All-female crew debuts SY Nostromino II at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2026
Seven women from multiple yacht clubs will race together for the first time aboard a Wally Nano provided by Sir Andrew Cook, sailing under the Gstaad Yacht Club burgee.
Useful takeaways from this story.
SY Nostromino II, a Wally Nano provided and sponsored by Sir Andrew Cook, will be raced by an all-female crew at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2026.
Nostromino II was produced by Doomernik Yachts under Joop Doomernik, reflecting a mix of traditional boatbuilding and contemporary design.
What happened
An all-female crew will race SY Nostromino II at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2026. The yacht is a Wally Nano provided and sponsored by Sir Andrew Cook. The team will compete under the Gstaad Yacht Club burgee.
Who is on the team
Poppy Neill of the Royal Thames Yacht Club assembled the crew and will act as Team Captain. The seven crew members and their assigned roles are:
- Poppy Neill (Royal Thames Yacht Club) — Team Captain
- Hannah Bibby (Royal Thames Yacht Club) — Bow
- Fenella Neill (Royal Thames Yacht Club) — Mainsail
- Catherine Brooke — Tactician
- Monique Hayling (Hayling Island Sailing Club) — Helm
- Ceci Wollmann (Royal Thames Yacht Club) — Trimmer
- Dr. Karolina Stefanski (Gstaad Yacht Club) — Team Manager & Public Relations
Why the project matters for the crew
The initiative creates a platform for a newly formed women's team to take part in one of the Mediterranean's better-known regattas. The crew aims to increase visibility for women competing in yachting while gaining experience working together in a competitive, high-profile racing environment.
The yacht: Nostromino II and the Wally Nano
Nostromino II is a Wally Nano supplied by Sir Andrew Cook. The Wally Nano concept mixes classic yacht lines with modern performance features. The boat was produced by Doomernik Yachts, led by Joop Doomernik, with a focus on craftsmanship, quality and small-series production. That combination of heritage and contemporary engineering is part of why the yacht was chosen to host this team.
Logistics and support
Sir Andrew Cook's sponsorship covers the yacht and the crew's participation, enabling a newly assembled team to enter Les Voiles without having to bring their own boat. The team will officially sail under the Gstaad Yacht Club burgee, with Dr. Karolina Stefanski acting as team manager and handling public relations.
Context within the sailing calendar
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is a prominent late-season regatta in the Mediterranean. This appearance comes amid broader activity around women's competitive sailing in 2026, including other women's match-racing and international women's keelboat events announced for the same season.
What to watch for
- How quickly this newly assembled crew develops onboard routines and communication under race conditions.
- The performance of a Wally Nano in the mixed fleet and race formats at Les Voiles.
- Media and public reaction to an all-female crew competing under a Swiss burgee with private sponsorship.
The team's debut will provide a clear example of how sponsorship and cross-club cooperation can create opportunities for women to compete in major regattas.
More context around this story.
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