An All-Female Sailing Team Takes to the Waters of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2026

Article by Dr. Karolina Stefanski — 29 September 2026

Seven women, one yacht, one shared passion: SY Nostromino II brings together an international female crew under the Gstaad Yacht Club burgee. Boat Attitude International will be following the all-female crew of SY Nostromino II on 1 October during Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2026, for a special on-the-water report capturing the team, the racing and the spirit of this unique initiative.

Sailing aboard Sir Andrew Cook’s Wally Nano, the seven-woman international crew will compete under the burgee of the Gstaad Yacht Club. Boat Attitude International will be there to follow their journey on the water and behind the scenes.

Stay connected as we bring you closer to the crew, the yacht and the action from Saint-Tropez.

An international all-female crew

An all-female sailing team will make its debut at this year’s Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez aboard SY Nostromino II, a Wally Nano sailing yacht generously provided and sponsored by Sir Andrew Cook.

Sailing under the burgee of the Gstaad Yacht Club (GYC), Switzerland, the newly assembled team brings together women from different sailing backgrounds, united by their passion for the sea, competitive sailing and the opportunity to participate in one of the Mediterranean’s most celebrated regattas. The initiative represents an exciting milestone for the crew, who will come together for the first time as a team at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2026.

Meet the all-female crew

The team has been assembled by Poppy Neill of the Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC), who will also serve as Team Captain.

The crew brings together sailors with complementary skills and experience:

Crew Member	Yacht Club	Position

Poppy Neill

Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC)

Team Captain

Hannah Bibby

Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC)

Bow

Fenella Neill

Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC)

Mainsail

Catherine Brooke

—

Tactician

Monique

Hayling Island Sailing Club (HISC)

Helm

Ceci Wollmann

Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC)

Trimmer

Dr. Karolina Stefanski

Gstaad Yacht Club (GYC)

Team Manager & Public Relations

While the sailors bring their own individual experience to the project, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez will mark their first opportunity to sail together as a team. Against this backdrop, the participation of an entirely female crew aboard Nostromino II adds another dimension to the event.

The team hopes to contribute to the visibility of women in sailing while sharing the experience of bringing together a new crew for one of the Mediterranean’s most distinctive regattas. The initiative celebrates female participation in competitive sailing and demonstrates the importance of collaboration, shared expertise and bringing together women from different sailing communities.

Sir Andrew Cook and Nostromino II: Supporting Women in Sailing

The project has been made possible through the generous support of Sir Andrew Cook, who is providing his Wally Nano, SY Nostromino II, and sponsoring the all-female crew for Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2026.

His support creates an opportunity for a newly formed women’s team to compete at an internationally recognised regatta aboard a yacht that combines traditional sailing elegance with contemporary design and performance.

The initiative reflects a shared enthusiasm for sailing and an interest in creating opportunities for women to participate in competitive yachting.

Wally Nano: Where Tradition Meets Innovation

Beyond the crew itself, Nostromino II represents an exceptional combination of traditional yachting heritage and contemporary design.

The Wally Nano brings together elegant lines, performance and modern technology, with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship, quality and small-series production.

Produced by Doomernik Yachts under the direction of Joop Doomernik, the yacht reflects a philosophy in which traditional boatbuilding expertise meets innovative design and engineering.

Its participation at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez offers an opportunity to celebrate both the human and technical dimensions of sailing: the skills and teamwork of the crew, as well as the craftsmanship behind the yacht.

Boat Attitude International at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez

On 1 October 2026, Boat Attitude International will join the action on the water to follow SY Nostromino II and her all-female crew during Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.

Through photography, video and exclusive editorial coverage, we will capture the atmosphere of the regatta and take our readers closer to the women behind this exceptional sailing project.

Stay connected with Boat Attitude International for our upcoming coverage from Saint-Tropez.