Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta Overall - Melbourne turns it on for the final day
by Di Pearson / AWKR media 8 Jun 02:59 PDT
5-8 June 2026
Melbourne turned it on for the final day of the 34th Australian Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), cranking up the breeze and sunshine on Port Phillip - it was nothing short of magic, especially given the extra light conditions of the first two days - so Race Officer Laura Hughson was able to set three races today and winners are decided.
Division 1 came down to the final race and it was Ciara Earley's Jutson 950, Jacobina that had the goods, a win in Race 3 today. claiming the title and the Gai Clough Memorial Trophy. Bullet won four out of five races, so was a clean winner.
Robyn Ragauskas' Bullet (Vic), a Bull 9000, placed second on countback to Jacobina and Katie Holroyd's Adams 10, Serious Yahoo (Vic) took third place, just one point behind the top two.
"Oh my God," Earley said on finding out that Jacobina had won. "That is super cool. I've done over ten - three of them on Jacobina - and never won," said Earley, who was almost rendered speechless.
"My crew was fabulous - Saturday was the first time all of us have sailed together," said the RMYS member who has been sailing around 38 years now. Earley and her husband John Rea, normally race Jacobina out of RMYS.
"This regatta is great. It's fabulous and it's good competitive racing as well. It's lots of fun. You have lots of laughs. The people that you see year after year - it's got so much going for it," a chuffed Earley commented.
Michelle de Blaquiere won Division 2 with the J24, Gridlock (Vic), taking the title on countback from the Holly Farmer skippered S80, Revolution, Farmer's team coming all the way from Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club on the North Island of New Zealand. Third went to Janette Syme's crew all the way from Townsville Yacht Club in Queensland. Syme was at the helm of the J24, Jet.
Commenting on the win, de Blaquiere said, "My crew are a mix from Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron and Sandringham Yacht Club. The boat's owner, Kiera Bates, was on the bow and ensured the team and the boat was sorted.
"It's always fun sailing with my bunch of girls. Everyone knows exactly what they're doing, even thought we don't sail together very often and it's always pretty calm on our boat.
"We made a few tactical errors today, so we went into thew last race concentrating on the basics - mark strategy against our key opponents," said de Blaquiere.
Normally a Sabre sailor, de Blaquiere commented, "I love that I can sail with my girls here. It is good to look around the room here, packed with females just us, with a lot of experience. The regatta is always a barrel of laughs too."
de Blaquiere said her crew enjoyed racing it out with another J24, Jet and said, "Revolution was always there when you looked up."
Farmer just missed the top spot in Division 2, as she did in 2019, but reclaimed the S80 division trophy that she won in 2019. This time it was by seven points from Fiona McManus' regular top placer, Mood Indigo from Darwin Sailing Club in the Northern Territory.
A further two points behind was Rebel Just For Kicks, helmed by Emma Arnold (Vic). Nine S80's sailed for the top spot.
Farmer said tonight, "Today was better than the last two days. We got three races in and more breeze, but it was a bit fickle at times. It got up to around 10 knots."
Arriving with a full Kiwi crew, Farmer said, "We're glad we came back and we'll be back again. We thoroughly enjoy this regatta. We have a great time here."
Farmer grew up sailing on lakes in New Zealand so it used to light air that pervaded the regatta. "It would have been nice to have a big blow though. It blew the day we arrived - and I believe it's going to blow here again tomorrow..."
"This is a fun, social and welcoming regatta and keeps the women involved in sailing. We love it," Farmer concluded.
The day started out chilly, but at least the breeze was there and conditions became better as the day wore on.
At the morning's briefing session at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS), Race Officer Laura Hughson told crews, "We have wind and we have it early. I plan on two races with a possibility of a third.
And sure enough, Hughson got a start away on time at 10am. The crews really had to sit up and pay attention following two days of relative inaction due to extremely light and oscillating breezes, equating to only two races put to bed after two days of racing.
It was fabulous to see the fleet of 36 flying down Port Phillip under spinnaker.
A total of five of the original planned six races were sailed over the three days of this King's Birthday weekend.
Prizes and trophies
Tonight the Club held the official prize-giving, attended by Councillor Serge Thomann and Commodore Cherry Birch.
Apart from the winners mentioned above, there were special trophies awarded too.
Rohan Brownlee Leadership and Endeavour Award
Awarded to the person who has gone over and above to make the regatta a good one for their crew and others. This year, the award went to Sue Burke, skipper of Lancoorie.
Novice Helm
Awarded to a person who competed here for the first time who has helmed for less than 12 months - to Kym Jenkins - Cloud Ten.
Most Improved Performance over the event
Went to Deb Parker, skipper of Double Shot.
Sportsmanship
This award went to Fiona McManus, skipper of Mood Indigo from Darwin. McManus could have forced an opponent up on a downwind leg, but did not, resulting in second place for the opponent and third for Mood Indigo.
Best Performed Owner/Skipper
Ciara Earley - owner/skipper Jacobina - much to her surprise, she won Division 1.
Monica Jones, who is co-chair of the AWKR with Celia Dymond, was thrilled that a near-record 36 boats took part this year. "Once again it's been a wonderful regatta and from the comments that have come back to me, everyone has enjoyed themselves on and off the water.
"It's a shame that conditions were so light on the first two days, but today made up for it. I love that each crew found novel ways of entertaining themselves while we waited for breeze to fill in, including an impromptu raft-up, acrobatics, card playing, singing, dancing and relaxing in the sun. These moments were shared with everyone on our WhatsApp group, which has proved popular again.
"We love that so many sailors came to our event for the first time - around a quarter of the fleet - and we'd love to see you again next year along with our regulars.
"Thanks to Holly Farmer and her crew, who travelled all the way from New Zealand again - we appreciate the time and effort they took, along with all others who travelled from interstate," she said, also marvelling at the 20,000 plus nautical miles South Australian entry, Clockwork has 'clocked-up', sailing to this and other regattas over the last three years alone!
"Gai Clough started the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta 36 years ago - we missed two due to Covid lockdowns. Gai was ahead of her time in women's sailing and the first female Commodore of our club and the first female Commodore of a sailing club in Australia. We were happy to see her daughter, Sarah, competing here again.
"Thanks to all those who loaned their boats to many competitors again. The regatta has grown due their generosity. We believe we are the only regatta to offer and it is believed we are the only regatta to offer such a service.
"To all our sponsors, a big thank you, we could not do without you: Bendigo Community Bank Elwood; Rothwell, AMS; Melbourne Debt Collectors; Culshaw Miller Badenoch; Doyle Sails; Ronstan; Musto; Boating Central; Savage Wharf; Wine X Sam; Jimmy Rum; Dan Peel's Sundae, Rare and Ready Gifts and Aspar Spa Essentials.
"A big shout out to all our volunteers, whose committed efforts are appreciated by all, including the renowned Boat Buoys who are loved by all crews. Thanks also go to Royal Yacht Club of Victoria for the use of their RIBS.
"Finally, thanks to all competitors who helped make this a great event again and we look to welcoming you back for the 35th edition next year when we hope to see record numbers. Stay tuned!
Thirty-six crews from Australia wide and New Zealand contested the 2026 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta.
Full results and all information on the AWKR: awkr.com.au