State Street Investment Management SPY named as presenting sponsor for Inaugural Women Championship

by New York Yacht Club 28 Aug 15:28 EST September 12-19, 2026

With less than two weeks until the first starting gun is fired, the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women's International Championship continues to make waves, this time with the announcement of State Street Investment Management and its SPY exchange-traded fund (ETF) as the regatta's presenting sponsor.

The investment manager will join founding sponsor Rolex, official apparel sponsor Helly Hansen and official supplier Palm Beach Motor Yachts in backing this groundbreaking and highly anticipated regatta.

"Launching a new regatta is a big leap of faith, especially when you're hoping teams will travel from around the world to compete," said Clare G. Harrington, the New York Yacht Club's 70th Commodore. "But the confidence in the concept displayed by State Street Investment Management and SPY, one of the world's largest ETFs, along with Rolex, our longtime sponsor, Helly Hansen, Palm Beach Motor Yachts and the nearly 50 skippers from around the world that applied to compete has more than validated the Club's decision to create this event. We can't wait to see some of the best women sailors in the world racing in our fleet of IC37 raceboats."

"The women competing in this regatta have spent years earning their place at the top of the sport," added Anna Paglia, Chief Business Officer at State Street Investment Management. "Their stories are about ambition, determination, and performance under pressure. Those qualities resonate deeply with us, which is why we're proud to support an event that creates a global stage for the next generation of sailing talent."

The inaugural edition of the New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship Presented by State Street Investment Management SPY 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 Women's International Championship is also supported by founding partner Rolex, regatta sponsor Helly Hansen and official supplier Palm Beach Motor Yachts. The list of competing skippers can be viewed here.

When the regatta was announced nearly 18 months ago, the response from female sailors around the world was overwhelming. The selection committee had the difficult task of selecting 20 skippers from a list of 49 accomplished applicants. The resulting field includes five American and 15 international skippers representing multiple generations of elite sailing talent, including pioneering women who competed in the inaugural women's-only Olympic sailing competition in 1988, challenged for the America's Cup in 1995 and raced in the most recent Women's America's Cup.

"While the IC37 class is focused on amateur competitors, we wanted to make sure the field for the inaugural Women's International Championship was truly the best of the best so there is no prohibition against professional sailors participating in the Women's International Championship," says Event Chair Cory Sertl, a former Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and current World Sailing Vice President. "Nonetheless, we were so impressed by the caliber of the sailors who applied. These skippers have since filled out their rosters with an equally talented group of tacticians, trimmers, bowwomen and other crew. We have every expectation that the level of competition at this event will match that of the coed Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup run biennially in odd-numbered years."

With the regatta just a few weeks away, the competing teams are at the tail end of their respective training programs, which have included racing in IC37 regattas in Newport and training at their respective home clubs in IC37s and similar boats. More than a dozen teams will take advantage of an optional practice period in the three days leading up to the official start of the regatta on September 12. Three more days of official practice will be followed by five days of competition on Rhode Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. The event will conclude with an Awards Banquet at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court on Saturday, September 19. To follow the event as it happens, be sure to sign up for the Club's Instagram and Facebook accounts.