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.

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.

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.

Vanessa Dudley

Vanessa is highly accomplished in both dinghy and keelboat sailing. Among her many achievements, she completed her 25th Sydney to Hobart in 2023, becoming only the third woman to reach this milestone. Her ocean-racing experience also includes two transatlantic crossings and numerous Australian coastal and offshore campaigns. A trailblazer as one of the first women skippers in 18-foot skiffs, Vanessa retains her passion for small boat sailing in the ICLA (Laser) class, where she races in the Masters Radial fleets open to men and women.
 

Claudia Thackray

Gretel Payne

Susan Walters

Ali Braden