Ellie Wollmann, skipper of the J/111 Frequent Flyer, led her team to a commanding victory at the 2025 Women's Open Keelboat Championship (WOKC), held in late May at the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble, U.K. With five out of six line honors and four race wins, Frequent Flyer dominated the breezy weekend conditions through calm execution, smooth maneuvers, and tight teamwork.
Now in their second full season racing the J/111, Ellie and her crew—mostly university friends with dinghy, team, and match racing backgrounds—have steadily built confidence and cohesion. Last year's runner-up finish at WOKC set the tone, and 2025's victory was the result of steady refinement: clean hoists, no yelling, and a focus on keeping the boat and crew calm, collected, and in one piece when conditions got tough.
Off the water, Ellie is a driving force behind WOKC as a member of the core six-person organizing committee. She manages social media, secures sponsorships, coordinates with the British Keelboat League, and helps shape the event each year—currently the only all-female keelboat regatta in the U.K.
A key part of the Frequent Flyer program's success has been its partnership with Quantum Sails, working closely with Rory Maclean and the team at the Quantum Hamble Loft. From helping with sail selection to crew logistics, Quantum's support has gone far beyond providing high-performance sails.
"Quantum has kept us going with the boat," says Ellie. "Rory does so much more than just sails—he's helped us find crew, connect with pros when we need them, and has been hands-on with our sail management. The sails themselves are fantastic—our J2 or J3 were up most of the weekend and handled beautifully in the breeze. And our main is easy to trim and super responsive. We've only ever used Quantum on our boats, and we're continuing that here."
Frequent Flyer is a true family affair, evolving from a Bermudian J-boat background. Ellie's sister, Ceci, who represented Bermuda in the Laser Radial at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, is a frequent crew member, and the Wollmann family also campaigns a J/70 in the United States, planning to race in the class' Corinthian Worlds in September as well as the Miami Bacardi circuit in the early winter. The J/111 program, based in the U.K., is targeting a full season from April to October, and is planning to sail the upcoming Dartmouth Race Week - also J/111 Nationals - as a family boat, with Ellie, her sister, brother, Mike, and father, Paul, onboard.
With strong backing, deep talent, and a tight-knit team, Ellie is not just a rising star in the J/111 fleet—she's also helping to redefine what leadership looks like in the sport, with Quantum Sails helping to power the journey.