Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta

Penfold Audi Sport crew L-R: Sarah Baldwin, Sally Rattle, Michelle Edwards, Caroline Walker, Heather McCallum, Lauren Davison, Colleen Darcey

John Curnow, Tuesday, 12 June 2012

‘tis done! AWKR Day Three.

Yes. It certainly is done at the 2012 Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) on Melbourne’s Port Phillip. Well the on-water part anyway, for they are well into the party mode now, upstairs at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) in St Kilda. It may be cold, but the rain is miles away, so the crews are sure to get the party started.

Now talking of done, nothing could be more of an emphatic closure than the efforts of the crew on board the Archambault A31, Penfold Audi Sport. Mostly, they sail against each other down on the Derwent River in Hobart on some of the top boats there. They come together as great friends for this all women event and by far, 2012 has been their best ever performance. Colleen Darcey (skipper), Lauren Davison and Caroline Walker represent the Bellerive Yacht Club. Sally Rattle (Archie, A35), Michelle Edwards and Heather McCallum the Derwent Sailing Squadron, with Sarah Baldwin from the Geilston Bay Yacht Club.

Caroline Walker from said of the crew’s wins in each of IRC, Australian Measurement (AMS) and Performance Handicap System (PHS), ‘I am happy now! Never been so stressed in my life. Not a good start for this last race, but we pegged the leaders back enough, so we’ll take that. Crew did an awesome job in the light and variable winds, so we are really looking forward to the do tonight and so very pleased to be hosting David (David Ellis, Penfold Audi Sport’s owner) at the bash, as a thank you for loaning his great craft to us. I might even let my hair down and possibly lead the way for the others. We are all smiles and what a great event. The Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron and the AWKR might even get us back, yet again...’

David himself was, ‘…absolutely thrilled that they could do it and I know Gareth and crew out at Penfold Audi in Burwood will be really delighted for them, as well. It’s one thing to have a well-prepared craft, but you still have to get out on the track and get the results! Sensational stuff.’

Erin Foster from Top Gun, said of her young crew’s second places in each of IRC, AMS and PHS. ‘A huge thank you and congratulations to RMYS and also all of the boat owners, our fellow competitors and associated shore crews. Great stuff. We are certainly and fired up for 2013.’ Top Gun was powered by, Megan Aulich on the bow, Cass Steers at the mast, Steph Robson in the office, Freya Vickery on for’ard sail trim, Stephanie Strong on mains, Claire Hunting as tactician and Erin with the tiller. ‘I am so very proud of them – brilliant job’, said a jubilant Erin.

Janet Dean and the crew of Jungle Juice collected a pair of thirds in IRC and AMS. We got to speak with Janet as she was preparing all the trophies and writing on the boxes for the engraver, so that the respective crews can receive their goodies all ready to roll and in some fly home with them. ‘Simply delighted to have such a strong and competitive Interstate contingent here for 2012, which really helps to make a truly Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta. Personally, we had a ball. It was great fun, but we were just not quick enough. You know, the other crews have done so well and my girls were just great!’ Speaking of which, Janet has given us the perfect segue, as on Jungle Juice, we have Christine Pfeifer on the bow, Janina Goethel at the mast, Ginnie Lhermet in the office, Georgie Labb trimming, Monica Tonner as tactician and also on trim, Celia Dymond on the main and Janet on the tiller.

McKenzie Charlton from Duckmobile who were third in PHS, said, ‘Many thanks to David Seaman, Rear Commodore at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, for the use of his boat. Good to get on the podium on the last day with a terrific, fun crew and we certainly had a blast. We have improved every race of every day and hence the result, which is really cool. Probably be a scramble to get the silverware, but I think our Skipper, Kathy MacFarlane, will get the nod.’

Paul Pascoe, the PRO for the event, commented afterwards ‘Postponing for the hour this morning was a good and prudent thing. The Answering Pennant went up and then we got them away just before noon. Three vessels were involved in a luffing duel and we called them all back. Included in this mob was Penfold Audi Sport, along with Bushido and Nouannie. We had five to six knots out of the Nor’east and set the weather mark at 050 degrees. As is typical with these parts, especially at this time of year, it was more consistent closer in to the beach and so those that got in there early did better.’

‘Second around the top today was the Hanse 400, Kaberet, who today used their big symmetrical bag and that meant they held their own downhill. Tigris lead from gun to gun, sailing more distance with sharper angles, but they just kept extending their lead. Well-done and great to watch. Conversely, ‘Could not do a thing right, so we’re taking croquet’ was what Red Dog told me as they finished in a dying breeze. Race Management is well and truly happy to get the one race in the two hours when there was some breeze. Today was a case of sunnies required, but no T-shirts, alas. Still, we’ll take that every time’, Paul finished with.

‘We ended up with a complete series finishing in wonderful sunshine and everyone appears to be having a really huge time of it all as they relax on the deck. I am sure they would all love a long weekend off, but alas that’s just not going to happen. We had great crew of volunteers and with out them and our sponsors, Helly Hansen and Nautilus Marine Insurance, it just would not happen. Similarly, without Janina Goethel and her committee, the AWKR would not even get afloat,’ said Rod Austin, the General Manager of the RMYS.

See rmys.com.au for more information.

More bullets than the confectionery isle.
AWKR Day Two.

With a collection of bullets just about as sweet as the ones that come in the bags that adorn the supermarket isle, it is Penfold Audi Sport in front after Day Two of the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta on Melbourne’s Port Phillip.

The mover and shaker of the day is Nouannie, but given it was lottery central in the end, the final standings may well have had the hardener already mixed in to the primer. There were 40 to 60 degree shifts out there as one observer put it and if you have sailed these waters, you will know that looking at the top mark as the leaders go flying in, whilst you listen to that dreaded sound of the water slapping under the transom, can be a tad soul destroying.

Tanya Stanford, owner/driver of Nouannie said, ‘Large amounts of disappointment for sure, seeing as we had got on to the leader board after Race Four and to miss out with Race Five, as a DNF, hurts. However, we have managed to turn that in to motivation for a red hot go at AMS tomorrow.’ Nouannie presently sits in fourth place for Australian Measurement System (AMS) and Performance Handicap System (PHS) and occupies fifth in IRC.

Janet Dean from Jungle Juice, currently in third place across all three racing categories said, ‘We are loving it and really enjoying getting the boat going in these challenging conditions. So it is certainly smiles all round at the moment and tomorrow looks like being even more of a job on concentration and wind on the water watching.’

With four bullets from five races in IRC and two in each of AMS and PHS, Penfold Audi Sport leads all three categories, and in the case of the former two it could be considered an insurmountable lead. However, if the challenge of Monday lives up to its usual surprise, then in order to finish first, first you have to finish could well be the mantra heard around the Bay. Caroline Walker, mainsail trimmer on board Penfold Audi Sport had this to say, ‘We want to sail really well and have a good time, then the results follow. Fabulous bunch of girls and we sail on different boats on the Derwent River in Hobart and come together from successful boats. Together with or great friendships, we thought we’d make a great team that could have an awesome time at the AWKR.’ You also have to note that they are ever so humble and not likely to be counting chickens yet or showing up very dusty for the grand finale on Monday. Rather, you felt you almost had to coax a comment from them and they are also very gracious. It is not their first time at the AWKR, either. ‘We’d really like to thank a very generous David Ellis for providing us with this exceptionally well-prepared boat. So too, Savage’s Marina have a led a cast of awesome local support over here in Williamstown. Special note to Doyle’s for repairing a kite overnight for us, as well’, Caroline finished with.

Erin Foster is from Top Gun, which is lying in second place across all three categories. ‘We’re racing and working together well, so certainly enjoying the occasion. This is my second AWKR on the helm and I must have done seven or so of them over the last 15 years. I am only 28 and now the oldest in the crew, our youngest is 18 years of age, so it is very much in the spirit of Gai’s original vision. Erin did her very first AWKR with its founder, Gai Clough and Gai’s daughter, Sarah. ‘Max Peters has been tremendous and so, so supportive, so we’d really like to thank him for the use of his boat’, Erin finished with.

Not everyone ended up finishing Race Five. Sunshine was very aptly the last to glow, as seven of the 16 competitors missed out and yes that certainly affected the tables. ‘A frustrating day out on the water. We had the Answering Pennant up for 45 minutes before we got a start away. Not too long after that, the breeze went soft, then left and then filled in again. For the second race, we moved the course to 210 degrees to account for yet another change, it was flat water and nine knots, then we moved to 180 and shortened the legs up, but for the last downwind leg it all died and so the remainder of the fleet finished a minute or for some, considerably more, after the allotted two hour time limit’, said Paul Pascoe, the PRO.

‘We have moved the start for Monday back to 1100hrs to account for the anticipated fog and we only have to get the one race in to complete the series’, Paul finished with.

In terms of boats to look out for tomorrow, who may well be able to mount a challenge in the variable conditions, look for Jo Norbury’s Executive Decision crew to continue to make for the ground they lost early on the regatta. Nouannie is worth noting again, for they really do sail the hull out from under that boat and do it with not only aplomb, but also genuine smiles, which is certainly the key to the AWKR.

See rmys.com.au for more information.

AWKR Day One Results = Wet and cold, but happy.

For all 22 years of her life, the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) has been happily racing away on Melbourne’s Port Phillip over the Queen’s Birthday Weekend. For just about all of those, the Adams 10 has been a priority boat for the all-female crews looking to place well. 2012 is to be no different in that regard.

A lot of the intervening time, light to no wind has been the order of the day, albeit fog, mist and a large dose of frustration have also come to the fore. Typically, it is usually after a wild tempest has tried to blow the region of the face of the planet and again, 2012 has proven to be no different. 15 knots and subsiding down to fives from the East, which means variable in this part of the world, are what the forecasters are talking about for the three-day event. None the less, it is miles better than over 35, when they’d be confined to the pens at St Kilda’s Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron.

This year, it looks like the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria is out to make a serious claim, with five of the 16 vessels haling from there, even if the crews are from other clubs. In a sense, they’ll be led by the little Scampi 30, Nouannie, who have been winners in many of the last few years. Unlike other regattas, however, the winners from IRC, Australian Measurement System (AMS) and Performance Handicap System (PHS) all share equal glory and this is the way the event’s founder, Gai Clough, wanted it to be all that time ago.

David Ellis, the owner/driver of the very well campaigned Archambault A31, Penfold Audi Sport, has given the keys to his pride and joy to Coleen Darcey from Hobart, Tasmania. Representing the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, a lot of the crew spend time on the A35, Archie. ‘It’s an Archambault family gesture, just like the French company themselves, who are now up to their third generation of boat builders’, said David. Gareth Bryant, the Dealer Principal from Penfold Audi Sport was, ‘… delighted to see the boat, with the kind of pedigree David and the crew have built up, out there yet again competing and going for gold. Good luck and happy sailing.’ After Race One you could definitely say they are clearly enjoying the 10-15kn Sou’westerlies currently running down the course, as they took out all three – IRC, AMS and PHS. I’m sure they’ll want that sort of performance to continue, but the breeze is definitely waning, presently.

‘I’m just really glad to again see friends amongst our crews from South Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales. We even have one sailor from WA, Mandy McEvoy who is on board Executive Decision, so I wish them all well out on the track and know the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron will look after them back at the clubhouse’, said Linda Goldsmith, the club’s Commodore. ‘We should see three races for the day, which will be good for the quality fleet of dead keen sailors that have assembled. They’re utilising wonderful craft too, so thank you to all the owners for allowing the teams to access these well prepared and campaigned yachts. We have eight vessels racing under IRC, 14 in the ever-expanding AMS and all 16 in PHS. As a female Commodore, it is also great to see Gai’s vision continuing so strongly.’

Inside said fleet are some very seasoned skippers. Janet Dean on Jungle Juice is one of the Adams 10 hopefuls and she should be, as the money has her as the favourite to take out at least part of the regatta. She won the RMYS Lady Skippers’ race by half a leg and collected both Line Honours and Performance Handicap for her efforts. Dee Mason is a regular crewmember on board the Flying Tiger 10, Tigris, and she has taken the helm this year as Alison Binks deals with her new child. Look for Top Gun, yet another Adams 10, with the very determined Erin Foster on the tiller. They are a real threat. QED. Currently, they are well and truly on the scoreboard, as are the other Adams 10s. Sunshine is an Adams 10.6 and has Rebecca Baddenoch driving. She is a long time club person, as well as being a Partner in the law firm, Logie-Smith-Lanyon, who are event sponsors. Sabina Rosser, another long term RMYS member and who has competed in each of the previous AWKRs is driving the Radford Sprint 35, Silk. With Graham Radford doing his apprenticeship under Joe Adams, it kind of has that sort of look and feel and watch out for this vessel under AMS.

Helen Willmer is back again for 2012 and brought an entire crew from the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron to crew Mrs Overnewton. Tara McCall and the CYCA’s development squad are down to try their hand at the AWKR and they are taking the J24, Gatsby, out to meet the opposition.

One of the larger vessels out there is the Hanse 40, Kaberet. Her owner is on board crewing with the very capable Rosie Colahan and Robyn Brooke calling the shots. As a final note and probably getting the nod for dark horse, look out for Executive Decision. Grant Botica’s Adams 10 smashes just about every event it enters. For the AWKR it is being crewed by Jo Norbury’s Chikara Chicks, who have done a lot of racing together, both around the sticks and into and over Bass Strait. Ultimately it all makes for great racing and as the weather is set to play its part, we get to watch it all unfold whilst staying dry.

Paul Pascoe is the Principal Race Officer. Amanda Wakeham is there, but going to see if Melbourne can put together another win on Monday, so is otherwise entertained. Paul commented, ‘It was a grey old day in Melbourne, as per the forecast and we got our 10-12 knots, too. Started at 240 and slid a bit South to 220 degrees and dropped down in velocity from there, so we shortened up the last leg of race three to ensure we got a fair result. It was pretty flat water as you might expect with the conditions, so we were able to get the start line close to the pier for any brave souls venturing out or for those in the bar at the clubhouse.’

‘The kite drops at the bottom mark for the first time were a bit interesting, with several boats losing places, but it was Rosie Colahan and company on Kaberet who went krill fishing and that certainly caught everyone’s eye. Blissfully, the fleet’s crew work improved from there. The starts were also a hotly contested item and everybody was keen and had themselves right up on the line, jockeying for pole position. In the first race, Jo Harpur on Spirit of Freya got the Individual Recall. Race Two’s honours for the same trick went to Janet Dean and Jungle Juice, whilst Jo Norbury and Executive Decision took their turn for Race Three’, said Paul.

‘We plan to run two races on Sunday in what look like being light breezes. That leaves us with one to get away on Monday. If the forecast for fog stays, we’ll make it an 1100hrs start, rather than 1000hrs, so please keep an eye on the board and website. It is quite different at a Women’s regatta. They have lots of sponsors with gifts, prizes and giveaways, ranging from dinner to parachute jumping and make up. It is really great to see involvement from major sponsors down to local businesses’, Paul finished with.

So then, to our finish and what better way to do it, than with the day’s results. In PHS, the series score thus far has Penfold Audi Sport on top, with Top Gun and Gatsby, the entry from the CYCA at Rushcutters Bay in third place. IRC is Penfold Audi Sport from Top Gun and then Jungle Juice. At this stage, AMS is an absolute carbon copy of IRC.

See rmys.com.au for more information.