Participation, Pathways, Podium and Beyond - Elevating Women in Australian Sailing
by Lisa Darmanin / AST 6 Mar 09:14 NZDT
Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot lead the fleet at 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by Iberostar © Sailing Energy
This International Women's Day, the Australian Sailing Team (AST) reaffirms its commitment to empowering female athletes with the foundations to succeed on the world stage. Progress is ongoing, but the momentum in women's sailing is undeniable - driven by talent, opportunity, and a culture of support.
Australia's female sailors are proving their strength in international competition, already pushing towards LA2028. In the ILCA 6 squad, fierce internal competition fosters a culture of excellence, where women challenge each other and raise the standard for success. This depth is not just about individual results but about building a team that supports and elevates each other, creating repeatable podium performances.
In the 49erFX squad, experience meets emerging talent. Young sailors learn from seasoned campaigners, gaining the skills and confidence to compete at the highest level. This dynamic and evolving squad is growing stronger with every cycle.
The introduction of mixed-gender Olympic events, such as the Nacra 17 and 470 classes, has been a powerful step toward equality in sailing. These events showcase how women and men can compete together and against one another on a level playing field, demonstrating the synergy that makes mixed teams so successful.
Groundbreaking research, based within Australian Sailing's National Training Centre in collaboration with the University of Canberra, is helping better understand and support women in their sailing careers. This study examines the full journey of female sailors, from their first club experiences to elite-level competition.
"We're not just looking at individual performances—we're learning from the entire talent development environment," says PhD candidate Molly Highfield. "By identifying barriers and enablers, we can create a more effective and inclusive pathway for female sailors."
The first phase gathered insights from female athletes at various levels, alongside a broader survey of stakeholders involved in Olympic sailing development pathways. Highfield expressed gratitude to those who have contributed, emphasising that their insights are shaping evidence-based strategies to improve policies, training environments, and support systems for female athletes.
Beyond competition, the AST is committed to supporting women in sailing beyond their racing careers, ensuring pathways into leadership, coaching, and professional roles. Dual Olympian Sarah Ogilvie (née Blanck) is now Head of Sport Development & Growth at Australian Sailing, while Olympic medallist Lisa Darmanin serves as the AST Media Officer.
Former elite sailors, including Haylee Outteridge and Amelia Catt, are also driving the next generation's success in high-performance pathways roles. Haylee was recently promoted to High Performance Pathways Manager and Amelia is part of this year's intake of the AIS's National Generation 2032 Coach Program - a coach apprenticeship program for early career high performance coaches.
As part of its High Performance Strategic Priorities the AST is dedicated to improving gender balance in performance pathways and expanding the depth and breadth of medal-winning female athletes. This International Women's Day, we celebrate progress, recognise ongoing challenges, and reaffirm our commitment to a future where every female sailor has the support and opportunity to succeed.