Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

Competition ramps up on Day 2 at Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta

by Di Pearson / AWKR media 9 Jun 2019 12:59 PDT 8-10 June 2019

Two more races put to bed for the 39 crews on Day 2 of the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), hosted by Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, on a windy and brittle Port Phillip today with the Katie Spithill skippered Ocean Respect Racing taking a further two wins in Division 1 for a series clean sweep with one day remaining.

Race 4 kicked off at 10am and Ocean Respect Racing from Pittwater in NSW stuck with their winning streak strategy. Skippered by past match racing champion Katie Spithill, the M.A.T. 1010 scored a two-minute win over the quickly improving Sydney 38, Chutzpah38, an experienced round the buoys Tasmanian team skippered by Jo Breen.

Hot on Chutzpah38's tail though, was Claire Heenan's Adams 10, Jungle Juice (NSW), which coming into Day 2, was second overall on the leaderboard.

Race 5 and the battle was really on with Chutzpah38 and Jungle Juice sharing second place in the race, to now be tied on equal 9.5 points overall for second place. All will be resolved tomorrow in the final race.

"We're equal second in AMS and equal first in IRC - both on countback," said a bemused Heenan, who has done the AWKR four times now. "We're just trying to sail as well as we can, while enjoying ourselves - we are looking for the best outcome keeping those things in mind."

Heenan, who sails Etchells back home and comes together with this crew for the AWKR and sometimes the Sydney Harbour Regatta in Sydney, stated: "There are no rock stars on this crew - we're a Corinthian crew."

Team Jungle Juice has sailed well across all conditions, including in today's two races with winds "not too shifty and in the teens," Heenan said. "We don't have much in the way of instrumentation on board, so it's more or less seat of the pants sailing for us."

Heenan also sailed Jungle Juice at last year's event. "I have to thank Janet Dean for loaning the boat to us; it's very generous of her." She also praises RMYS and the committee, saying, "They put on a great regatta for us and we love the Boat Buoys, they are a great idea, and very helpful for fixing little things and arriving in time to catch a line when we come in to dock."

Laura Harding steering yesterday's Division 2 leader, Gridlock, to a further two wins today, keeping the pressure on the other 14 boats in the Division. Harding and her fellow J24 crew from Sandringham Yacht Club are having a great regatta.

Harding scored a 13-second win over Leo Eeckman's Southern Ocean 31, Le Cascadeur in Race 4. Sally Williams was third at the helm of the Young 88, Young Bears, making it an all-Victorian show.

In Race 5, Gridlock took the win from Young Bears, the Young 88 skippered by fellow SYC member, Sally Williams. Cath Beaufort, from RYCV, was third aboard the S80, Up 'N Go. Another shoo-in for the Victorians.

With one race remaining, Gridlock appears to have it in the bag, with New Zealand first timer, Holly Farmer in second with the S80, Escape, which finished fourth in Race 5 to remain a contender. Le Cascadeur is nicely placed in third overall.

Farmer and her crew from Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club, the home of New Zealand's America's Cup winning helmsman and Olympic gold medallist, Peter Burling, are currently second overall in Division 2. Farmer also leads the pointscore for the S80 class, with Up 'N Go in second place and the Tanya Kelly skippered Merak from Queensland in third.

"It's our first time here, we heard about this regatta from other women at home who have been here before. The racing is close; anything could still happen," Farmer said.

Leo Eeckman is resigned to a best result of third overall come the end of the event. "I think tomorrow will be about securing our third place. We will have to sail well," admitted the Hobsons Bay Sailing Club (Vic) sailor.

"Unfortunately, we had to use yesterday to learn to sail the boat together, and we made a few mistakes, so lost a bit of ground. But we came out of that; we made a good recovery and sailed well today. We got the gun in the first race of the day, so that was good," added Eeckman who has done four AWKRs, the last three as skipper on Le Cascadeur.

The French skipper, who has lived in Melbourne for 10 years, said the reason she keeps returning to the regatta is, "I think the fact that it's getting bigger and the competition is going up every year with a lot of people supporting it - so many people spectating on the water - how many regattas have that?

"The organisers and committee did a good job of promoting it well this year too. They have made it a big successful national regatta."

Weather permitting, racing concludes tomorrow with one final race. Harsh 25-30 knot winds have been forecast for Port Phillip.

Full provisional results and all information

Related Articles

NTG Global Graduate Program
Shape your career and propel yourself into the world of innovation North Technology Group, a global leader in advanced composite technology, is offering an exciting and dynamic graduate program that will shape your career and propel you into the world of innovation. Posted today at 3:00 pm
Tight racing at ORC North American Championship
Two days of racing remain before titles awarded in three classes With three days of racing completed over 7 Windward-Leeward courses, the scorelines are filling up for all three classes competing in the first ORC North American Championship at Storm Trysail Club's Block Island Race Week. Posted today at 1:16 pm
Introducing Ocean Legend
Vaikobi's range of lifestyle clothing Introducing Ocean Legend; Vaikobi's range of lifestyle clothing inspired by the stoke and the stories of those who live and breathe ocean sports. Posted today at 4:37 am
WASZP brings the heat at Foiling Week 2025
Four epic days of classic Ora conditions Malcesine turned it on once again for Foiling Week, with four epic days of classic Ora conditions and a record 131 WASZPs hitting the start line - the biggest WASZP fleet ever at the event! Posted today at 4:11 am
31st Block Island Race Week Day 3
Soaring temperatures on Risk Strategies Race Day Risk Strategies Race Day at Block Island Race Week featured another day of champagne conditions and soaring temperatures. To give sailors a brief reprieve, the Race Committee called for an "early" end to racing (only 2 long races instead of 3). Posted on 25 Jun
Can a maxi achieve the Rolex Fastnet Race triple?
The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize is lining up to be a tough one The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize in the centenary edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Rolex Fastnet Race is lining up to be a tough one between the world's fastest 100ft maxi yachts. Posted on 25 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 6
Double gold for France in Olympic classes Perfect sailing conditions marked the final of Kieler Woche in the Olympic skiff, dinghy, and surf classes: On Wednesday, June 25, the waters off Schilksee offered fresh to strong, challenging winds with flat waves. Posted on 25 Jun
iQFOiL International Games at Kiel Overall
Kieler Woche delivers spectacular medal series showdown ahead of Aarhus Worlds The 3rd iQFOiL International Games at Kieler Woche came to a thrilling close today, with a full day of Medal Series racing under spectacular conditions. Posted on 25 Jun
44Cup Marstrand 2025 day 1
Peninsula Racing and Team Nika share the limelight After a gale forced the cancellation of yesterday's practice racing, for day one of the 44Cup Marstrand, taking place off the familiar Swedish paradise island, there was a west to northwesterly that built as the afternoon progressed, to 17 knots. Posted on 25 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma Practice Race
Boats and breeze at the home of Mediterranean superyacht sailing The waiting is over and the moment has arrived — The Superyacht Cup Palma 2025 is up and running once again for the 29th time in the home of Mediterranean superyacht sailing. Posted on 25 Jun
Vaikobi 2024 DecemberLloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px BOTTOMHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range