A southerly gusting past 30 knots couldn't dampen the enthusiasm at Waikawa this September, where 119 wahine sailors gathered for one of the busiest weekends on the club's calendar.
The 2026 Gela Skincare Waikawa Women's Regatta ran over three days, hosted by Waikawa Boating Club. Sailors from around the country took part in a mix of racing and social events, with conditions swinging from flat calm and sunshine to a proper blow by the end of it.
It started gently enough. A Taste of Marlborough evening saw five local launches ferry 50 visiting sailors out to Kumototo Bay, where a five-boat raft-up was laid on with venison, lamb, pāua, mussels, salmon and vegetables, washed down with wines from Riverby Estate.
Saturday brought sunshine, dolphins and diving gannets as the fleet got down to business. Two races went ahead: a longer harbour course out to Perano Shoals first, then a windier round-the-buoys race that put spinnaker work and boat-handling under real pressure.
That evening the club was packed. Around 100 guests sat down for dinner and prizegiving, where Olympic gold medallist Jenny Armstrong spoke about her time in last December's Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Some of her stories were hair-raising enough to put most people off ever attempting the race themselves, though that didn't seem to deter a few guests from considering a crack at it.
Sunday started clear and bright again, but nobody was fooled. The forecast southerly arrived as promised, and by around 10.30am wind speeds were climbing past 30 knots at times. The racing committee and safety boat crews were kept busy shifting marks and adjusting courses to manage the conditions.
Conditions eased back to a more sailable 15 to 20 knots later in the morning, allowing two further round-the-buoys races to be completed before the fleet came ashore around 3pm.
The final prizegiving filled the club a second time. Faces burnt by sun and wind, crews worn out, but smiling.
Strong numbers again this year have already locked in the next edition, with the 2027 Gela Skincare Waikawa Women's Regatta confirmed for 10 to 12 September.
Waikawa Boating Club thanked the sailors, boat owners, sponsors and volunteers who made the weekend happen, an event that continues to showcase the camaraderie and competitive spirit of women's sailing.
