Thirty-six all-female crews are converging on Port Phillip this King's Birthday weekend for one of Australian sailing's most distinctive and enduring events. The Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta is now in its 34th year, having grown from the very first all-female keelboat regatta held anywhere in the country, a pioneering milestone attributed to the late Gai Clough. Beyond that achievement, Clough also made history as the first woman to serve as commodore of an Australian yacht club, a role she held at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron.
What has always distinguished AWKR from the broader racing calendar is the range of sailors it brings together. The fleet encompasses complete beginners racing competitively for the first time, seasoned club racers, offshore professionals, and women who simply haven't previously had an opportunity like this. Sarah Clough, carrying on her mother's legacy, is among those returning to compete this year. The entry list draws from New Zealand, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Victoria, with three days of racing ahead across both round-the-buoys and windward/leeward formats designed to test a variety of skills.
"We're looking forward to welcoming all competitors," said Monica Jones, co-chair of the regatta alongside Celia Dymond. "Three days of racing on the water, and keeping everyone entertained ashore after."
The regatta runs on community goodwill as much as anything else. Around twenty local volunteers, known as Boat Buoys, show up each day to carry out repairs and routine maintenance on yachts that most competitors do not own themselves. The boat owners who lend their vessels have returned year after year, and what began as a practical arrangement has long since grown into genuine friendship. Without that generosity, and the daily labour those volunteers provide, the regatta simply could not take place.
Bendigo Community Bank Elwood has joined the sponsor lineup this year, alongside returning backers Rothwell, AMS, Melbourne Debt Collectors and Rebecca Badenoch's law firm. Doyle Sails has Blake Anderson on standby throughout racing to handle any sail repairs that arise. Ronstan, Musto and other contributors are donating prizes, with Savage Wharf putting up a $1500 voucher package. Post-race hospitality is provided by Wine X Sam, Jimmy Rum and Drivers Beer, with complimentary sausages on offer and Dan Peel's shower foam available for competitors looking to wash off the salt after a day on the water.
"Thanks to our sponsors, competitors are guaranteed a fantastic time," Jones said. "They're what keep the regatta running."
