Womens’ Keelboat Regatta - a great event

by Teri Dodds on 13 Jun 2008
The light conditions throughout the recent Womens’ Keelboat Regatta proved perfect for Tanya Stanford’s talented team on Tom Cat II. Representing Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, Stanford sailed a consistent series to take out not only top honours for the regatta, but third in AMS and second in IRC. The fleet of 17 were tested with extremely light airs, which peaked on the final day at a meagre eight knots.

This year, I decided to join in the fun instead of my usual behind the lens view. Sailing on the S80 Imaginer from Sandringham, alongside fellow RGYC skipper Lucy Townson, with the regular Imaginer crew of Alison and Katherine Kemp and Jane Weymouth, we sailed a solid series with some good results.

Day one and two were most difficult as we were presented with three to five knots of breeze that faded at each day’s end, proving beneficial to top end of the fleet. The Adams 10’s, Top Gun, Salamander and Top Cat II revelled in these conditions and featured in major placings on these days putting them in great stead for the final day. Last year’s regatta winner Kirsty Harris and her team on the J24 Hyperactive also sailed consistently in the light airs, placing well.

On the last day the forecast promised 15 – 20 knots so we were keen to get into a solid day of racing, which potentially should have sorted out the more experienced crews. It was not to be. Arriving at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron early on Monday morning, we looked for the streaming flags on the flagpoles and waves lapping the foreshore.

No wind. AGAIN! As we headed out to the start, the clouds darkened but still not a whisper of breeze. We monitored every smoke stack around Melbourne in the hope of seeing their horizontal drift.

With the postponement flag up, in light rain and no wind, we sat and waited. However our fellow Geelong team on Savoire Faire were not disheartened. Their support boat, The Bookie, had our local muso on board, Dave Kent, who entertained with his guitar, with 'I’m just a gigolo and everywhere I go,,,' and several Neil Diamond hits. Boats rafted up and there was a brief party on the water.

Shortly after 11am the wind puffs arrived and gently filled the course to allow racing to commence. Crews had settled into the groove by the final day, and they became very keen on the start line. Very keen, indeed. As we sat a minute off the line, we anticipated a general recall as almost half of the fleet was hustling on the line. Again some crews were early for the restart, but our skipper Lucy nailed the boat end and we were off. The breeze remained light, but more consistent than in the previous days, which was a relief to all on the water. At race end, we passed the committee boat and gave a rousing three cheers. Then, believe it or not the breeze came in at around 12 knots, so we left the kite up tight reached back to Sandringham, and enjoyed some wine and nibbles.

Most notable observations of the event? The ever present high pitched communications on the course, the perseverance of all crews to maximize their boat speed, the commitment to back themselves on the start lines and challenge other boats with race rulings.

Presentations were held at Royal Brighton Yacht Club, with over 180 guests in attendance.

The overall winning skipper of Tom Cat II, Tanya Stanford gave an emotional speech applauding her crew for their consistent sailing and support throughout the regatta.

In AMS, Top Gun (Cath Beaufort) came out on top with Hyperactive (Kirsty Harris) second and Tom Cat II (Tanya Stanford) third.

The IRC division was won by Top Gun (Cath Beaufort) followed by Tom Cat II (Tanya Stanford), with Janet Dean’s Salamander third.

This trophy was presented in memory of Ann Maree Pope and Tracy Luke who were crew members who lost their lives on the 15.2 metre racing yacht Excalibur which capsized in 2002, 40 nautical miles off Port Stephens on the NSW mid-north coast.

The sportsmanship award was presented to Silicon Chix, in recognition of sailing fairly throughout the regatta and in particularly ‘waiting for the last boat to cross the line in each race and cheering them for their efforts.’

Most improved boat (and crew) went to RGYC’s Savoire Faire, a 13 crew Beneteau 47.7 skippered by Raewyn Hansen and Robyn Brooks, the 2006 ORCV Ocean Racer of the Year.

Congratulations to the organizing committee at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron who support and encourage the involvement of women on the water.

Let’s hope for a little more breeze next year.