More than 120 sailors, volunteers, coaches, officials and supporters gathered at Middle Harbour Yacht Club for Australian Sailing’s SheSails Pathways & Networking Event on Friday 29 May, celebrating the many different pathways available within the sport and the importance of connection, visibility and opportunity for women in sailing.

Hosted by Nic Douglass, the evening brought together a diverse panel of women from across the sailing community, spanning leadership, volunteering, high performance, participation and club development.

Australian Sailing NSW General Manager, Niall Powers, welcomed attendees and reinforced the importance of continuing to build opportunities for women throughout the sport.

“SheSails is more than just a brand. It is a commitment to seeing gender equity in the sport,” Powers said.

The event featured three panel discussions, each exploring different pathways within sailing and the experiences of women contributing to the sport at all levels.

Image credit | Marg Fraser-Martin

The first panel focused on management, volunteering pathways and mentoring, featuring Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Vice Commodore Julia Hornsby, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron Vice Commodore and three-time Olympian Karen Gojnich, and Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Sailing Manager Tara Blanc-Ramos.

The conversation highlighted the importance of volunteering, visibility and leadership within clubs, as well as encouraging women to back themselves and step into opportunities.

“Sometimes women wait until they feel ready before putting themselves forward, whereas a lot of men will put themselves forward first and work it out later,” Blanc-Ramos said.

Hornsby encouraged attendees to trust themselves when opportunities arise.

“If somebody’s asked you to do a role and you think, ‘Well, I don’t think I’m really qualified,’ just say yes,” she said.

The second panel explored high performance pathways and mentoring, featuring Emma Rankin from the 18 Foot Skiff class, Sarah Lee from St. George Sailing Club, Molly Highfield from Australian Sailing and Katie Spithill from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

The discussion reflected on confidence, visibility and the expanding opportunities now available for women in sailing beyond traditional Olympic pathways.

“There hadn’t been many female skippers before, so it didn’t really feel like something that existed as an option,” Rankin said while discussing her experiences entering skiff sailing.

Highfield’s research into women’s sailing pathways also resonated strongly with the audience.

“It was never about the technical stuff. It was always about people,” Highfield said.

The final panel focused on participation, events and grassroots pathways within sailing, featuring Lisa Callaghan from Manly Yacht Club, Peta Rose from Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club and Eleanor Cunningham from Lake Macquarie Yacht Club.

The discussion centred around accessibility, welcoming environments and the importance of creating spaces where women feel comfortable entering and remaining in the sport.

“Sometimes people don’t need a huge speech or technical explanation. They just need someone to say hello,” Cunningham said.

Rose reflected on the importance of consistency and connection in building participation.

“The more opportunities you provide, the more people trust that they actually belong there,” she said.

The panel also highlighted the role clubs and communities play in creating long-term engagement within sailing, with Callaghan emphasising the importance of confidence and encouragement.

“Watching women who started terrified suddenly become the people welcoming others in, that’s probably my favourite thing,” Callaghan said.

Australian Sailing thanked Middle Harbour Yacht Club for hosting the event, along with all panellists and attendees for contributing to a successful evening of discussion, networking and shared experiences.

Image credit | Marg Fraser-Martin

Australian Sailing also acknowledged Nic Douglass for her role in coordinating and hosting the evening, which brought together sailors, volunteers, officials and club representatives from across New South Wales.

Throughout the evening, a consistent theme emerged around the importance of connection, mentorship and community in helping people find their place within the sport.

As attendees continued conversations long after the formal panels had concluded, the event reinforced the growing strength of the sailing community and the value of creating spaces where people feel welcomed, supported and encouraged to take the next step in their own pathway through sailing.