Kay Cottee facts for kids

Kay Cottee is an amazing Australian sailor. She was the first woman to sail all the way around the world by herself, without stopping or getting help from anyone! She achieved this incredible feat in 1988. Her yacht, named Blackmores First Lady, took 189 days to complete the journey.

About Kay Cottee

Early Life and Sailing

Kay Cottee was born in Sydney, Australia, on January 25, 1954. Her birth name was Kay McLaren. She grew up in Sans Souci, a suburb of Sydney. Sailing was in her blood! She went sailing for the first time when she was just a few weeks old. She attended Moorefield Girls High School for her secondary education.

Later, Kay moved to Pittwater. There, she built her own yacht and started a business renting out boats.

Today, Kay lives in Yamba, Australia, with her husband, Peter Sutton. She is a motivational speaker, boat builder, writer, painter, and sculptor.

Sailing Around the World

The yacht Blackmores First Lady that Kay Cottee sailed around the world.

On June 5, 1988, when she was 34 years old, Kay Cottee made history. She became the first woman to sail around the world alone, without stopping or getting any help. She sailed back into Sydney Harbour, where tens of thousands of people cheered for her. Kay had left the harbour 189 days earlier, on November 29, 1987.

Her historic trip on her 37-foot yacht, Blackmores First Lady, was also the fastest sailing trip around the world by a woman. It was truly a groundbreaking journey!

Challenges on the Journey

While sailing in the Southern Ocean, Kay faced very rough seas. Her boat was often hit by huge waves, and she was even washed overboard at one point.

When Kay rounded Cape Horn, which is the very bottom tip of South America, she celebrated. She had a special lunch of crab, mayonnaise, and bread she baked herself. She even opened a bottle of fancy Australian wine called Grange.

Making a Difference

Kay Cottee and her main sponsor, Blackmores Limited, used her voyage to help others. They raised over $1 million for the Rev. Ted Noffs' Life Education Program. This program teaches young people about healthy choices.

Kay also spent 18 months visiting schools across Australia. She spoke to more than 40,000 high school students. Her message was simple: you can achieve your dreams if you work hard and steadily towards them.

Building Yachts

In 2002, Kay Cottee designed a new type of yacht called the Kay Cottee 56. It's a strong boat made for long ocean trips. With her husband, Peter Sutton, Kay started a boat-building business near Yamba. They planned for each yacht to take about 8 months to build.

Awards and Recognition

After her amazing trip around the world, Kay Cottee received many awards.

• In 1988, she was given the Australian of the Year Award.
• In January 1989, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia. This is a high honor in Australia.
• Kay Cottee was also the first Australian to receive the Cutty Sark Medal. This medal was given to her by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
• She was also recognized by Rotary and Zonta International for her achievements.
• 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, a position she held from 1995 to 2001.

In 2000, Kay's famous yacht, Blackmores First Lady, was bought by 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 was about her life in the ten years after her incredible voyage.