Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club is proud to support Shaw and Partners Women Racing as the team prepares to represent the Club at the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship.
This championship marks a significant milestone for international sailing, with the New York Yacht Club hosting a dedicated women’s invitational event for the first time. Previous editions of the event have been contested as open competitions, with RPAYC’s Team Revolver representing the Club in last year’s championship.
The squad is proudly anchored by RPAYC, with the majority of the team being Club members. Representing Women Racing are:
- Katie Spithill – Co-Founder & Skipper – RPAYC Member
- Stacey Jackson – Co-Founder, Crew Boss & Trimmer – RPAYC Member
- Emma Roberts – Team Communication & Logistics Manager, Mast
- Nina Curtis – Trimmer – RPAYC Member
- Tara Blanc-Ramos – Bow
- Clare Costanzo – Tactician – RPAYC Member
- Alice Tanawaski – Runners / Strategy – RPAYC Member
- Sarah Parker – Mainsheet – RPAYC Member
- Juliet Costanzo – Grinder – RPAYC Member
- Abby Ehler – Pit
Founded by RPAYC sailors, Katie Spithill and Stacey Jackson, Shaw and Partners Women Racing brings together some of Australia’s most accomplished female sailors with a shared vision of creating meaningful opportunities for women to compete, develop and succeed at the highest levels of sailing.
Co-Founder and Skipper Katie Spithill said Women Racing had always been about building something much bigger than a single campaign.
“Women Racing was never intended to be a single campaign or a single regatta. 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.”
Co-Founder and Crew Boss Stacey Jackson said the opportunity to represent Australia was matched by the responsibility to help create more opportunities for women in the sport.
“We’ve all spent our careers chasing opportunities to compete at the highest level. 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. Doing it alongside crew who are also great mates makes it even more rewarding.”
Also supporting the campaign is the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and Buckingham Marine Services, together with Supporting Partners Vaikobi, Oroton and Platinum Partners Palm Beach Motor Yachts, helping create a sustainable platform for high-performance women’s sailing that extends well beyond a single regatta.
The team’s first international campaign will see Shaw and Partners Women Racing compete in the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship, bringing together leading yacht clubs from around the world for one of the most significant new events on the global sailing calendar.
The official launch was held at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron before the team departed for a training session on Sydney Harbour, marking the formal beginning of the campaign under the new name.
Looking beyond New York, Spithill said the campaign represented another important milestone in the continued evolution of Women Racing.
“Women Racing has always been about creating opportunities for exceptional women to come together, challenge themselves and compete at the highest level. This team is the next chapter in that journey. 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.”
Women Racing combines Olympic, world championship and elite sailing experience with a commitment to fostering participation, excellence and long-term growth in women’s sailing. The team brings together athletes from across Australia who share a passion for elite competition while creating greater visibility and opportunities for women in the sport.
The squad includes Olympians, world champions, Admiral’s Cup winners, world record holders and internationally recognised sailors, demonstrating the depth of Australian female talent while creating a platform that supports both high performance and the next generation of women entering the sport.
As Shaw and Partners Women Racing begins its first international campaign, the team hopes to inspire more women and girls to pursue competitive sailing while demonstrating the strength, professionalism and depth of female talent within Australian sailing.
The inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International will be held from 12 to 19 September 2026 at New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
Team list
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