Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta 2008
The new Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta IRC trophy launched in 2008
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Erin MCGavin, RMYS, Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Women’s Sailing Makes a Splash
The event organisers of the 18th Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron could not be happier over the Queen’s Birthday weekend as they witnessed Top Gun, an Adams 10 skippered by Cath Beaufort of RVYC and helmed by their own Anne Antrecht of the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron take the honours in IRC division.
In the event’s biggest fleet ever with over 127 competitors from Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, the competition itself was a lot more fierce then the winter winds that refused to co-operate for the most part of the annual regatta. Despite this, all six series races conducted off St. Kilda by the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) went ahead and provided the public on the St. Kilda foreshore and supporters on spectator boats with an amazing display of women’s team - work and talent. This resulted in an exceptionally high standard event, which continually raises the standard of women’s sailing in Australia.
Linda Goldsmith, RMYS regatta manager and a long time regatta competitor said that the enthusiasm displayed by the women involved was a credit to competitors with Tom Cat II, a J24 skippered by Tanya Stanford taking overall regatta honours. IRC winners Top Gun, were the inaugural recipients of the new Ann Maree Pope - Tracy Luke perpetual IRC Trophy. Ann Maree and Tracy were both members of RMYS and were lost in the capsize of the yacht, Excalibur off the New South Wales coast in 2002.The trophy is an opportunity to celebrate the lives of these women both of whom were passionate about their sailing. Under the leadership of fellow Excalibur crew member and accident survivor, Brian McDermott, the new trophy was commissioned with St. Kilda sculptor Louise Hart and a fund was established to provide for IRC prizes into the future.
Hyperactive, a J24 crewed by women from Sandringham Yacht Club, took the honours in the AMS division. The lecture series leading up to the event, proved to be an enormous success, covering a number of racing topics including the sail trimming, racing tactics and the effects of changing weather systems and were delivered by noted international sailors including Frank Hammond (Horizon Sails), Ian “Barney” Walker and Jeni Lidgett. The skills proved to be valuable to the women who continued to raise the standards of racing as the event went on.
The presentation night gave all the teams a chance to bond, let their hair down and reminisce on what could have been. I am happy to report however, that despite the lack of wind, no crew - members were sacrificed to the wind gods in the making of this event. Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron would like to thank the sponsors of the
18 th Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta including:
| | Ronstan |
Sebago / Pacific Brands | |
| | Sierra |
Snowgum – Moorabbin | Lorcy Media |
| Snowgum | |
| Mc Donald Marine | Donovans Restaurant, St Kilda |
| | Amello, St Kilda |
Oxhey and Bushey Hairdressers | Whitworth’s Marine & Leisure |
| Anchor Marine Bridge Road Beer, Beechworth | Trilogy Cosmetics |
| | Tasman Quartersmasters |
| Andrew Kopp Photography | Barney Allen’s Restaurant, St Kilda |
Boat Books St Kilda | Kerastase |
Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron would like to thank the sponsors of the
18 th Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta including:
| | Ronstan |
Sebago / Pacific Brands | |
| | Sierra |
Snowgum – Moorabbin | Lorcy Media |
| Snowgum | |
| Mc Donald Marine | Donovans Restaurant, St Kilda |
| | Amello, St Kilda |
Oxhey and Bushey Hairdressers | Whitworth’s Marine & Leisure |
| Anchor Marine Bridge Road Beer, Beechworth | Trilogy Cosmetics |
| | Tasman Quartersmasters |
| Andrew Kopp Photography | Barney Allen’s Restaurant, St Kilda |
Boat Books St Kilda | Kerastase |
Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta 7- 9 th June, 2008 - Queens Birthday weekend.
