Ladies of the Sea Coaching Regatta
Save the Date
Friday 3 October - Sunday 5 October 2025
Save the date for the RSYS Ladies of the Sea Coaching Regatta! This annual event is tailored specifically for female sailors, building upon the success of the RSYS Sailing Academy's popular women's keelboat courses.
The regatta offers a safe, supportive environment for female sailors to enhance their capabilities and build confidence on the water. During the regatta, sailors will enjoy expert on-water and off-water coaching from experienced yachtswomen, windward/leeward race series' on Sydney Harbour and various social events at the RSYS Clubhouse including the popular morning pilates.
The regatta is open to keelboats and one-design fleets, both spinnaker and non-spinnaker yachts and welcomes teams with all-female crews or a female helm with mixed crews.
Entry details will be shared closer to the event date.
Regatta Information
So, what’s the LOTS Regatta all about?
The event aims to challenge and nurture female sailors, with mentors providing the opportunity for all to enhance their capabilities, build confidence and develop skills on the water.
A mix of on-water and on-shore events, the regatta places an emphasis on creating a safe, welcoming and sociable environment. Each morning begins with a Pilates session overlooking Sydney Harbour followed by a coached session led by some of Australia’s most notable yachtswomen. In the afternoon participants will have the opportunity to test their skills against each other in a short windward/leeward race series.
This regatta is open to both keelboats and one-design fleets, spinnaker and non-spinnaker yachts, and teams with an all-female crew and a female helm with mixed crew.
Karyn Gojnich (OLY)
Karyn started sailing at the age of 8 and has sailed dinghies, skiffs, keelboats, windsurfers – just about everything except ice boats and foiling moths. She has represented Australia in Sailing at three Olympic Games (1988, 2004, 2008) and competed in numerous World, European and National Championships. Karyn is passionate about sharing her experiences and providing more opportunities for others to get into the sport of sailing.
Photo: Andrea Francolini
Bridget Canham
Sailing keelboats for over 46 years Bridget has cruised in South Africa, England, France, Greece and across the Atlantic from South Africa to the Amazon. Multiple Sydney to Hobart's with 'Women on Water' and in 2022 together with Kathy Veel were the first women to contest the S2H two-handed. Bridget also has experience building boats. She built a wooden dingy and helped build a Ross 35. She restored and raced her own 26ft folkboat. Bridget has volunteered with Sailor's with Making Waves Foundation and the State Emergency Service for the past 20 years.
Kathy Veel
Kathy began sailing as a young adult and has years of experience as owner/skipper of several small yachts, and thousands of miles of delivery and racing passages, mostly as skipper. She was part of the 1989 all-woman Sydney to Hobart crew and a founder member of Women on Water. Kathy's been a volunteer skipper with the Making Waves Foundation for over 10 years working with clients and crew with diverse abilities and challenges. In 2022 she and Bridget Canham competed two-handed in the Sydney-to Hobart in her 30’ yacht Currawong.
Lindy Hardcastle
A keen ocean-racer, Lindy has been competing internationally for over 35 years and has participated in a wide variety of events including the first ARC race crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 1986. Lindy has also competed in the Sydney to Hobart on Ella Bache with an all-female crew and is a regular guest on RSYS's Wine Dark Sea.
Photo: Andrea Francolini
Peta Norris
An instructor for women’s sailing programs at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club and is passionate about sharing her love of sailing and encouraging women to extend themselves in the sport. Peta races yachts inshore and offshore, from Elliott 6s to 46 footers, training and competing at every opportunity between full-time work and being a mum to two teenage girls. Highlights include competing in the Sydney to Hobart and Groupama races, Sailing Champions League and Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race.
Lisa Blair
After discovering sailing when she was 25 years old, in 2022 Lisa etched her name in history becoming the first woman to sail solo unassisted around Antarctica on her boat Climate Action Now. An Australian solo sailor who holds multiple world records. She is also an advocate for action against climate change. Lisa has sailed over 110,000 nm and holds an RYA Yacht Master offshore and is a proud Australian adventurer.
Annabelle Connery
Growing up in Canberra Annabelle competed in various youth classes at a national and international level before transitioning into the Squadron Keelboat Program where she was a member of RSYS’s Sailing Champions League team who won the open and u/22 Asia Pacific divisions as well as the u/22 Sailing Champions League World Championship final in Kiel, Germany. Annabelle is passionate about developing the skills of women in sailing and sharing this passion with those she teaches.
Nickie Jones
Australian Sailing's Chief Instructor of the Keelboat Programme Nickie has been racing competitively from age 11, her distinguished sailing career includes competing internationally in the 470 class and Windsurfer class; helming for the Fremantle SC’s Women’s Keelboat team in J24s, J22s, Farr 36s, S80s and Foundations 36 yachts; and several Offshore seasons.
Brooke Wilson
Brooke is an ILCA 6 sailor and the skipper of Amphitrite Racing, an all-female match racing team who represent the RSYS. Whilst pursuing a degree in medical science, she balances her studies with her love for sailing. Her most recent achievement was winning the 2024 ILCA 6 Australian Championships in Adelaide earlier this year and third in the Women's World Match Racing Tour event held in Denmark in August 2024.
Claudia Thackray
RSYS Member Claudia has competed at an international level as part of the Squadron Keelboat Program and regularly participates in the Club’s weekly racing. Claudia is also one of the Club’s senior coaches for the LOTS weekly keelboat training sessions.
Julie Clarke
RSYS Member and world-traveller, Julie has spent most of her life competing or cruising on yachts. Julie was the secretary of the International Dragon Association for eight years, competed in the Hong Kong Dragon team and also cruised around the world on a Jeanneau 49.
Marike Koppenol
An experienced offshore sailor and Australian Sailing Keelboat Instructor Marike has competed in five Sydney to Hobarts races, a round the world race 1999-2000, as well as multiple blue water and Sydney Harbour races since 2009. Marike loves being on the water, whether competing, instructing or sailing her Swanson Dart around the harbour. ”It’s a sport that continually challenges you … you never stop learning!”
Brittne Whitelaw
Brittne fell in love with Pilates early in her life when she found that by utilising it for injury rehabilitation she was able to stay competitive in gymnastics, ski racing and dance. Her Pilates experience now spans over 30 years having trained in physio clinics and studios from Colorado to NYC, London and Sydney. She has learned that true Pilates not only has the power to heal through movement but also prevent future injuries, enable optimal athletic performance and benefit overall health and wellness. Discover for yourself on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 7.15am.
Kris Kosmala
A 2004 Olympian Kristen sailed in the three person keelboat (Yngling) event with Nicky Bethwaite and Karyn Gojnich. She has contested many National and International Championships. A professional performance coach Kirstin helps teams identify and build processes and better communications.
Wendy Tuck
Wendy, the first woman to win the Clipper Round the World Skipper, a skipper on the 58ft yacht MAIDEN for The Maiden Factor Foundation, skippering from Sri Lanka to Los Angeles and much more. Now the On-Water Operations Manager for Making Waves Foundation. Multiple Sydney Hobart Yacht races, including more recently racing double handed, over 200 000 miles in charge at sea … and counting.
Past Events
Winners
Keelboat Female Crew: Anna Connery (Enigma), Jenny Farrell (CoCo), Genevive Slattery (Genevofa)
Keelboat Female Helm: Sandy Lawson (Rapunzel), Kylie Twible (Yvonne), Catherine Dickson (Norske)
One-Design Female Crew: Kristie Hatch (Elliott 1), Sara Ladd (Jabiru), Lovelle D'Souza (Yertle)
One-Design Female Helm: Megan Howard (Shining Star), Kim Ketelby (Anemology), Belinda Davey (Troika)
23 boats and 143 participants enjoyed a challenging weekend. Read the report from RSYS Member Jocelyn Webb here.
Winners
Keelboat Female Crew: Kirstin Reblin (Andiamo!)
Keelboat Female Helm: Amanda Hicks (Xena)
One-Design Female Crew: Victoria Rooyen (Elliott 3)
One-Design Female Helm: Clare Fraser (Black Adder)
‘Inspirational Women in Sailing’ Dinner and Presentation
The ‘Inspirational Women in Sailing’ dinner and presentation was the final event of the 2022 Ladies of the Sea Coaching Regatta and featured special speakers from the world of sailing.
In October 2022, our speakers were Vanessa Dudley, Lisa Blair, Nickie Jones and Nina Curtis.
Photos by Marg Fraser-Martin
Winners
Keelboat Female Crew: Enigma (Anna Connery)
Keelboat Female Helm: Euphoria (Peggy Sniffin)
One-Design Female Crew: Black Adder (Lauren Wall)
One-Design Female Helm: Holly (Jenna Searle)
‘Women Celebrate Sailing’ Dinner and Presentation
The ‘Women Celebrate Sailing’ dinner and presentation is the final event of the Ladies of the Sea Coaching Regatta and features special speakers from the world of sailing.
In January 2022, our keynote speaker was Nic Douglass, aka Adventures of a Sailor Girl.
Photos by Marg Fraser-Martin
Winners
Keelboat Female Crew: Zig Zag (Madi Korman – RSYS)
Keelboat Female Helm: Genovefa (Genevieve Slattery – RSYS)
One-Design Female Crew: Elliott 7 (Meika Wright – ADF)
One-Design Female Helm: Elliott 7 (Samantha Morley – ADF)
Photos by Marg Fraser-Martin
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