The 2026 SheSails International Conference, held on Monday 19 October, brought together the sailing community for an inspiring evening celebrating the women shaping the future of the sport and the power of giving back.

Held online as part of World Sailing's Steering the Course Festival, this year's conference embraced the theme "Give to Gain", exploring how sharing knowledge, mentoring and creating opportunities for others can strengthen the sailing community and inspire the next generation.

The conference attracted an impressive 345 registrations, the highest number recorded for a SheSails Conference to date. Sailors, coaches, officials, volunteers and leaders came together to hear from an outstanding line-up of speakers, each sharing their experiences and the important role others have played in their sailing journeys.

The conference featured the following speakers:

• Jo Aleh – Olympic gold and silver medallist and four-time Olympian who made history in 2026 as the first woman to sail as part of an AC75 crew.
• Belinda Stowell OAM – Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist, respected high-performance coach and mentor, and featured in the upcoming Shape of Wind film.
• Julia Hornsby – The first woman Commodore of Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and Australian Sailing’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year, recognised for her leadership and contribution to the sailing community.
• Fiona McManus – Sailor and long-time advocate for women in the sport, known for supporting female participation through the Northern Territory Women’s Regatta.
• Greta Carroll and Micha Alon – Featured sailor and producer of the new SheSails film Shape of Wind, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the film and the importance of sharing stories that inspire others.

Returning as MC was Nic Douglass (SailorGirlHQ), who guided the audience through an engaging evening of stories, discussions and reflections on how giving back can create lasting opportunities and positive change throughout the sport.

You can watch the recording of the evening here. 

The conference also brought sailing communities together beyond the online event, with clubs hosting live screenings and creating opportunities for members to connect and share experiences.

A special highlight of the evening was the exclusive unveiling of the trailer for Shape of Wind, a new short film following a mother and daughter’s journey with sailing, tracing the people, places and moments that have shaped their connection to the water. 

Producer Micha Alon, featured sailor Greta Carroll and film advisor Belinda Stowell OAM joined the conversation to share the inspiration behind the project, how the story was brought to life and the importance of passing on a love of sailing to future generations.

Clubs interested in hosting their own screening of Shape of Wind are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest to receive access to the film, along with a suggested run sheet to help plan and deliver their event.