Kiwis return as new skippers practice for Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta
by Di Pearson / AWKR media 8 Apr 21:57 PDT
5-8 June 2026
Holly Farmer at the helm of Escape in the 2019 AWKR - Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta © Bruno Cocozza / AWKR
A New Zealand team and two new skippers are among the latest entries for the 34th Australian Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) to be held on the King's Birthday weekend from 5-8 June, 2026.
Kiwi, Holly Farmer, contested the 2019 AWKR with the S80, Escape and winning the S80 division, she also placed second in Division 2. This time around, the boat is again an S80, Revolution, which she and her Kiwi crew hope to step it up a notch and win both the S80 division and Division 2.
"We're super excited to be heading across the ditch to compete in this year's AWKR. We were last there in 2019 where we had a fantastic regatta. We thoroughly enjoyed sailing at such a wonderful venue, where we meet new friends and relished the amazing atmosphere," Farmer said.
"It's great to see women's sailing being promoted through regattas such as this where females are encouraged and supported to fully immerse themselves into the sport of sailing.
"Our team, representing Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club (on the North Island), has been sailing together on and off for many years. We are all involved in women's sailing within our own club and around New Zealand, where the interest is growing every year.
"We've had a lot of help to get to the AWKR and acknowledge our appreciation for all those that have made this possible. We're also extremely lucky to have had the help of our Australian friends Anthony and Ann (previous owners of Escape), who have not only found us a boat to borrow for the regatta, but also have offered us accommodation.
"So huge thanks to Anthony and Ann and also to the owners of Revolution who have kindly agreed to us using their boat," Farmer says, ending, "We look forward to seeing you all there."
Two new skippers have signed up, one of which benefitted from a recent informative evening at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, host of the AWKR.
"We hosted a social event at the Club, allowing a lot of learning and networking among sailors. Wendy Tuck attended and indicated she'd be back to sail on Spartan again," said Monica Jones, AWKR Co-Chairwoman with Celia Dymond this year.
One of the attendees was a newcomer to the AWKR and RMYS member, Johanna Mottram. She is also a first-time skipper and will take the helm of Aria, a Bavaria 34 Cruiser she owns jointly with husband Phill Mottram.
"I'm still quite nervous, but we had a good session at the social event at the Club. It was an inciteful sharing experience, with experienced helms guiding us on how to set up crew and manage communications across racing and ashore," Mottram said.
"Also discussed was how to keep everyone engaged, the different roles on the boat, crew expectations and how to manage that and get support. It was a brilliant evening and it was brilliant having Wendy Tuck there, she was in our group.
"Wendy wasn't nearly as intimidating as I expected - she was very nice," Mottram said of the Australian sailor who became the first female to win a race of any type around the world and has 18 Sydney Hobarts behind her.
"I've been practicing putting boat back in the pen with my husband," she says of the yacht they have owned since early 2021.
"I did a competent crew course a couple of years ago in Queensland. But then I was working a demanding job spending a lot of time out of Australia, so didn't get the opportunities. Since I quit my job though, it's been on my list to get up to speed with sailing - and I am!
The Victorian sailor, who will have 25-year-old daughter, Emma aboard for the AWKR, says Emma will be on the mainsheet. For us, our thing is to be safe, have completion and for everyone to have a good time.
"Gaining skills and confidence, building a team and getting better at it is all part of it. If it all goes well, maybe next year we will graduate to a faster boat," says Mottram, who is well aware the Bavaria requires a lot of wind to sail fast.
Michelle Ruskin is a new skipper too, but does a lot of sailing with Wayne Seaward, who is loaning his Beneteau Oceanis 473, Cyan Moon, to Ruskin and her crew for the regatta. Seaward loaned Cyan Moon to Katrina Hartman for its first AWKR last year.
"Wayne is very generous and very trusting - I find it extraordinary that he lets us take his boats out," says Ruskin, who sails regularly with the yachtsman.
"I've done Hamilton Island Race Week, but the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta will be my first time racing in the skipper's role. Last year I did a double-handed race ORCV as co-skipper for Valeria Lema on Wayne's other boat, Pacemaker (a Farr 1104). I also did the regatta (AWKR) last year as crew."
On her upcoming skipper's debut, Ruskin muses, "I sometimes wonder 'How did I get here', because I'm not usually a person who puts myself forward. Wayne saw me as a leader. He said, 'People trust you and listen to you', which is really validating.
"I feel confident in the role now, but sometimes I still suffer disbelief at being here. I have really good support from experienced sailors on board, so feel very supported by the team as a whole," the Victorian says.
"Wayne's very dedicated to training, so have been going out on Sundays, even if it's light, we got out and practice light wind training. A few of us are now training for the Gold Coast to Mackay race - it will be my first overnighter."
Last year's AWKR made a positive impression on Ruskin: "I think it was really done. We missed some of the after-race activities, because we had to sail the boat back to Brighton each day. We did get to the crew dinner and we heard it was great ashore after racing, so this time we'll car pool so we can enjoy it,"
Onshore, the fun heats up - even if the weather doesn't. It's a great social program with the focus on fun and includes the free post-race sausage sizzle - drinks included - and some ticketed events that must be booked in advance online at-race the official website. There is also breakfast each morning when the fun starts ahead of racing.
So get those entries in now at awkr.com.au/boat-entry
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 - you will be helped.
For Notice of Race and other information please visit www.awkr.com.au