Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

Final opportunity to enter Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta

by Di Pearson / AWKR media 2 Jun 22:35 PDT 6-9 June 2025
Abby Young won Novice Skipper on Hot Shot lst year © Andrea Francolini, AWKR

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.

Sailed over the Kings Holiday weekend on Port Phillip, racing starts on Saturday 7 June and concludes on Monday 10 June. Entrant to-date represent Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

"We're looking forward to receiving the final entries and remember, if you don't have your own boat, or team, but would like to sail, you can go online to the official event website and fill out the form. You are all welcome and we will endeavour to find you a suitable ride," said event Chairwoman, Monica Jones.

"This event is open to women of all ages and levels of sailing, from the experienced to novice sailors, which is reflected in the trophies that are awarded each year," Jones said of the following trophies:

Rohan Brownlee Leadership and Endeavour; Novice Skipper; Most Improved Performance over the event; Sportsmanship; Best Performed Owner/Skipper; Team or teams that most embodied the spirit of the regatta.

A regular competitor, Jones always has a couple of new and newer sailors aboard her Adams 10, Salamander III "Otherwise how do they get the opportunity to go racing in a great environment," she says.

Returning to the event this year is world-renowned yachtswoman, Wendy Tuck (NSW), the first of only two woman to ever skipper a boat to a round the world win, which she did as skipper of Sanya Serenity Coast in the 2017-2018 Clipper Round the World Race. Tuck has also competed in 17 Sydney Hobarts and was a guest skipper on Maiden's global voyage in 2018 in support of The Maiden Factor Foundation.

Tuck will again skipper the Beneteau First 34.7, Spartan, supported by her crew.

South Australia is also well-represented by Mary Ann Harvey, who has again entered Clockwork, the Sydney 38 she co-owns with Andrew Lloyd. Harvey has contested three Sydney Hobarts among other events in Australia and has widely travelled with Clockwork to sailing races and regattas around Australia in the past two years, including racing at this event last year.

Tasmania has field entries in recent years and this time Alice Buchanan. She will skipper Ambition, a J70 owned by high profile sailor Chris Dare, who earlier this year won the J70 Australian Championship with Ambition.

In 2024, Buchanan was recognised in the Tasmania Sailing Awards, winning the Female Sailor of the Year. She has won a Girl's 29er divisions of the Open National Championship, Australian Sailing Youth Championship in Brisbane and skippered the Victorian team crowned 2023 VIC Sailing League Champions among a plethora of other top results.

These women and their crews will sail alongside club racers, those new to sailing and women who will take charge of their boats for the first time in the open fleet and in divisions, such as the S80 and Adams 10.

The event is not confined to shoreside either. Jones and volunteers from RMYS are again ensuring a fun time for all ashore. Breakfast is available on site every race day. And post sailing is a free sausage sizzle with a drink. Both are a lot of fun with the banter running freely between teams and old friends meeting up again.

Dinner is available at RMYS on the Friday evening when the AWKR briefing is held. Saturday 7 June marks the official crew dinner at RMYS and bookings are essential - so don't miss out! Sunday is the Boat Buoy Yard Party and guarantees music, fun, a sausage sizzle and drinks. Monday is farewell, with the Presentation and a celebration of the regatta.

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 at: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1355039.

Related Articles

Middle Sea Race fleet continues to build
Global fleet is equally diverse in terms of experience, with debutants and serial attendees The 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race is scheduled to start on Saturday, 18 October. Yachts ranging in size from 9.75 to 22 metres (32 to 72 feet) have entered so far representing 14 nations, including Australia, Argentina, China and the United States. Posted on 17 Jul
Admirals' Cup: Predictwind weather supplier
Predictwind champions diversity and empowers Women in Offshore Racing PredictWind, a global leader in marine weather forecasting, is proud to announce its significant involvement in the upcoming Admiral's Cup 2025. Posted on 17 Jul
Ian Williams - Eight times WMRT champion
Shirley Robertson is joined by eight-time World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams Shirley Robertson is joined by eight-time World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams, as the duo get together to discuss Williams' career at the sharp end of the most combative discipline in the sport of competitive sailing. Posted on 17 Jul
Snipe Open at Stone
The event saw competitors from several countries and representation from 3 continents Saturday 12th July, the Snipe open at Stone began with 28 boats competing. The event saw competitors from several countries and representation from 3 continents. In the spirit of keeping competitors on their toes, a club line was used for the starts. Posted on 17 Jul
Performance Starts with the Right Cloth
North Panel Laminate (NPL) sails combine advanced materials with precision engineering Not all laminate sailcloth is created equal. North Panel Laminate (NPL) sails combine advanced materials with precision engineering to deliver lighter weight, better shape retention, and serious durability. Posted on 17 Jul
A Memorable 101st Bayview Mackinac Race
A remarkable race, one likely to be remembered for years to come Nearly the entire fleet of 191 entries in the 101st edition of the Bayview Mackinac Race organized by the Bayview Yacht Club crossed the finish line with the impression that this was a remarkable race, one likely to be remembered for years to come. Posted on 17 Jul
SailGP Technologies officially launches
new center of excellence in technology & innovation in Southampton, UK SailGP today marks the official opening of SailGP Technologies – the global racing championship's center of innovation, design, and engineering, based out of Southampton, UK. Posted on 17 Jul
The WASZP Games: A decade in the making
What was once a dream for the SailingFast team is now a reality! The WASZP Games at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) has been a decade in the making for Duncan & Emma Hepplewhite at SailingFast, so seeing it come to fruition is a proud moment for them and the team. Posted on 17 Jul
Hong Kong to host 2027 Dragon World Championship
Taking place from 21 to 29 November 2026 The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and the Sailing Federation of Hong Kong, China in partnership with the Hong Kong Dragon Association, is proud to announce that Hong Kong will host the 2027 Hong Kong Dragon World Championship from 21 to 29 November 2026. Posted on 17 Jul
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth Day 1
Four races held for all flights in the sunshine The WASZP Pre-Games got under way in Weymouth on Thursday with all the ingredients for a great day on the water: a steady WSW breeze, sunshine, and plenty of smiles heading out onto the racecourse in Portland Harbour. Posted on 17 Jul
Lloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px BOTTOMV-DRY-XMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOM