Sunshine Sailing wins the day for Val Hodge Trophy 2026
by Rosie Colahan 20 Mar 20:56 NZDT
Sunshine starting slowly before picking up the pace to win Val Hodge Trophy © Cas Bukor
Sunday 15 March Royal Yacht Club of Victoria (RYCV) hosted their club signature female helm race, the Val Hodge Trophy incorporating Race Day 3 of the Port Phillip Women's Championship Series (PPWCS) 2025-26. After a previous cancellation in early February due to high winds, the resail date flipped the forecast weather to sublime sunshine and light breezes, bringing out an eager fleet.
The day dawned with gentle northerlies fading to mirror calm before a whiff of a possible gentle southerly arriving early, drifted the boats across the start line.
Approaching the first mark R4, the slowly building wind brought collapsed spinnakers to life. A long upwind leg to R3 before the glorious long downwind leg back to R4 with a short beat to the finish, polished off a cracker of a day.
Leading the fleet, Adams 10 Serious Yahoo from RBYC borrowed RMYS Monica Jones (owner of Adams 10 Salamander III) to helm for the day and took out both Line Honours and placed first on AMS. Boat owner Vanessa Twigg was delighted - "The Val Hodge race on Sunday had beautiful weather and a fun race. Thanks to RYCV for the race and the presentation on the lawn run by Vice Commodore Cath Beaufort".
The AMS podium was completed with local RYCV boat owner Prue Standen helming her Young 88 Young Lion into second place ahead of SYC's Robyn Ragauskas' Bull 9000 BULLet placing third.
In ORC, BULLet placed second followed by Jutson 950 Jacobina helmed by Ciara Earley from RMYS into third place.
Winner of ORC for the day, Sue Burke from HBYC, at the helm of her SS Defiance 30, Lanncoorie also placed second in PHS, followed by Catherine North from RYCV steering her X-yacht DuXelle into third place PHS.
The crowning glory for the Val Hodge Trophy on a glorious sunny day, was the winning boat in PHS across the combined Port Phillip North Yacht Clubs (PPNYC). Adams 10.6 "Sunshine" from RMYS helmed by Tatum Mackey and Ailsa Pender emerged as the winners after working their way through the fleet.
RYCV women also celebrated an even bigger weekend with Saturday 14 March, gathering a sea of women at a sellout International Women's Day luncheon event "Women's Health across a Lifetime" presented by a panel of stellar cast presenters, attracting both sailors and non sailors alike.
The success of the weekend activities was commented on by RYCV Secretary Liesl Petterd - "Having female focussed events on and off the water reduces the barriers to participation and showcases the immense contribution that females put into our sailing community. These events demonstrate the depth and talent of our female sailors but also shows that yacht clubs can be inclusive and have a strong sense of community."
Overall Results:
With Easter coming up fast on 5 April, PPWCS Race Day 4 will be hosted by Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) on Sunday 19 April with their signature female event, the Jennifer Goldsmith Trophy (JGT) race. Series entries are still open for those wanting to join for the remaining two events - Race Documents - Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. Or join the event as a casual JGT entry. Always a fabulous day with great racing, an excellent lunch and presentation, sponsored by the Goldsmith family in honour of their daughter Jennifer, a passionate sailor who died from melanoma.
At Royal Brighton Yacht Club, the annual BLiSS (Brighton Lady Skippers Series) Regatta will conclude the PPWC Series with Race Day 5 on Sunday 3 May. For female sailors with limited sailing/racing experience keen to develop skills for the regatta, Yacht Racing Services Australia (YRSA-AMS) are again generously subsidising pre-regatta, on-water training sessions. A qualified Australian Sailing Racing Instructor will lead coaching on the club keelboat with a maximum of 4 women per session. Choice of morning or afternoon sessions on 12 or 26 April. Cost is $50/3hrs and only one session per registrant. Click here to secure your booking now for BLiSS Keelboat Training.
And in the lyrical words of John Denver:
"Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy, sunshine in my eyes can make me cry.
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely, sunshine almost always makes me high.
If I had a day that I could give you, I'd give to you the day just like today."
Fair winds, following seas and magic sunshine for all competitors in the remaining events.