Day 1 – Wet and light conditions beset Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta opener
With the forecast for light conditions on for Days 2 and 3 of the 34th Australian Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), Race Officer Laura Hughson told competing crews to expect three races on this opening day, but the day was light with some Chinese water torture thrown in along with protests and only one race was possible.
Grey skies, rain and cold told the story – but the show goes on – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
One had to feel for Hughson, this is the first time as Race Officer for this event, in the absence of Lou Hutton who is on a break. Three protests were lodged, but are yet to be heard.
Crews in the fleet of 36 left the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron marina at St Kilda Pier early, looking forward to a full day of racing on Port Phillip.
“It was fine at the start, 8-10 knots, but as we went towards land, it petered out. And in the middle of the course there was nothing and then the breeze started fading again when we were under spinnaker, said Sydney yachtswoman, Dinah Eagle, who is enjoying her first AWKR.
Three laps and a small change of course later, Division 1 went to Ciara Earley, owner/skipper of Jacobina, her Jutson 950, was in the top spot. Two other Victorian boats took the remaining podium places: Crusader, a Beneteau First 30jk (Sarah Clough) placed second and Bullet, a Bull 9000 (Robyn Ragauskas) was third.
Jacobina scored a win today, Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
“We had a nice clean start,” said Earley. “I think we picked the wind shifts well, we had it together, the crew sailed well and the light air suited the boat.
“It’s great to win the first race – and to win a race at all! In the three years I’ve sailed the boat at AWKR, the best we’ve done till now is third in 2023,” a chuffed Earley said.
Aboard Jacobina are two Geelong sailors, Ping from RMYS who is here for the first time and Sabina Rosser. “Sabina has sailed with us at this regatta for the last three years, she trims and sometimes steers the boat,” Earley said.
Sabina Rosser – 34 from 34 – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
Rosser was lauded at the Welcome and Briefing last evening at RMYS. She is contesting her 32nd AWKR this year, the 34th edition of the event. She crewed for the event’s founder, Gail Clough, on Your Shout Next and since then has helmed many times, but this year, the longtime RMYS member, is happy sailing as crew on Jacobina.
Back with Jacobina’s owner, Earley, “I love the sailing here, the fun, camaraderie, competition and the chats. All are good reasons to come here,” she said.
Division 2 went to the Kiwi entry, Revolution (S80), skippered by Holly Farmer, who came and conquered in 2019, sailing Escape to win the S80 division and placed second in Division 2.
Division 2 gets away – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
Second and third today went to the Michelle De Blaquiere skippered J24 Gridlock from Sandringham Yacht Club and Jet, the J24, skippered by Townsville Yacht Club’s Janette Syme.
Farmer is here again from Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club, with a full Kiwi crew of six, of which all but two were here with her in 2019.
“It was a pretty good day,” Farmer said. “Only the one race, which was a bit unfortunate. It was pretty shifty. You know never know what you’re going to get,” she said in relation to the forecast, which bore little resemblance to what they did get.
“It’s The first time we’ve raced together on this boat (also an S80), but we’ve sailed together for years at home and we did take the boat out for a practice yesterday.
“We’d love a bit more wind – and get all the races in,” said Farmer, who along with her crew are looking forward to the official dinner this evening.
Getting serious on Serious Yahoo – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
It was a tough gig for Race Officer Hughson, but all in a day’s work, she said. “Double Exposure (the J24 skippered by Maree Fitzpatrick from Whitsunday Sailing Club) was fortunate to finish. They crossed the finish line 23 seconds before the time limit expired,” she said.
Solidarity is the embodiment of the regatta. Mother/daughter combinations, sisters, best friends, all come together for this one-of-kind event that has many returning regulars who embrace the newcomers, while enjoying catching up with friends from other ports that they meet here.
Day 2 – Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta – one race and changes on the board
A beautiful winter day in Melbourne for Day 2 at the 34th Australian Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), but once again, the wind gods were laughing out loud and made the fleet wait until 12.15pm before a weak northerly saw fit to filter onto Port Phillip – and in the vicinity of Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, organiser of the regatta.
Picture perfect on Port Phillip today – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
Patient crews and patient race officer, Laura Hughson saw it through and was able to get just one race in again, but competitors found various ways to amuse and entertain themselves while waiting on a flat and lifeless Port Phillip.
“I travelled 800 kilometres to have my backside kicked by the wind,” Hughson said ashore this afternoon. However, her sense of humour is still intact.
Race Officer Laura Hughson got one race away in trying conditions – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
Sarah Clough, daughter of event founder, Gai Clough, has steered Crusader, a Beneteau First 30jk (Vic) to the lead of Division 1. Crusader won today’s light race, after scoring second place in Race 1 yesterday.
“We had a fantastic day,” a pleased Clough said. “And it was beautiful out there. We like the light weather – but you had to pay attention it was tricky,” said Clough who has good friend Kate Middleton sailing with her again.
“We’ve known each other since we were 11. We started sailing together in Cadets here (RMYS) and then in keelboats.
“Sarah and I have done at least 10 AWKR’s together,” said Middleton, who does mainsheet.
Clough responded: “She’s got attitude, so she’s good for that job, adding “We’re loving the regatta, absolutely loving it.”
Middleton: “It’s great so see such a good number of boats here and a great fleet. And ashore, they’re very generous with the barbecue and drinks.”
Clough: “It’s great fun ashore after racing. We’ve nominated Jody and Katrina to do the spinnaker competition for Crusader tonight.”
Middleton: “Katrina’s packed the kite for the last two days, so she should be good to go. They’ve been nominated without their consent,” she said laughing.
Clough: “We’ve met up with old friends here too, which is great.”
For tomorrow’s final day, Clough said, “We’d like more light air race for tomorrow, because that could mean another good result. Just one more race…”
Event co-chair, Monica Jones has moved up the board into second place in Division 1 with her Adams 10, Salamanda III, courtesy of second place in Race 2. Leading the series into today’s race, Ciara Earley’s Jacobina drops to third after Earley sailed her Jutson 950 to 10th in Race 2.
Salamander III had a good day out – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
However, there are three other yachts on equal 11 points with Jacobina. Spartan, the Wendy Tuck skippered Beneteau 34.7 (NSW), Robyn Ragauskas’ Bull 9000, Bullet and Katie Holroyd’s Adams 10, Serious Yahoo, are breathing down Jacobina’s neck. Tomorrow, with the breeze looking light again, will decide the outcome.
Holly Farmer’s New Zealand crewed S80, Revolution, continues to lead Division 2 after adding a fifth to yesterday’s win. Third place today has lifted the Butcher Smith skippered Bluebird, Blue Volvo (Vic), into second place overall.
Revolution leading the pack – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
Janet Thornley (SA) won Race 2 with the S80, Espresso, lifting her crew to third place overall. Janette Syme’s J24, Jet (Qld), is in fourth place, but on equal 11 points with Espresso.
Revolution also leads the S80 division. In second place is Fiona McManus’ Mood Indigo from Darwin, with Espresso filling out third place. Emma Arnold’s Rebel Just For Kicks is in fourth, on equal points with Espresso.
“It was tricky, you really had to look to where the breeze was and try not to fall into any wind holes, tack at the right times. The second leg was our better one – we caught some and passed others under spinnaker. Brenda Cassidy did very well on the spinnaker,”
Top strength was 6 knots, but averaged around 4 knots. I wouldn’t be the race officer for anything,” she said to Hughson this afternoon, knowing how difficult a job she had.
“Definitely good to win on a S80 – I’ve never sailed one before. Yesterday we couldn’t work out how to lift the motor out of the water yesterday, so we had the drag factor. And we couldn’t get the right shape out of the jib yesterday, it was so stretched, so we changed it for one the boat’s training jib. All fixed today – and a win!
“Tomorrow I’d love two races – so we can drop our first race (they were 10th yesterday),” Thornley said laughing.
Misfortune struck one boat. A broken rudder for Lancoorie, skippered by Sue Burke. It meant retiring and no points on the board for the Hobsons Bay Yacht Club crew.
The Boat Buoys were called and lead, Alex Stroud, had team members spring into action. One helped set up the emergency steering while others went to help guide the Defiance 30 into the Club’s marina.
Alex Stroud in the RMYS boat yard today – Di Pearson, AWKR pic
The Boat Buoys are the anomaly at the AWKR. They are a respected and dedicated team of male volunteers who support the regatta who do play roles with good grace and enjoy it.
Stroud, a 10-year member of RMYS, is in his second year of leading the team of 18. The organised 35-year-old explained their duties: “We do all the shore based activities that includes organising the daily afternoon barbecues, the boat yard party (which will take place late this afternoon) and assisting with Club information on Port Phillp.”
On the water, they assist with getting the boats out and back into the marina, look after on-water assistance (such as the Lancoorie), organise any sail repairs with Doyle Sails (courtesy of Blake Anderson),
The Boat Buoys also look after preventative vessel maintenance. That involves dealing with engine issues, boats tips and tricks for leaving and returning to the marina and ensuring safe arrival on land from the marina.
Waiting for breeze some crews enjoyed a friendly raft up – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
Some of the Boat Buoys are regulars, such as Peter Yoon who has done seven or eight now.
Stroud is a good choice to lead the team. A sailor since age 12, he is a member of RMYS and his hobby is buying and selling trailable boats, which he also sails and encourages females to sail them. His nickname is ‘Alex Everywhere’, given to him, Stroud says, “by a female sailor who started seeing me sailing everywhere in trailable boats.
“It’s an honour, a privilege and a pleasure to be a Boat Buoy and to lead the team. It’s good to be able to support the women at the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta. I absolutely love doing this – I even miss family and friends weddings to do this,” Stroud ends.
Another new welcome touch has been added to the regatta this year – a masseuse comes in daily after sailing and his services are well utilised.
On a final note, RMYS is celebrating its 150 anniversary this year and celebrations will be held throughout November, says RMYS Rear Commodore, Cathy Mahony.
Tonight’s fun-filled entertainment includes the Boat Buoys Barby, followed by the frenetic and fun Doyle kite packing competition and a Jimmy Rum tasting that is sure to prepare the women for the argy-bargy of that event and the Karaoke straight after!
Day 3 – Melbourne turns it on for final day of Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta
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.
Bullet and Serious Yahoo crossing tacks – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
“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.
Jacobina won Division 1 – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
“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.
Gridlock on the course today – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
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.”
S80s Espresso and Outlaw looking good with kites flying – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
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.”
Holly Farmer skippered Revolution – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
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.
Spinnakers on a sparkling Port Phillip – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
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.
Siren (closest) to windward with city backdrop – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
“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.
Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron put on another fun filled event – Andrea Francolini, AWKR pic
“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
By Di Pearson/AWKR media
