SSCBC's All-Female Crew Leads the Charge at Couta Boat National Championships
by Hollie Hick 9 Oct 20:06 PDT
The crew of Wattle at the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club in Point Piper © SSCBC
Sorrento sailors showcase the success of SSCBC's commitment to female participation, leadership and opportunity in sailing
The waters of Pittwater and Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, including Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Sydney Amateur Sailing Club and Avalon Sailing Club, are playing host to the 2026 Couta Boat National Championships this October, and one crew is capturing particular attention. Representing Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club (SSCBC), an all-female crew aboard the 98-year-old heritage Couta Boat Wattle is competing against some of the nation's most experienced sailors, demonstrating how women are increasingly shaping the future of the sport.
The Couta Boat Association National Championships are held in New South Wales every four years, ordinarily held off the waters of SSCBC, Victoria every December. When SSCBC member Russell Barrett offered his beautifully restored Division 1 Couta Boat Wattle for competition, the crew jumped at the opportunity. Following routine winter maintenance at The Wooden Boatshop in Sorrento, Wattle made the journey north on the back of a truck, race-ready and carrying with her a powerful message about participation, inclusion and leadership.
While SSCBC has earned national recognition for excellence, including being named Australian Sailing Victorian Club of the Year in 2024 and Discover Sailing Centre of the Year in 2025, the Club's greatest achievement may be the growing number of women stepping into leadership roles both on and off the water.
At the heart of SSCBC's five-year vision, Sailing for All, Sailing for Life, is a commitment to creating pathways that make sailing accessible, welcoming and rewarding for everyone. Through Learn to Sail programs, mentoring initiatives and targeted participation programs, the Club is working to ensure more women and girls see sailing not only as a sport they can enjoy, but one in which they can lead.
The all-female crew aboard Wattle reflects that vision in action.
At the helm is Olympian Tess Lloyd, who represented Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the 49erFX class and has become a passionate advocate for youth development and female participation in sailing. Joining her are Camilla Graves, Tonia Grimshaw-Lloyd, Jacqui Fairbairn, Anna Davison, Fiona Kemp, Grace Clarke, Sienna Ryan, Tracey Hughes and Henrieta McKay.
For Camilla Graves, the opportunity to compete at a national level aboard Wattle is the latest chapter in a remarkable journey of leadership and advocacy. A finalist for the 2026 Australian Sailing Victoria She Sails Sailor of the Year Award and recipient of SSCBC's inaugural Margie Marks She Sails Award, Graves has been instrumental in developing the Club's Learn to Sail Couta Boat program. She also regularly skippers SSCBC's 100-year-old Couta Boat Ripple, competing successfully against a predominantly male fleet and inspiring a new generation of women sailors.
"Seeing women move from participation to leadership roles on and off the water is exactly what SSCBC is working to achieve" said SSCBC’s Commodore Scott Llewelyn. “The crew on Wattle is a wonderful example of what happens when opportunities are created, barriers are removed and women are encouraged to back themselves."
Earlier this year, with support from the Australian Sailing Sail Our Way Grant, SSCBC hosted the highly successful Lady Skippers Couta Boat Race. The event attracted 180 sailors across 33 boats and celebrated female leadership, skill development and community participation within the sport. Events like these are helping create a stronger, more visible pathway for women to develop confidence, experience and leadership on the water.
The crew of Wattle now carries that momentum into one of Australia's most prestigious heritage sailing events, representing not only SSCBC but also the growing movement of women making their mark in competitive sailing.
As racing continues over the coming weekends, SSCBC encourages the Mornington Peninsula community to get behind the crew and celebrate what they represent: greater inclusion, stronger participation and a future where women and girls see sailing as a sport without limits.