Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta fires up this morning

by Di Pearson / AWKR media 10 Jun 2022 17:29 PDT 10-13 June 2022
Rugged up at the race briefing at RMYS - Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta © Andrea Francolini

The Australian 30th Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) fired up with a race briefing at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron early this morning, ahead of the first race which started at 10am on Port Phillip in a stiff cold breeze.

Twenty-four all-female teams representing Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory, NSW, Tasmania and Queensland were all looking forward to the six-race Queen's Birthday weekend regatta and today's windward/leeward races.

At the briefing crews were advised that winds were expected to reach 25-30 knots this afternoon. Should it reach the upper limit, organisers will look at abandoning Race 2.

Two NSW entrants, triple Olympian Karyn Gojnich and Sarah Ladd, trailered their J70's down from Sydney. Arriving yesterday on little sleep, the two crews put to work stepping the mast and rigging the two boats.

Gojnich, who with Nicky Bethwaite, was the first female to represent Australia in the Olympics (Seoul 1988) in the 470 Women's. Her last Games was Beijing 2008 in the Yngling keelboat. In recent times, Gojnich has been successfully sailing a J70, Madness.

For this event, she has Alex Murray alongside her, along with women who have been doing a sailing course at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.

"We're here for the experience and to take ideas back for our Women's Regatta in October," said Gojnich, who has been an avid supporter of the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta, including 2019 when the event was last held. It was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions.

Sarah Ladd is helming the second J70, The Jackal, with Lindy Hardcastle as her 2IC.

Eyeing the two NSW crews off is local sailor, Monica Jones, who is at the helm of a brand new J70, Sequel, generously loaned to Jones and her regular crew by Anthony Landgren. Jones races regularly out of RMYS so has the upper hand when it comes to local knowledge.

Fiona McManus and her crew have come all the way from the Northern Territory and are sailing an S80 loaned to them by Melbourne's Keith Chatto. Melbourne owners have been generous yet again in loaning boats to many interstate competitors, in this unique regatta.

Back too are the 'Boat Boys', who are here to help getting the boats off and on the marina along St Kilda Pier quickly each day. They are also on hand to help with any repairs.

Full results and all information: www.awkr.com.au.

Related Articles

Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta overall
Final day decider at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron The final day at the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) promised and gave it all - light wind - rain - cold - after Race Officer, Lou Hutton, delved into Melbourne's weather cauldron and shared her findings with competitors at RMYS. Posted on 9 Jun
Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta day 2
Mother and daughter pitted against each other An icy day in Melbourne for Day 2 of the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), coupled with high wind blustery conditions on Port Phillip this morning prompted Race Officer Lou Hutton to postpone racing until she reassessed the options. Posted on 8 Jun
Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta day 1
Wet and windy start Rain, a forecast for 20 plus knots with gusts and a cold day on Port Phillip didn't dampen the enthusiasm of those here sailing on Day 1 of the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) Posted on 7 Jun
Final opportunity to enter AWKR
This is a final call to female sailors This is a final call to female sailors who would like to race Australia's premier all-female regatta, the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), where you will join the 25 already entered in Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron's (RMYS) annual event. Posted on 3 Jun
More join the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta
18 entries representing Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, NSW and Victoria so far Eighteen entries representing Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, NSW and Victoria have so far been received for the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR). Posted on 14 May
Tumlaren Victorian State Titles overall
Yvonne wins lion's share of the 2025 series silver Congratulations go to our recently restored champion Tumlaren, Yvonne, for her take out of the 2025 series silver. All up, Yvonne took out the RMYS T. L. Banks One design trophy, the Bert Ferris Performance trophy and the James Frecheville trophy. Posted on 9 Apr
Tumlaren Victorian State Titles day 1
Fleet revel in Port Phillip's 19 knot conditions With the City of Melbourne as background, Port Phillip, with its infamous short and one metre choppy conditions put out the challenge to six of the best (Tumlarens that is). Posted on 29 Mar
2025 Tumlaren State Titles preview
88 years of Tumlaren One Design yacht racing on Port Phillip This weekend, 29th and 30th March 2025, the 2025 Tumlaren State Titles, will showcase one design racing that has survived and thrived over 88 years of weather tantrums thrown up by Melbourne's Port Phillip. Posted on 24 Mar
Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta entry opens
Two teams were quick off the mark - one from Queensland and one a local entry When Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) opened entries for the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), two teams were quick off the mark - one from Queensland and one a local entry. Posted on 18 Mar
CYA Summer Series 2024/2025 on Port Phillip
The eight race series title was a last race, down to the wire, close run thing The eight race series title was a last race, down to the wire, close run thing. On Mercedes IV's heels, point score wise, were the Arthur Robb designed, Akala, a multiple Sydney to Hobart contender and the New Zealander, Marama, designed by Alan Wright. Posted on 17 Mar
Barton Marine Pipe GlandsArmstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOMC-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 BOTTOM