Welcome to the 2026-2027 Sailing season and hello to the Victorian Women’s Keelboat Series, as the new title replacing Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series introduced in 2013. Originally modelled on the Victorian Range Club Marine Series, PPWCS combined the five top of the Bay keelboat clubs to showcase their own club’s signature female focussed event and provide a series with divisions for “all female crews” for more experienced women and “female helm only” for newbies to take up the helm supported by experienced crew.

Currently, Victoria leads all states and territories with female club membership at 38% and the highest female boat ownership, so whether you are aspiring or experienced, there has never been a better time to jump onboard.
The Organising Authority Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) has now opened entries for VWKS 2026-2027. In an auspicious year, the club is celebrating both its 150th anniversary and in June 2027, the 35th Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), the first and pinnacle all female keelboat regatta in Australia.

Following a vibrant 2026 with 36 boats, AWKR 2027 is shaping up with an invitational social event in December 2026 and on water starts training prior to the regatta in 2027.

If you have aspirations to be part of this iconic event, VWKS provides an ideal training ground across the summer season, with a mix across the five race day series of three short passage races and two short course multi race days.

First VWKS race kicks off on Sunday 29 November 2026 hosted by Hobson’s Bay with the club’s Shirley Freeman Trophy race, so now is the time to commit to the series, organise a boat, choose your division according to all female crew or female helm only and get out on the water. Delivery time to and from the events also makes for a valuable full training day and for those in the female helm only division, having boat owners, mentors and experienced crew onboard is a stellar opportunity to step up, hone your skills and gain confidence to go further.

A Teams Trophy is also up for grabs for the club with the greatest number of boats and female crew participating in the series, so rally your female club members to get on board to fly your club’s flag.
Thanks to RMYS as OA for hosting the VWKS events.

Official Noticeboard 
2026-27 VWKS Notice of Race 
TopYacht Entry 

Date
Race
Host
Sunday, 29 November 2026
Shirley Freeman Memorial Trophy
Hobson’s Bay Yacht Club
Sunday, 31 January 2027
Val Hodge Trophy
Royal Yacht Club of Victoria
Sunday, 28 February 2027
SYC Women In Sailing Challenge (WISC)
Sandringham Yacht Club
Sunday, 18 April 2027
Jennifer Goldsmith Trophy
Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron
Sunday, 2 May 2027
BLiSS (Brighton Lady Skippers Series
Royal Brighton Yacht Club

WORDS: Rosie Colahan, VWKS Media