Entry open for 33rd Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta
by Di Pearson / AWKR media 17 Mar 23:54 PDT
6-9 June 2025
Day 1 start last year - Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta © Andrea Francolini
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.
Queenslander Lisa Beecham was first in for the annual event to run from 6-9 June, the King's Birthday weekend, on Port Phillip.
The Southport doctor and sailing veteran has an extensive sailing resume, from all-women crews on Whitbread Round the World race legs and the Fastnet Race, to Sydney Hobarts, Brisbane to Noumea, Adelaide to Port Lincoln and Brisbane to Gladstone races.
Beecham did the regatta last year aboard Lea Foster's Southport entry, Siren, a Cavalier 350. This time Beecham will skipper on a smaller trailable boat entry.: "It's a smaller version of last year's crew," she said.
"I sail in the keelboat and trailer boat divisions at Southport Yacht Club, so girls from the trailer boat will be coming with me and safety, fun and speed is our motto!"
Beecham said the team from last year enjoyed their experience: "We love the environment. It's so much fun. We had a ball. I love being around other women sailors and a lack of testosterone.
"This event is holding up other women and it's lovely seeing the younger women coming up and having an easier ride than we had when I started. Being able to foster the 'can do' attitude to other female sailors is part of it too," she ended.
The late Gai Clough, a past RMYS commodore, pioneered women's keelboat regattas in Australia, so it is appropriate that her daughter, Sarah Clough, is the other early entry. Sarah is justifiably proud of her mum, who has left a continuing legacy, being the first to provide girls and women from great sailors to novices the opportunity to race in all-female events.
Sarah last competed at the regatta in 2023 with an S80, Revolution and just missed out on a podium finish in tight competition throughout.
"This year we are borrowing a yacht called Crusader (a Beneteau First 30jk), I thought it was about time we moved away from the bumps and bruises of the S80 and go for a bit of comfort," she said with a laugh.
"I will have some of the same crew I had last time - half are from Gippsland Lakes and half from Melbourne. A couple of my crew are newbies, one who hasn't done the regatta before, as she's recently got into the racing side of sailing."
Sarah finished, "I want to say thank you to Crusader's boat owner, Gus Dawson, who has generously loaned us his boat for the regatta."
The AWKR is open to professional and novice sailors alike and age is no barrier either. It generates entries from Australiawide and New Zealand and remains the country's premier women's keelboat event.
Organisers at RMYS are looking forward to welcoming all participants to the 33rd AWKR, especially those who take the time to travel from interstate and New Zealand.
Committee Chairwoman and regular competitor, Monica Jones said, "We're expecting up to 40 boats and 300 competitors this year. Apart from the usual fleet racing, ideally we will have S80, J24, Adams 10 and Trailable divisions, depending on numbers.
"For those who can, we would love for people to bring their own boats too," comments Jones who says loan boats will again be available to those who are unable to bring their own.
"It's a unique feature of our regatta and we thank all those boat owners who help in this regard. We also thank the volunteer boat buoys who help out with repairs every year."
On the racing side, Jones says, "It will be as competitive as ever and we are working hard to make sure the social aspect is a memorable one for everyone again too."
The camaraderie is a standout at the AWKR, only second to the racing, and among the reasons many make an effort to come back each year.
Dinner is available at RMYS the evening before racing starts and there is a crew dinner on Saturday night. The prize-giving will be held on Monday afternoon.
The free sausage sizzle and drinks post racing each day at the Club's 'Boat Buoys BBQ' is a perfect time for old and new friends to catch up and to discuss the day's racing.
There is a Crew Dinner on Saturday 7 June, but online bookings at the official site are essential, as numbers are limited.
Sunday is the Boat Buoy Yard Party and Monday evening is the Presentation before the regatta wraps up for another year.
Trophies are awarded to the various winners, with prizes for Novice Helm; Most Improved Over the Series; Sportsmanship; Rohan Brownlee Leadership and Endeavour Award and Best Performed Owner/Skipper.
If you are looking for crew or would like to crew, please go to: www.awkr.com.au/crew-noticeboard or email: or phone (03) 9534-0227.
There is a place for everyone from novices up to professionals at the AWKR, so don't wait, enter online now.
Boat entries are via the following link www.topyacht.com.au/db/kb2/1858.
Notice of Race and all other information: www.awkr.com.au.