Kay Cottee
Solo Round the World Sailor
It was a childhood dream and a love for the sea that drove Kay Cottee towards her goal of being the first woman to sail alone, non-stop and unassisted around the world.
Twenty years ago in June 1988, Kay Cottee returned to Sydney a heroine, not just for sailors, but for women. Sailing Blackmores First Lady, a 37 foot cavalier she built herself, Kay covered over 22,000 nautical miles of the world’s oceans and around the 5 great Capes in the Southern Hemisphere. During the 189 days at sea with only a radio for company, she did not eat fresh food and woke almost every hour (or less) to check her course, to scan the horizon for ships and to ensure the sails were trimmed.
Kay survived seas of over 80 feet, winds of 100 knots, rudder and boom damage and First Lady was almost run down by a tanker!
Kay set seven world records on this incredible voyage, and has become a source of inspiration to thousands of people worldwide. When Kay Cottee's voyage ended, the accolades began. She was named the Bi-Centennial Australian of the Year in 1988, made an Officer of the Order of Australia and is the second only ever recipient of the Cutty Stark Medal - UK.
Kay’s words .. “get out there and give it a go”.
