Sequel enjoying the long race conditions - Andrea Francolini

Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) hosted the 30th Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) from 11-13 June 2022. The regatta is Australia’s premier and longest running all-female women’s keelboat regatta; it had not been held for the last two years due to Covid restrictions. This year’s event attracted 24 boats and 155 sailors from a wide variety of sailing backgrounds, from the highly experienced to novice level.

Crews from Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and Queensland contested the event, raced across two divisions. The event is unique in that many of the boats raced are provided by generous boat owners from Victorian clubs, including RMYS and Sandringham Yacht Club. Also supporting the event were the ‘Boat Boys’, who helped to get boats off and on the marina along St Kilda Pier each day and were on hand to help with any repairs.

Three J/70’s were amongst the 13 teams contesting Division 2.  A huge thank you to boat owners Tony Langren who offered his brand new boat Sequel to Monica Jones, Past Commodore of Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron.  Brendan Lee and Adam Keyes-Tilly handed over ‘Madness‘ to Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s Karyn Gojnich and the new owner of ‘The Jackal’ Fraser Welch generously let Sara Ladd, also from Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron race his boat.

Madness leading Division 2 around the top mark - Andrea Francolini

Competitors were rigorously tested over three days with two extremes of Melbourne weather: very windy with intermittent rain through to clear sky but calm - both were freezing!

On Day 1, the wind gusted between 14 and 25 knots from the south west. Principal Race Officer Louise Hutton decided on three windward/leeward races instead of two, in anticipation of Sunday’s wild forecast. The J/70’s dominated the front end of the Division 2 fleet despite erring on the side of caution and deciding not to fly spinnakers.  In Division 1 racing took its toll, two crew were washed overboard – and successfully retrieved – and there were a number of retirements due to boat issues.

On Day 2, the breeze stayed below 20 knots, however the Port Phillip Bay chop was challenging. The first race of the day was again a windward/leeward, and the second was the ‘long race’ of 12 nautical miles. Whilst it was a tough slog upwind, it did make for two exhilarating downwind legs under spinnaker with the J/70’s hitting over 15 knots surfing down waves.  Sequel took the long race win after Madness sailed to the wrong bottom mark.  Both J/70's were well clear of the rest of both fleets.

Wild and frigid conditions in Port Phillip Bay - Andrea Francolini

Race 6, the final of the series, was sailed in extremely light airs on Day 3. Division 1 got away, but then the breeze shifted 30 degrees and PRO Louise Hutton was forced to abandon Div 2.   A short time later, racing was under way in light patchy air, and all finished their race.

The AWKR is scored under EHC (Event Handicap). Div 2 was tight, with the trio of J/70s filling out the top three places going into the final day of racing.  Karyn Gojnich led the way by three points with Madness. Local RMYS yachtswoman, Monica Jones, was in second, and Sarah Ladd, a further two points away in third.  Karyn prevailed, even though her fifth place in the final race was used as the drop and Sara climbed to second overall, after winning the final race.

The Jackal on a relatively calm downwind leg - Andrea Francolini

The AWKR is not just about the racing, many special awards were presented, including ‘Novice Helm for a first time skipper at the AWKR’ which went to Sara Ladd racing ‘The Jackal’.

Karyn Gojnich commented afterwards, ‘My goal for the weekend was to show some of our RSYS Ladies of the Sea (LOTS) graduates what regatta racing is all about. I also wanted them to experience the amazing organisation of the AWKR Regatta and bring back ideas for our own RSYS Ladies of the Sea Coaching Regatta which will run again at the Squadron over the October long weekend.  Sara Ladd and I co-own a J/70 and on this occasion we decided to helm a boat each with 10 sailors representing RSYS, of varying levels of experience .’

Vicki Kornman who sailed on The Jackal is more accustomed to Laser sailing. ‘The J/70 is so much fun to sail – it reminded me a lot of my dinghy racing (fortunately without the capsizing). Our five person crew learnt a lot and quickly. Capping it all off was the camaraderie of the AWKR competitors and RSYS crews, which made for a great all round event.’ Crewmate Alexia Biggs concurred, ‘There was so much friendliness, support, interest and fun among all the women throughout the weekend.’

The RSYS Teams LtoR: Jane McCulloch, Kylie Lloyd, Lindy Hardcastle, Alexia Biggs, Karyn Gojnich, Vicki Kornman, Michelle McGrath, Alex Murray, Amanda Hicks, Sara Ladd

View full results HERE