East Fremantle Yacht Club is proud to have been named the 2026 SheSails Award winner at the Australian Sailing WA Sailing Awards, held on Friday 11 September at Fremantle Sailing Club.
The award recognises EFYC’s ongoing commitment to increasing and supporting women’s participation in sailing, and our work to create welcoming pathways for women to learn, develop their skills and build confidence on the water.
It is a wonderful recognition of the growing women’s sailing community at EFYC and the many people who have helped make these opportunities possible.
Creating More Opportunities for Women on the Water
Over the past year, EFYC has continued to expand its women’s sailing programs, providing opportunities for women at different stages of their sailing journey — from those stepping onto a boat for the first time to women developing their skills and getting involved in competitive racing.
Through initiatives including the Women’s Twilight Keelboat Program, Women on Board development program and the Sail Our Way Women’s Keelboat Regatta, approximately 100 women have been engaged in sailing.
Many participants came to the programs with little or no previous sailing experience, creating an important entry point into the sport.
The Women’s Twilight Keelboat Program has provided women with the opportunity to sail regularly in a supportive environment, while the Women on Board program has helped participants continue developing their skills and confidence.
The Sail Our Way Women’s Keelboat Regatta then brought women together for a day of racing, competition and connection on the Swan River.
From Learning to Racing
One of the most rewarding parts of these programs has been seeing women progress beyond their first sailing experience and become more involved across the Club.
Women who have participated in development programs are now getting involved in keelboat and dinghy racing, building their skills and becoming an increasingly visible part of the Club’s sailing community.
This progression is exactly what these programs aim to encourage — creating a pathway where women can start by simply giving sailing a go, develop their confidence and skills, and ultimately find their place within the wider sailing community.
A Celebration of the People Behind the Programs
While the SheSails Award recognises the work of East Fremantle Yacht Club, it also belongs to the many people who have contributed to making these programs successful.
We would like to thank our coaches, volunteers, organisers, supporters, sponsors and participants, as well as everyone who has helped create an environment where women feel welcome and encouraged to get on the water.
Most importantly, we thank all the women who have taken the opportunity to step aboard, learn something new, challenge themselves and become part of the EFYC sailing community.
Thank You, Australian Sailing WA
A special thank you to Australian Sailing WA for recognising our efforts with the 2026 SheSails Award.
We also congratulate all the clubs, organisations and individuals who were nominated and recognised at this year’s awards. There is some fantastic work happening across sailing in Western Australia, with clubs and volunteers continuing to make a positive difference and create new opportunities within our sport.
We are proud to be part of that community.
The SheSails Award is an exciting milestone for EFYC, but the work doesn’t stop here.
We look forward to continuing to create opportunities for more women and girls to discover sailing, develop their skills, build confidence and enjoy everything that life on the water has to offer.
Here’s to more women on the water. ⛵️💜