Holly Farmer's connection with the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta stretches back to 2019, when she won the S80 division and claimed second place in Division 2 sailing Escape. Seven years on, the New Zealand skipper is making her return, this time at the helm of Revolution, an S80, and her targets are considerably more ambitious. She and her all-Kiwi crew are chasing a double: divisional honours in the S80 fleet and outright top spot in Division 2.
The 34th AWKR takes place over the King's Birthday long weekend, running from 5 to 8 June 2026 at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. Farmer's entry is among a handful of recent additions to the regatta fleet, which has also welcomed two first-time AWKR skippers.
"We're super excited to be heading across the ditch to compete in this year's AWKR. We were last there in 2019 where we had a fantastic regatta. We thoroughly enjoyed sailing at such a wonderful venue, where we meet new friends and relished the amazing atmosphere," Farmer said.
Representing Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club, the crew has sailed together, with varying regularity, over a number of years. Women's sailing is central to what the group does, both at home and across New Zealand more broadly. Getting to Melbourne has required significant support from those around them, including some particularly timely assistance from across the Tasman.
"It's great to see women's sailing being promoted through regattas such as this where females are encouraged and supported to fully immerse themselves into the sport of sailing," Farmer said.
"We've had a lot of help to get to the AWKR and acknowledge our appreciation for all those that have made this possible. We're also extremely lucky to have had the help of our Australian friends Anthony and Ann, previous owners of Escape, who have not only found us a boat to borrow for the regatta but also offered us accommodation. So huge thanks to Anthony and Ann and also to the owners of Revolution who have kindly agreed to us using their boat. We look forward to seeing you all there."
Fleet numbers have grown partly off the back of a social evening recently hosted at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. AWKR Co-Chairwoman Monica Jones, who shares the position this year with Celia Dymond, described what the event produced. "We hosted a social event at the Club, allowing a lot of learning and networking among sailors. Wendy Tuck attended and indicated she'd be back to sail on Spartan again," Jones said.
One of the sailors who walked through the door that evening was RMYS member Johanna Mottram, a complete newcomer to the AWKR who will be taking on the role of skipper for the first time. She plans to race Aria, a Bavaria 34 Cruiser that she and her husband Phill Mottram have owned since early 2021.
"I'm still quite nervous, but we had a good session at the social event at the Club. It was an insightful sharing experience, with experienced helms guiding us on how to set up crew and manage communications across racing and ashore," Mottram said. The evening covered a broad range of territory, from keeping crew members engaged and understanding their distinct roles, to managing expectations and putting support structures in place. "It was a brilliant evening and it was brilliant having Wendy Tuck there, she was in our group."
Tuck, the Australian sailor who became the first female to win a race of any type around the world and who has 18 Sydney Hobarts to her name, turned out to be far less formidable in person than her reputation might suggest. "Wendy wasn't nearly as intimidating as I expected, she was very nice," Mottram said.
The Victorian has been steadily rebuilding her confidence on the water after stepping away from the sport during a demanding period in her career. "I did a competent crew course a couple of years ago in Queensland. But then I was working a demanding job spending a lot of time out of Australia, so didn't get the opportunities. Since I quit my job though, it's been on my list to get up to speed with sailing, and I am!" Practical preparation has been closer to home, practising boat handling at the berth. "I've been practicing putting the boat back in the pen with my husband," she said.
Her 25-year-old daughter Emma will be aboard for the regatta, taking care of the mainsheet. Mottram's definition of success is straightforward. "For us, our thing is to be safe, have completion and for everyone to have a good time. Gaining skills and confidence, building a team and getting better at it is all part of it. If it all goes well, maybe next year we will graduate to a faster boat," she said, well aware that the Bavaria needs a decent breeze before it really gets moving.
Michelle Ruskin rounds out the new skippers joining the fleet. She sails regularly alongside yachtsman Wayne Seaward, who has agreed to loan her his Beneteau Oceanis 473, Cyan Moon, for the regatta. Seaward loaned Cyan Moon to Katrina Hartman for last year's AWKR, so the arrangement has previous form.
"Wayne is very generous and very trusting. I find it extraordinary that he lets us take his boats out," Ruskin said. She raced as crew at last year's AWKR and has also competed at Hamilton Island Race Week. Her co-skipper experience includes a double-handed race with ORCV, sailing alongside Valeria Lema aboard Seaward's other boat, Pacemaker, a Farr 1104. Assuming sole charge of Cyan Moon, though, represents a clear step up.
"I've done Hamilton Island Race Week, but the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta will be my first time racing in the skipper's role," she said. Getting to that position owed a good deal to someone else recognising qualities in her before she had recognised them herself. "I sometimes wonder how I got here, because I'm not usually a person who puts myself forward. Wayne saw me as a leader. He said, 'People trust you and listen to you', which is really validating."
The uncertainty has not fully left her, though the people around her provide a solid foundation. "I feel confident in the role now, but sometimes I still suffer disbelief at being here. I have really good support from experienced sailors on board, so feel very supported by the team as a whole," the Victorian said. The crew heads out every Sunday regardless of conditions, keeping training consistent. Several members of the group are also preparing for the Gold Coast to Mackay race, which will be Ruskin's first offshore overnighter.
Reflecting on last year's event, Ruskin noted one logistical lesson she intends to act on. "I think it was really well done. We missed some of the after-race activities because we had to sail the boat back to Brighton each day. We did get to the crew dinner and heard it was great ashore after racing, so this time we'll carpool so we can enjoy it," she said.
The social programme ashore is very much part of the AWKR fabric. Post-race sausage sizzles and drinks are laid on after each day's sailing, ticketed events are available to book in advance, and breakfast is served each morning before racing begins.
