Tuesday’s Women’s Day at Cowes Week 2025 saw a first for leading yacht charter company Sunsail and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), as they fielded an all-female crew to take part in the iconic regatta.
The team, made up of women ranging from experienced RYA Yachtmasters to young talent and first-time racers, finished third in the Prometheus 41s class. But the race was about more than just results – it was a celebration of participation, visibility, and the growing role of women in a sport still shaped by tradition.
“This wasn’t about winning – it was about teamwork, confidence, adventure and connection” said Katrina Lawson, Head of Brand and Acquisitions at Sunsail. “Bringing together an all-women crew, led by experienced female skippers, is a powerful reminder that sailing can be open, collaborative, and led by people who don’t always get seen at the helm.”
The Sunsail/RYA team was the only all-female crew in the class. One of those on board was Kitty Williams, a rising talent whose sailing club received support through the joint Sunsail-RYA Funding the Future campaign in 2024.
“I only started sailing three years ago, and I never imagined I’d be racing at Cowes Week so soon,” said Kitty, 20. “It’s not just about the race – it’s about being seen, supported, and part of a crew where everyone brings something to the table.”
Women are sailing – but fewer are leading
Sunsail’s own customer data points a revealing picture. While slightly more women than men sail on Sunsail charters (51% vs 49%), just 7% of lead skippers are women.
“The appetite is clearly there. Women are sailing, training, and contributing at every level,” said Sunsail’s Katrina Lawson. “But too few are stepping into leadership roles as skipper. That’s a conversation we all need to have – across the industry.”
Richard Falk, RYA Director of Training, says: “Achieving greater representation in sailing both on the water and in leadership isn’t something any single organisation can deliver alone. It’s a challenge for the whole community, and one that starts with visibility of role models, of opportunities, and of the many ways people can get involved. We know our sector isn’t always seen as an obvious career path, which is why creating clearer pathways into jobs and training is such a critical part of shifting the system. While there’s more to do, we’re proud of the progress so far and since 2012, nearly a quarter of RYA Day Skipper certificates have been awarded to women. That’s a meaningful shift, and one we’re committed to building on, together with partners across the industry.”
A symbolic step – and a call for more
While the Cowes Week race was a one-off collaboration, both Sunsail and the RYA say it offered an important chance to listen, learn, and celebrate.
“This isn’t the end goal, but it’s a meaningful step,” said Katrina Lawson. “We know real change takes time. But giving visibility to women’s stories and leadership in sailing is something we can all start doing now.”
Meet the Crew
The Sunsail-RYA crew brought together a diverse group of women, from seasoned professionals to enthusiastic newcomers, each with their own journey into sailing:
Jennifer Ramsdale – Skipper
Jennifer left her corporate career in 2022 to pursue a life at sea. Now a full-time skipper and sailing instructor, she’s competed in major offshore races around the world, including the RORC Transatlantic Race, Sydney Hobart, Rolex Fastnet, and Caribbean 600. Much of her racing has been aboard charter yachts, mentoring new sailors through their first offshore adventures. When she’s not racing, she teaches Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses, sharing her passion for life on the water with the next generation.
Hattie Lewis
Hattie has been sailing since childhood and has raced XODs since 2013. After graduating University she started sailing full time and started working for Sunsail as a First Mate in the Summer of 2018 and has raced with the Sunsail fleet every Cowes Week since then. She is now a Yachmaster Instructor and spends most of her time teaching while still finding the opportunity to race whenever possible.
Lucy Castle
Lucy grew up immersed in club sailing. While she’s always loved the feeling of being on the water, it was the friendships, BBQs, and shared adventures that kept her coming back week after week. Now a Marketing Executive at Sunsail, she’s returned to racing for the first time in 17 years as part of the all-female crew at Cowes Week.
Natasha Nolty
Natasha grew up steeped in sailing tradition – her parents met in the 1970s while working for one of the original flotilla charter companies in the Greek islands, later joining the founders of Sunsail in the Bahamas. Family sailing holidays were a regular part of her childhood, from early adventures in Thailand to island-hopping in Greece. While she never progressed beyond “chief deckhand and salad-maker,” she’s excited to be part of the all-female crew at Cowes Week – and hopes this experience might finally spark her own love of sailing.
Kitty Williams
Kitty only discovered sailing three years ago at the age of 17, but from the very first sail, she was hooked. She now races GP14s, takes part in offshore voyages, and volunteers at her local club, supporting junior sailors and helping on safety boats. Kitty’s club received support through the Funding the Future programme, jointly run by Sunsail and the RYA, which helped open new doors for her development. She’s now completed several RYA courses and is passionate about encouraging other young people to give sailing a go.
Susie Moore
Susie has been on the water since she was just two weeks old, starting out on family adventures aboard a gaff-rigged Tamarisk 24 on the Solent. She grew up racing Optimists, Lasers, and later yachts, proudly representing England at the Student Yachting Worlds during university. A qualified RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper, Susie has competed in major offshore events including the Fastnet Race, while leading her J/111 crew to wins in Solent regattas like the Taittinger and Dartmouth. As RYA South Regional Manager, she champions inclusive participation and the benefits of water-based sports, passing on her lifelong passion for sailing to the next generation.
Zoe Dupuy
Zoe fell in love with sailing after a holiday in Turkey at age 11 — and quickly turned that passion into performance. She went on to race 29ers as part of the Scottish squad and later became Vice Commodore of the University of Aberdeen Sailing Club, braving year-round Firefly racing in the North Sea. After instructing in Greece and delivering yachts off Scotland’s west coast, Zoe moved south to pursue a career in sailing-focused marketing. She has since worked for North Sails, Garmin, and now the RYA, where she is Digital Marketing Manager.
Philippa Steventon
Philippa Steventon learnt to sail as a child at Blithfield Sailing Club in the Midlands, and on family holidays to Salcombe Harbour. After a career break to take part in the 2005-06 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, she decided to leave the corporate world behind, gaining her Yachtmaster qualification and going on to work at a training and charter company for several years. In 2019 she and her family, including two young sons, embarked on a 4 year sailing adventure around the Mediterranean and across the Atlantic on their Bowman 40, Bella.