. Her achievement aboard *Blackmores First Lady* remains a landmark in Australian sailing, demonstrating extraordinary seamanship, preparation and determination. ([Sea Museum Collections][1])
Born in Sydney on 25 January 1954, Cottee grew up in a sailing family, spending weekends racing her father’s yacht. She later moved to Pittwater, where she developed her boatbuilding skills and operated a yacht charter business. A solo Tasman crossing in 1986 strengthened her ambition to undertake a global voyage. ([The Australian Museum][2])
Departing Sydney Harbour on 29 November 1987, Cottee spent 189 days at sea aboard her 37-foot yacht, covering approximately 22,100 nautical miles. Her route took her south of New Zealand, around Cape Horn, north across the equator in the Atlantic, then around the Cape of Good Hope and home via southern Tasmania. She made no port calls and received no supplies, relying on the provisions and equipment she carried from Sydney. ([Kay Cottee][3])
Life alone at sea demanded constant resourcefulness. Cottee faced fierce storms, towering seas, isolation and disrupted sleep. During one violent knockdown off southern Africa, she was washed overboard and survived because her safety lines kept her attached to the yacht. Radio provided her only contact with the outside world. ([National Portrait Gallery][4])
Her return to Sydney was celebrated by an estimated 100,000 spectators. The voyage established seven world records and brought national recognition, including being named 1988 Australian of the Year and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia. ([The Australian Museum][2])
Beyond sailing, Cottee used her success to support Reverend Ted Noffs’ Life Education program, and her fundraising eventually exceeded $1 million. Through school visits, books and public speaking, she shared a message of perseverance and possibility, leaving a lasting example for women pursuing their ambitions on the water. ([Kay Cottee][3])
References:
[1]: https://collections.sea.museum/en/objects/15247/cavalier-37-yacht-blackmores-first-lady?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Cavalier 37 yacht BLACKMORES FIRST LADY | Works | The Collection | Australian National Maritime Museum”
[2]: https://australian.museum/about/history/exhibitions/trailblazers/kay-cottee/ “Kay Cottee AO – The Australian Museum”
[3]: https://kaycottee.com.au/Bio.html “Kay Cottee AO”
[4]: https://portrait.gov.au/people/kay-cottee-1954?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Kay Cottee AO, National Portrait Gallery”