New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship: Invited skippers announcement no. 4
by New York Yacht Club 23 Jul 10:26 PDT
September 12-19, 2025
`ORC race boats`, `PHRF Race boats`, Newport, regatta Hosted by the New York Yacht Club - Harbour Court in Newport, Rhode Island © Paul Todd / Outside Images
The final group of skippers to be announced for the 2026 New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship radiates enthusiasm for this groundbreaking opportunity in one of the world's most famous sailing cities.
"The 2026 International Women's Championship is unique as it brings together a field of the very best female sailors from perhaps every high-performance class, all for one regatta," says Lisa Ross, who will lead the Canadian Kairos Racing team. "We are excited about racing within the IC37 fleet and the platform it gives our athletes, challenging their teamwork, communication and technical skills. The Championship is creating space for female sailors to excel on and off the water, values that align with the mission of Kairos Racing."
The final group of five invited skippers for the 2025 New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship includes: Giulia Conti (ITA), Karyn Gojnich (AUS), Lisa Ross (CAN), Lena Weißkichel (GER) and Katrina Williams (BER). The complete list of 20 invited skippers can be viewed here.
The inaugural edition of the New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship will take place September 12 to 19 at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, R.I. The regatta will utilize the Club's fleet of 20 IC37s. The 37-foot keelboat was designed by Mark Mills to a brief developed by the Club. The IC37 is a powerful, sporty platform that rewards cohesive crew work and athleticism. The International Women's Championship is supported by founding partner Rolex and regatta sponsor Helly Hansen.
Joining Lisa Ross on Kairos Racing will be three sailors with Olympic experience: Georgia and Antonia Lewin-Lafrance and Annie Haeger, who is also an integral member of the Canadian SailGP team.
"Our preliminary preparation is already under way," says Ross. "We have identified key training blocks throughout the next 18 months leading up to the event. Our plan includes targeting regattas and training opportunities to refine communication, boat handling and tactical decision-making as a team, as well as familiarizing ourselves with the IC37 platform. We are also working with experienced coaches and advisors to help us optimize our performance on race day."
Karyn Gojnich is no stranger to paradigm-shifting regattas. She sailed in the Women's 470 Class in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the first women's class in Olympics sailing history. She narrowly missed selection in 1992 and 2000, but returned to Olympic competition in the Yngling in 2004 and 2008. Gojnich is currently Vice Commodore for the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and views this event as a top-notch competition and a platform to empower the next generation of female Australian sailors.
"I am a huge advocate for promoting female participation in sailing," says Gojnich. "Events that bring women together are not only great fun but play an important part in building skills and confidence. Women's sailing has been the growth area at our club for a number of years now."
While there are no IC37s in Australia on which to train, Gojnich is already formulating a plan to get her team up to speed.
"I am very excited to see Katie Spithill announced as a skipper," she says. "Katie's club, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, and Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron have a very close working relationship and I expect that our teams will be able to work together so that we are better prepared to take on the other teams represented at the event."
Lena Weißkichel will lead the Magenta Project's entry into the 2026 New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship. According to the team's application, the team will prioritize "assembling a crew that reflects a diverse range of experiences, nationalities, and skill set. What unites us is a shared commitment to excellence, collaboration, and the belief that representation matters. Each member brings not only technical skill but also a passion for advancing women in sailing."
"I am very excited to be on the helm of this project," says Weißkichel, who has experience in Olympic classes, offshore races and shorthanded competition. "I think we have a great team with women from very diverse backgrounds and a strong support network from the Magenta Project. We are looking forward to learning lots, growing together as a team and making some amazing memories."
Leading the team representing the island nation of Bermuda is Katrina Williams. Her team will blend experience—including that of three former Olympians—with emerging talent pulled from the country's youth programs.
"I want to be part of amplifying that message and showing young sailors—especially in Bermuda—that there are meaningful opportunities to stay in the sport beyond high school, college or the Olympic path," says Williams. "Julia (Lines) and I are both deeply committed to developing Bermudian sailing talent, and this regatta is an ideal stage to represent our community while continuing to compete at a high level. We've raced together at the 2025 NYYC Team Race World Championship, and I competed in the 2024 NYYC Women's Invitational in Sonars—experiences that reinforced how important visibility and access are for the future of women's sailing."
The final invited skipper to be announced may well be the most accomplished of the lot. Giulia Conti has competed in four Olympic games, won world and European championship in the 49erFX class and was one of the helms for the winning boat in the PUIG Women's America's Cup regatta last fall. She's also the 2015 Italian Sailor of the Year and the 2020 US Sailing Coach of the Year.
"After winning the first PUIG Women's America's Cup, I feel a responsibility to keep pushing for visibility and excellence in women's sailing," says Conti. "What makes this event particularly interesting is not only the high level of competition, but also the emphasis on team performance in a one-design keelboat format, just like the AC40s in the America's Cup. It is going to be a true test of sailing skills, communication and leadership."
Conti notes that her team may not come in with a ton of keelboat racing experience, but she is confident they will quickly make up that deficit.
"Many of us have backgrounds outside of traditional keelboat racing: some come from foiling, Olympic classes or offshore sailing," she says. "I think we will bring a mix of perspectives and techniques, which hopefully will help us improve fast on [IC37s]."
2026 New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship Sept. 12 to 19, 2026 Newport, R.I. - Invited Skippers
Ragna Agerup (NOR), Nicole Breault (USA), Giulia Conti (ITA), Marie Klok Crump (DEN), Hannah Diamond (GBR), Karleen Dixon (NZL), Sarah Douglas (CAN), Karyn Gojnich (AUS), Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick (USA), Julia Gross (SWE), Michelle Lahrkamp (USA), Dominique Proyoveur (RSA), Lisa Ross (CAN), Katie Spithill (AUS), Hannah Swett (USA), Laura van Veen (NED), Lena Weißkichel (GER), Katrina Williams (BER), Christina Wolfe (USA) and Lijia Xu (CHN).