First conducted in 1991, the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) is one of Victoria’s premier yachting events and the premier event for women. Conducted by Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron at Cosmopolitan bustling St Kilda, the event will take place over the Queen’s Birthday weekend, Saturday 9th, Sunday, 10th and Monday, 11th June 2012. The event was created by Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron to give women at all experience levels an opportunity to manage, helm and crew boats in a professional, highly competitive environment. As it is the only all female crew keelboat regatta held in Victoria over 3 consecutive days, the event is unique and requires a high degree of organization, management and training. The AWKR conducts lecture evenings leading up to the regatta weekend that provide education, sailing information and ‘tips’ and anecdotes from sailing personalities. Speakers have included Frank Hammond (Horizon Sails), Olympic sailor Jeni Lidgitt, Robert Buchanan from the Canadian Development Olympic Team, Dr Trevor Burridge, marine biologist and off shore sailor and Nigel Jones of the famous yacht design family of Skandia, Brunel & Caddibarra. The lectures are open to all, are well attended by men and women from all yacht clubs around the Bay. The event has prospered, offers prizes in both performance and handicap divisions and now attracts crews from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. The Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta has developed into the most prestigious event for women on Port Phillip, attracting annually over 150 competitors each year plus their teams of boat owners and supporters.
