Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series (PPWCS) 2025-26 Race Day 4 hosted by Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron on Sunday 19 April 2026 showcased their annual signature female helm Jennifer Goldsmith Trophy event. Melbourne’s autumnal weather pulled one out of the box, with a stationary high over Port Phillip dialling the temperature to 26 degrees with light NE winds, the wind progressively dialling down from 7kn to zero for the duration of the two lap 6nm triangular course.

A tower start for a short distance to the first mark to the south saw the fleet split between spinnakers - “to be or not to be?” - and then all in for the long reach to the northerly mark and a beat back to the NE mark of the course in failing winds. Leading boats continued through the start/finish line for a slow repeat circuit with the back runners parked in zero wind randomly painfully pirouetting in the tide and drifting away off course.

With the lead boat Adams 10 Serious Yahoo (RBYC) taking Line Honours crossing the finish line just 10 minutes before the 3 hour time limit, another 50min was added for the rest of the fleet to finish. But alas this did not save 12 out of the17 boat fleet from calling retirement.

Back at the newly refurbished RMYC clubhouse, a warm welcome for the full house for the luncheon and presentation, generously supported annually by the Goldsmith family in memory of their daughter Jennifer Goldsmith, a passionate sailor who died too early from melanoma.

RMYS Commodore Cherry Birch spoke of the club’s 150 year celebrations this year, sporting a limited edition commemorative t-shirt crafted with cameos created by Jennifer during her sailing life, reflecting her contribution to the club in her lifetime.

It was fitting on the day, that Jennifer’s contemporary long standing friend and another mover and shaker in establishing the inaugural member of the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) founding group in 1990, saw RMYS member Sabina Rosser on the helm of Flying Tiger 10 Tigris take out the PHS honours to win the Jennifer Goldsmith Trophy and place 1st ORC. Line honours winner of the day, Serious Yahoo helmed by Kate Holroyd placed 2nd PHS and 1st AMS, ahead of Robyn Ragauskus on her Bullet 9000 Bullet from SYC placing 3rd in both PHS and ORC). Only two remaining boats Salamander III (RMYS) Monica Jones (PHS 4th, AMS 3nd and ORC 2nd) and Young Lion (RYCV) Prue Standen (PHS 5th and AMS 4th) completed the course.

For the PPWCS Day 4 scores, Serious Yahoo took out 1st PHS and AMS maintaining their series lead. Bullet pulled off 2nd in PHS, AMS and ORC with Salamander III winning ORC and placing 3rd in PHS and AMS.

With the fifth and final PPWCS race day on Sunday 3 May with RBYC’s signature female helm event, the annual BLiSS (Brighton Lady Skipper Series) Regatta, PPWCS series results show RBYC member Vanessa Twigg, owner of Serious Yahoo, remains currently comfortably leading the series in AMS and PHS, with SYC’s Robyn Ragauskas leading ORC, with a strong challenge from HBYC’s Sue Burke on Lanncoorie.BLiSS is an open event for all female sailors and provides an excellent opportunity for all female crews entered for the 34th Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) to get their teams together for a shakedown leading into the King’s Birthday weekend 5-8 June.

The BLiSS Regatta provides options for all female helms, with racing division providing up to 3 windward-leeward races or the choice of a more relaxed single Non-spinnaker passage race. Awards include - RBYC Associates Cup is awarded for the best PHS.performance by a RBYC female helm on a RBYC registered boat. The Revelle Family Perpetual Trophy will be awarded to the first boat on PHS for PPWCS Race Day 5. The BLiSS Non-spinnaker Passage Race prize.

Entry is now open for the BLiSS (Brighton Lady Skipper Series) Regatta until 5pm 30 April. Boats coming from other clubs can apply for one free overnight berth for either Sat 2 April or Sun 3 April by registering at Regatta/Race Bookings at the bottom of the General Bookings page.
Come back to the club after racing for the Presentation of trophies and celebration of the PPWCS 2025-26.

Port Phillip Womens Championship SERIES 2025/26

Article credit: Rosie Colahan, ORCV KISS ALIVE