Of NYYC Women’s International Championship
September 28, 2026
Newport, RI — Donjon Marine Co., LLC (“Donjon Marine”), as one of the sponsors of Team DutchSail, congratulates the all-female crew on their victory at the final race of the inaugural New York Yacht Club (NYYC) Women’s International Championship on September 19, 2026. This concluded the regatta fleet racing event in Newport, Rhode Island.
The ten-roster team that represented Team DutchSail included skipper Laura van Veen, Sanne Akkerman (jib trim), Annette Duetz (tactician), Anna Houtzager (bow), Susan Huizer (runner trim), Svea Karsenbarg (strategist & float), Laila Malan-van der Meer (helm), Saar van Bemmel (pit), Féline Vreeburg (kite trim), and Laurien Waller (midbow).
Team DutchSail is a Dutch sailing foundation and collaborative platform that promotes national participation in major international competitions and focuses on training and mentoring youth, women, and offshore sailing talents in the Netherlands.
Initiator and pit crew member Saar van Bemmel, a highly experienced big-boat and offshore racer, served as the “pit” for the crew, a vital role responsible for keeping the crew connected during maneuvers and managing sail changes.
She recounted Team DutchSail’s week-long journey, which included one of two practice days canceled due to weather. Saar stated, “We were quite disappointed, especially as we had very little opportunity to practice racing against other boats before coming to Newport,” adding, “The second practice day more than made up for it. It was great to finally be out on the water with the other teams and to practice in real racing situations.”
Throughout the five days of racing, Team DutchSail faced challenging conditions, including wind, choppy surface waves, and even no wind on day four of the race. On the final day, the team was able to compete in three races and – after a number of podium and near-podium finishes – pulled through to a victory in the very last race of the entire event.
“Participating in this event has been a dream come true. As this was the very first edition, it was incredibly special to be part of a piece of history and an important step forward for women in sailing,” Saar stated. “The cherry on top was winning Race 10, the final race of the event. We finally had that feeling of, ‘Yes, we did it!’ and were able to finish the event on an incredible high. Our learning curve was steep, and we would absolutely love to return for the second edition of the Women’s International Championship and race for the chance to have our name on the cup.”
The New York Yacht Club held the inaugural edition of the New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship from September 12 to 19, 2026, at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, Rhode Island. Overall, Team DutchSail finished ninth out of 20 international competitors.
“Thank you [Donjon] so much for helping make this experience possible for us,” Saar concluded, “Being able to take part in this event meant a tremendous amount to the whole team, and we are very grateful to Donjon Marine for supporting us.”
Donjon Media Release (September 28, 2026)