SHAW AND PARTNERS FINANCIAL SERVICES BACKS WOMEN RACING AHEAD OF HISTORIC NEW YORK YACHT CLUB WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Shaw and Partners Women Racing today officially launched its campaign for the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship, announcing Shaw and Partners Financial Services as the team’s naming rights partner.
Founded by Katie Spithill and Stacey Jackson, Shaw and Partners Women Racing brings together some of Australia’s most accomplished female sailors with a shared vision of creating meaningful opportunities for women to compete, develop and succeed at the highest levels of sailing.
Co-Founder and Skipper Katie Spithill said Women Racing had always been about building something much bigger than a single campaign.
“Women Racing was never intended to be a single campaign or a single regatta. It was created to bring together exceptional women, create opportunities, and build a platform that continues to grow long after the finish line. The inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship is an incredible place to begin that journey, but it’s only the first chapter of what we hope Women Racing will become.”
Co-Founder and Crew Boss Stacey Jackson said the opportunity to represent Australia was matched by the responsibility to help create more opportunities for women in the sport.
“We’ve all spent our careers chasing opportunities to compete at the highest level. The Shaw and Partners Women Racing campaign is about making sure those opportunities continue to grow for the women coming after us. To be part of the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship is incredibly special, and I’m proud to be part of a team that’s focused on both performance and the bigger picture. Doing it alongside crew who are also great mates makes it even more rewarding.”
Also supporting the campaign are Platinum Partners Palm Beach Motor Yachts and Buckingham Marine Services, together with Supporting Partners Vaikobi, Oroton and the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, helping create a sustainable platform for high-performance women’s sailing that extends well beyond a single regatta.
The team’s first international campaign will see Shaw and Partners Women Racing compete in the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship, bringing together leading yacht clubs from around the world for one of the most significant new events on the global sailing calendar.
Earl Evans, CEO of Shaw and Partners said:
“Backing people to perform at their best is at the heart of what we do at Shaw and Partners Financial Services.
Women Racing is about much more than a single regatta; it’s about creating opportunities, inspiring future generations and showing what can be achieved when talented people are given the support to succeed.
We’re proud to stand alongside this team as Naming Rights Partner and wish them every success at the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship.”
The official launch was held at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron before the team departed for a training session on Sydney Harbour, marking the formal beginning of the campaign under the new name.
Looking beyond New York, Spithill said the campaign represented another important milestone in the continued evolution of Women Racing.
“Women Racing has always been about creating opportunities for exceptional women to come together, challenge themselves and compete at the highest level. This team is the next chapter in that journey. The inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship gives us an incredible opportunity to showcase what’s possible, while continuing to build something that extends well beyond a single event or campaign.”
Women Racing combines Olympic, world championship and elite sailing experience with a commitment to fostering participation, excellence and long-term growth in women’s sailing. The team brings together athletes from across Australia who share a passion for elite competition while creating greater visibility and opportunities for women in the sport.
The squad includes Olympians, world champions, Admiral’s Cup winners, world record holders and internationally recognised sailors, demonstrating the depth of Australian female talent while creating a platform that supports both high performance and the next generation of women entering the sport.
As Shaw and Partners Women Racing begins its first international campaign, the team hopes to inspire more women and girls to pursue competitive sailing while demonstrating the strength, professionalism and depth of female talent within Australian sailing.
NYYC TEAM
Katie Spithill – Co-Founder & Skipper
Stacey Jackson – Co-Founder, Crew Boss & Trimmer
Emma Roberts – Team Communication & Logistics Manager, Mast
Nina Curtis – Trimmer
Tara Blanc-Ramos – Bow
Clare Costanzo – Tactician
Alice Parker – Runners / Strategy
Sarah Parker – Mainsheet
Juliet Costanzo – Grinder
Abby Ehler – Pit
SQUAD
Katherine Dawson
Jess Angus
Angela Farrell
Nicole Butcher
Bayley Taylor
Lisa Denvir
Jemma Hodgson
Georgia Tuckey
Ruby Sholten
PARTNERS
Title Partner
Shaw and Partners Financial Services
Platinum Partners
Palm Beach Motor Yachts
Buckingham Marine Services
Supporting Partners
Vaikobi
Oroton
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
ABOUT THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL
The inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International will be held from 12 to 19 September 2026 at New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
Hosted by the New York Yacht Club, the event will bring together 20 teams representing leading yacht clubs from around the world to compete in the Club’s fleet of one-design IC37 keelboats.
The regatta includes two official practice days followed by five days of racing, with competitors sailing identical boats to ensure the focus remains on teamwork, tactics and sailing performance.
The 2026 New York Yacht Club Women’s International is supported by founding partner Rolex.
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