Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M50

Final opportunity to enter Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta

by Di Pearson / AWKR media 3 Jun 05:35 UTC 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

Hover Rig: The finesse tactic you need now
Throw in a heavy dose of fishing pressure, and you have the recipe for disaster It's great when you flip a dock, laydown, or grass point and you immediately feel that hammer fall. Likewise, frogging's repetitive monotony becomes well worth the effort when that cannonball explosion shatters the stillness. Posted today at 4:57 am
Helping boaters steer clear of common mistakes
Veteran Sea Tow® captains share their tips Boating season is already in full throttle, and Sea Tow®, recognized throughout the marine industry as Your Road Service at Sea®, is proud to offer boating tips to avoid some of the most common mistakes seen on the water. Posted on 24 Jul
TATULA is Tops at ICAST 2025
All out with the new 23 model lineup of cork handle bass rods DAIWA goes all out with new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods and wins coveted Best Freshwater Rod at ICAST 2025. Posted on 24 Jul
Owner shares why he loves his WorldCat 325DC
Chuck highlights the unique experiences and cherished moments created Embark on the adventures of Chuck Smith, proud owner of the WorldCat 325DC. In this short testimonial, Chuck shares the joys of sandbar outings, fishing escapades, and family travels made possible by the versatility of the 325DC. Posted on 23 Jul
Marine Auctions: July Online Auctions
Bidding to start 24th July and will end 30 July We are now accepting entries for our August Online Auction. Posted on 22 Jul
Mercury Marine expands V10 Verado lineup
With all-new 425hp outboard and enhanced 350hp model Mercury Marine today announced the latest expansion of its award-winning Verado® outboard lineup with the introduction of the all-new V10 425hp Verado outboard and a performance enhanced version of the V10 350hp Verado outboard. Posted on 22 Jul
The after party starts now!
Prestige have already given us two instalments of their M-Line, and now here is the third Prestige have already given us two instalments of their M-Line, and now here is the third - M7 Posted on 21 Jul
Lowrance software update offers new features
New Trolling Motor features, Live Sonar enhancement Lowrance®, a world-leader in fishing electronics, today announced the release of software update 25.2, which is packed with innovative trolling motor features, significant enhancements to ActiveTarget® 2, and expanded third-party integrations. Posted on 16 Jul
DAIWA: Humbled and Honored
Carey Graves accepts Executive Officer role with parent company Globeride, Inc. American DAIWA Corp. President Carey Graves accepts Executive Officer role with parent company Globeride, Inc. Posted on 16 Jul
Lowrance® unveils Ghost® X Trolling Motor
Effortless positioning for a perfect cast every time Lowrance®, a world-leader in fishing electronics, today announced the Ghost® X 47-inch trolling motor, designed for freshwater and featuring an enhanced precision directional indicator, increased power, and the quietest motor yet. Posted on 16 Jul
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo M75