Kay Cottee facts for kids

Kay Cottee is a famous Australian sailor. She made history as the first woman to sail around the world all by herself, without stopping or getting any help. She completed this amazing journey in 1988. Her yacht, named Blackmores First Lady, was 37 feet long. The trip took her 189 days.

Kay Cottee's Early Life

Kay Cottee was born Kay McLaren in Sydney, Australia, on January 25, 1954. She was the youngest of four daughters. Her family loved sailing, and Kay went sailing for the first time when she was just a few weeks old. She grew up in a place called Sans Souci in southern Sydney.

After school, Kay moved to Pittwater. There, she built her own yacht. She also started a business where people could rent boats without a crew. Today, Kay lives in Yamba, New South Wales, with her husband, Peter Sutton. She is a speaker, boat builder, writer, painter, and sculptor.

Sailing Around the World

The yacht Blackmores First Lady

On June 5, 1988, when Kay Cottee was 34 years old, she sailed into Sydney Harbour. She had just completed her incredible journey. She became the first woman to sail around the world alone, without stopping or getting any help. Tens of thousands of people gathered to welcome her home. Kay had started her voyage 189 days earlier, on November 29, 1987.

Her historic trip on Blackmores First Lady was also the fastest sailing trip around the world by a woman. It was truly a groundbreaking achievement.

During her journey in the Southern Ocean, Kay's boat was often hit by big waves. She was even washed overboard at one point! When she sailed around Cape Horn, which is the southernmost tip of South America, she celebrated. She had a special lunch of crab, mayonnaise, and bread she baked herself.

Kay Cottee and her main sponsor, Blackmores Limited, used her voyage to help others. They raised over $1 million for the Life Education Program. This program helps young people learn important life skills. Kay also visited many schools across Australia for 18 months. She spoke to over 40,000 high school students. Her message was simple: you can achieve your dreams if you work hard towards them.

Building Yachts

In 2002, Kay Cottee designed a new type of yacht. It was called the Kay Cottee 56. This yacht was made from fiberglass and foam. It was designed to be a strong boat for long ocean trips. Kay and her husband, Peter Sutton, started a boat-building business near Yamba. They planned for each yacht to take about eight months to build.

Awards and Recognition

Kay Cottee has received many awards since her amazing trip around the world.

• In 1988, she was named the Australian of the Year Award.
• In January 1989, she was honored as an Officer of the Order of Australia.
• In 2001, she was added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
• Kay was the first Australian to receive the Cutty Sark Medal. This award was given to her by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
• She was also recognized by Rotary International and Zonta International.
• In 2017, she was one of the first people to be included in the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame.

Other Achievements

Australian National Maritime Museum

In 1991, Kay Cottee joined the advisory board of the Australian National Maritime Museum. She later became the chair of the museum from 1995 to 2001. In 2000, her famous yacht, Blackmores First Lady, was given to the museum. It is now on permanent display for everyone to see.

Books by Kay Cottee

Kay Cottee has written two books about her experiences. Her first book, First Lady, was published in 1989. Her second book, All at Sea on Land, came out in 1998. This book shared stories about her life in the ten years after her incredible voyage.