The same year, Cottee was named Australian of the Year for her achievement. In January 1989, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. She was the chair of the Australian National Maritime Museum from 1995 to 2001. The yacht she sailed in, "Blackmores First Lady", has been at the museum since 2000. In 2017, she was added to the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame. She has written two books.