A New Era for Women’s Sailing: Inside the Inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship

Women’s sailing is entering a new era.

The inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship is bringing together sailors from across the world for a week of high-level keelboat racing in Newport, Rhode Island. With Olympic medalists, professional sailors, match racers, offshore sailors and emerging talent all stepping onto the same starting line, the event represents something much bigger than another regatta.

In this episode of the Gybe Set Sailor Stories Podcast, we speak with event chair Cory Sertl about the vision behind the championship and its connection to the historic International Women’s Keelboat Championship. We also hear from Swedish sailor Ida Svensson, who is leading the Royal Swedish Yacht Club challenge.

Together, their stories offer two perspectives on the same question: what happens when women are given the opportunity to gain experience at the highest levels of sailing?

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship
01:40 Sandra & Cory About the New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship
08:57 Why Women’s Sailing Is Gaining Momentum
18:03 Sandra & Ida About Taking on the Swedish Challenge
25:31 Why This Is a Starting Point & A New Generation of Female Sailors

From Dream to Championship

The inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship has been years in the making. Event chair Cory Sertl shares the story behind the event, its connection to the historic International Women’s Keelboat Championship, and why the response — with more than 40 teams wanting to compete — has been so significant.

Cory is an experienced IC37 racer herself. Here, captured at the helm.

At the heart of the championship is a simple idea: creating more opportunities for women to gain experience and take responsibility in high-level keelboat sailing.

Cory talks about the importance of mentorship and bringing different generations of sailors together, while also looking at the growing momentum behind women’s sailing and what events like this could mean for the future.

The Swedish Challenge

We also hear from Swedish sailor Ida Svensson, who is leading the Royal Swedish Yacht Club team.

The Royal Swedish Yacht Club team. Ida Svensson in the middle of the photo.

With a crew combining Olympic experience, professional sailors and emerging talent, Ida shares the challenges of building a team and preparing for the IC37 championship with limited time in the boat.

Stronger Pathways Going Forward

For both Cory and Ida, the championship is about more than what happens on the water in Newport.

It is about giving women the opportunity to build experience, confidence and connections — and creating a stronger pathway for the next generation of sailors.