Three days of close, tactical racing came to a conclusion at Fremantle Sailing Club on Sunday September 13, wrapping up the 2026 Australian Women’s Match Racing Championship and another strong showcase of women’s sailing on the waters off Fremantle.
Six teams from Western Australia and New South Wales contested the national title in Elliott 7s, with three Round Robins determining the top four teams to advance to Sunday’s semi-finals and finals. The Championship was hosted by Fremantle Sailing Club in conjunction with Australian Sailing.
Conditions varied across the three days, testing teams in everything from light northerlies and flat water on Friday to a south-westerly on Saturday and another light and challenging day for Sunday’s Finals Series.
The opening day set the tone for a closely fought Championship. After two Round Robins, Mia Lovelady (Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club) and Chelsea Williams (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia) were tied at the top of the standings with seven wins each, with Isabella Holdsworth (Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club) close behind on six.
Photos: Bernie Kaaks and Freemantle Sailing Club, September 10 2026 racing
Tight mark roundings, lead changes and penalties featured throughout the Round Robin Series, with little separating the leading teams.
Saturday saw the third Round Robin completed, with Williams and Lovelady again finishing level at the top of the standings on 10 wins apiece. Williams held the tie-break after winning two of their three head-to-head matches, while Holdsworth finished third and Fremantle Sailing Club’s Sophie Jackson moved into fourth to secure the final place in the knock-out stage.
As the top-ranked skipper, Williams selected Jackson as her semi-final opponent, leaving Lovelady to face Holdsworth in the second semi-final.
Sunday’s Finals Series delivered another competitive day on the water. Williams defeated Jackson 3–1 to progress to the Championship Final, while Lovelady also secured a 3–1 victory over Holdsworth.
That set up a final between the two teams that had been closely matched at the top of the standings throughout the Championship.
Williams and her Cruising Yacht Club of Australia team of Maddy McLeay, Paige Caldecott, Clare Cini and Ali Braden produced a strong final series, defeating Lovelady 3–0 to claim the 2026 Australian Women’s Match Racing Championship title.
In the Petit Final, Holdsworth and Jackson battled through three matches, with Holdsworth taking the series 2–1 to secure third place. Heidi Ferguson (CYCA) defeated Kirstin Norris (South of Perth Yacht Club) 2–0 in the fifth and sixth place sail-off.
The Championship brought together a competitive mix of established and emerging match racers from across Australia, continuing to provide an important national platform for women to compete in high-level match racing.
Principal Race Officer Rob Hubbard, together with the Race Committee Carolyne Bush and Amanda Casebier, umpires and on-water support teams, managed three days of racing across changing conditions.
Fremantle Sailing Club also acknowledges the many volunteers, officials and Club staff who contributed throughout the Championship, both on and off the water, and helped deliver another successful national event in Fremantle.
The 2026 Australian Women’s Match Racing Championship was proudly supported by the City of Fremantle, continuing its support of the Championship across the 2025 and 2026 editions. Mayor Ben Lawver joined the Club for Sunday’s Prize Giving, celebrating the Championship alongside competitors, officials, volunteers and supporters.
Fremantle Sailing Club also thanks Di Latte Estate and North Sails for their support of the 2026 Championship, alongside Australian Sailing and its SheSails initiative.
Full Championship results and race details are available at: fremantlesailingclub.com.au/awmatchracing2026
FINAL RESULTS
1st Chelsea Williams | Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
Maddy McLeay, Paige Caldecott, Clare Cini, Ali Braden
2nd Mia Lovelady | Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club
Rosie Rowell, Ethany Bates, Klara Travlos, Greta Carroll
3rd Isabella Holdsworth | Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
Annabelle Sampson, Victoria Lin, Isabella Primrose, Hayley Fisher
4th Sophie Jackson | Fremantle Sailing Club
Georgia Payne, Ona Rafart, Jacqueline Harding/Caitlin Shaw, Fallon Katz
5th Heidi Ferguson | Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
Charlotte Toll, Kelly Su, Isabella Armistead, Lucia Urgel
6th Kirstin Norris | South of Perth Yacht Club
Sonja Vlaar, Annika Pennifold, Mara Lowry
Photo: Bernie Kaaks and Freemantle Sailing Club
Inaugural New York Championship
In related news, the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship is currently running from 12 to 19 September 2026 at New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, and includes a RPAYC Women's Team along with a Women's Team from the RSYS.
Invited Skippers: Ragna Agerup (NOR), Nicole Breault (USA), Marie Klok Crump (DEN), Hannah Diamond (GBR), Sarah Douglas (CAN), Eliane Fierro (MEX), Karyn Gojnich (AUS), Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick (USA), Ida Svensson (SWE), Michelle Lahrkamp (USA), Dominique Proyoveur (RSA), Lisa Ross (CAN), Katie Spithill (AUS), Hannah Swett (USA), Megan Thomson (NZL), Laura van Veen (NED), Lena Weißkichel (GER), Katrina Williams (BER), Christina Wolfe (USA) and Lijia Xu (CHN).
The New York Yacht Club said:
''The first group of invited skippers included Marie Klok Crump (DEN), Hannah Diamond (GBR), Karleen Dixon (NZL), Michelle Lahrkamp (USA) and Katie Spithill (AUS).''
''Katie Spithill’s introduction to sailing came at the age of 5 when she started crewing for her brother James, who went on to make a name for himself in the America’s Cup. Katie Spithill developed into an accomplished match racer in her own right, finishing on the podium at two editions of the Women’s Match Racing World Championship. Of late, she has led all-female teams to top finishes in some of Australia’s most prestigious big-boat competitions, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Among the credentialed athletes that will be joining Sptihill's Women's Racing AUS squad is Ocean Race veteran Stacey Jackson. ''
“We were drawn to the 2026 International Women's Championship because it represents a landmark moment in high-performance women’s sailing,” says Spithill. “With elite all-female teams from around the world, including Olympians, world champions, SailGP athletes and America’s Cup sailors, the event promises a high level of competition. It’s a chance to help write sporting history, showcase Australian sailing talent and support the global push for greater female representation in elite sport.”
RPAYC, with the majority of the team being Club members. Representing Women's 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
Representing the RSYS team in Newport is:
- Karyn Gojnich OLY – Team leader, Co-helm and Float, RSYS Vice Commodore and three-time Olympian
- Annie Wilmot – Tactician, 49erFX sailor campaigning for LA 2028 Olympics, port trimmer on Andoo Team Australia for the first ever Women's America's Cup.
- Mina Ferguson – Co-helm, WAZSP Female Vice World Champion, currently campaigning for Moth World Championship
- Emily Keg – Main trimmer, RSYS SKP graduate, Australian Women’s Match Racing winner and regular crew on RSYS Kerr 40 Minerva
- Annabel Connery – Jib/Spinnaker Trimmer, RSYS SKP graduate, Sailing Champions League Youth Team member, J/70 sailor, regular crew on RSYS Kerr 40 Minerva
- India Gilbert – Jib/Spinnaker Trimmer, RSYS SKP graduate, 420s, 470s, 49erFX, World Match Racing tour, Women’s World Match Racing tour, J70s, Etchells and yacht fleet racing. Campaigning in the International 470 for LA 2028 Olympics
- Clare Crosswaite – Pit, Elliott 7 skipper, Elan S3, Far East 28, Etchells and J70 sailor.
- Susan Hardy – Mast, Fleet racer, including RSYS yacht Andiamo!, 2026 RSYS Crewperson of the Year.
- Vicki Kornman – Bow, One design sailing including ILCA Nationals, J70 State and Nationals
Background in August 2026 report: Womens Racing Team Sets Sail for Inaugural New York Championship
More at: nyyc.org/2026-womenschamp
2026 Australian Women’s Match Racing Championship report by Australian Sailing, Photos: (top) Tidal Media, and September 10 2026 at Freemantle Sailing Club by Bernie Kaaks (within report)