This week’s member spotlight shines on Kathleen Stroinovsky a 14-year Member of the Club and YSA Graduate. Although Kat now resides in Newcastle, she still regularly travels to Sydney to participate in Club racing on-board Sydney 38 Calibre. Kat is a past Women’s Match Racing World Champion and has competed in two Rolex Sydney Hobarts.
CYCA Member Since: 2006
Favourite CYCA memory: There are so many memories from CYCA that it is hard to choose…all of the early mornings down at the CYCA training on the Elliott’s are some of my best memories. Thanks to the dedication of my parents I spent most weekdays and weekends down there as a teenager. Also, the opportunities to travel the world with teammates who remain my best friends so many years afterwards is something I have not taken for granted.
Proudest achievement on water and at the CYCA: Racing competitively in Match Racing around the world over the years has been some of the best racing I have experienced. The highlight over those years was competing in and winning the Women’s Match Racing World Championships in Sweden in 2009. It was the culmination of months of travel and at that time we had a very competitive group of Women.
However, there is probably no moment more special than coming into constitution dock after a few days at sea. The end of the Sydney Hobart is a special moment with the knowledge that so many have come before you and so many will come after you. The flyby along constitution dock should be on everyone’s bucket list… It’s even better if the boat owner decides to do doughnuts on the way in (thanks Richard Williams).
Bucket-list event still to attend/enter: Competitive sailing has given way to more relaxed cruising with family and friends for the moment. We are busy planning an escape on a ketch so that we can hopefully travel the world at a more relaxed pace over the next few years once travel restrictions ease.
Best thing about the CYCA: The other sailors and friends are what make the CYCA the amazing place it is. The journey is more enjoyable if you have people around to share it with and the youth sailing academy forms the setting for so many life long friendships.
Outside of sailing I…: I am a criminal defence lawyer during the week and live in Newcastle with my partner Blake and our two dachshunds (Cecil and Chimley). We try to get on the water as regularly as we can and most of our weekends revolve around sailing in some description.
Advice to my younger self: Don’t limit yourself- if there is anything to take away from the current climate you have to jump at the opportunity when it comes up and then be prepared to work hard to get the results.
