Thirty-six all-female crews are converging on Port Phillip this King’s Birthday weekend for one of Australian sailing’s most distinctive regattas. The Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta, now in its 34th year, has become something of an institution since it started as the first event of its kind in Australia, a distinction owed to the late Gai Clough, who broke new ground as the nation’s first female yacht club commodore at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron.
What sets AWKR apart isn’t just the all-female racing mandate. The regatta draws a genuine cross-section: rookies learning the ropes alongside club racers, offshore racing professionals, and sailors who’ve simply never had the chance to compete before. Sarah Clough follows her mother’s legacy by joining again this year. Crews have travelled from New Zealand, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, NSW, the Northern Territory and Victoria, with three days of mixed racing ahead—round-the-buoys courses and windward/leeward formats designed to test different skills.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming all competitors,” said Monica Jones, co-chair with Celia Dymond. “Three days of racing on the water, and keeping everyone entertained ashore after.”
The event runs on goodwill and practical support. About twenty local volunteers, operating as Boat Buoys, handle daily repairs and maintenance on yachts many skippers don’t own themselves. Boat owners have become so committed they now count as friends to the crews they loan to each year. Without this foundation, the regatta simply wouldn’t function.
Bendigo Community Bank Elwood joined the sponsor lineup this year, alongside long-standing backers Rothwell, AMS, Melbourne Debt Collectors and Rebecca Badenoch’s law firm. Doyle Sails has Blake Anderson on standby for sail repairs. Ronstan, Musto and others donate prizes, while Savage Wharf is putting up a $1500 voucher package. Wine X Sam, Jimmy Rum and Drivers Beer handle post-race hospitality, complemented by free sausages and Dan Peel’s shower foam for those needing to wash salt spray away.
“Thanks to our sponsors, competitors are guaranteed a fantastic time,” Jones said. They’re what keep the regatta running.
