The 2019/20 Port Phillip Women’s Championship saw its eighth season shortened by the shutdown of competitive sailing due to COVID-19, but was able to achieve a series score from the first three of five scheduled race days with four of ten races completed.

A new series format for 2019/20 was rolled out with two new divisions – Division 1 for all female crews and Division 2 for predominantly female crews in key positions with a limited number of male support crew.  In line with current club safety requirements, the adoption of a mandatory Crew Safety Sign on/off systems for each host club race day ensured timely updates and communication with all participating crew and provided the organising authority with valuable information confirming over 90% female participants amongst over 50 sailors. 

Above: Jennifer Goldsmith Trophy start - Photo by Bruno Cocozza

Leading off on Sunday 1 December 2019 Hobson’s Bay Yacht Club (HBYC) hosted a single race for their Shirley Freeman Memorial Trophy and Meltemi Cup. With rain and a building breeze gusting to 32knots, boats from other clubs were unfortunately unable to depart their marinas and the entered fleet of 22 yachts was reduced to just nine brave starters.

Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) followed with a single race for their Jennifer Goldsmith Trophy on Sunday 16 February 2020. With a similarly threatening forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology, competitors were pleasantly surprised with blue skies, flattish water and 10-15 knots punctuated with only occasional gusts.

Royal Yacht Club of Victoria (RYCV) expanded their Val Hodge Trophy to two back to back races contested on Sunday 1 March 2020. 

Lost to the series was Sandringham Yacht Club’s (SYC) Women in Sailing Challenge (WISC) regatta with three races on Sunday 22 March 2020 and Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC) three races for their annual Brighton Lady Skipper’s Series (BLiSS) on Sunday 3 May 2020.

Above: Yahoo Serious skippered by Vanessa Twigg - Photo by Bruno Cocozza

Congratulations to Vanessa Twigg and her crew from RBYC aboard her Adams 10 Serious Yahoo for taking out the Kingston Trophies Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series Division 1 Trophy as Overall Champion with a clean sweep of AMS, IRC and PHS.

The Custom Yacht Covers Perpetual Trophy (previously the Non Spinnaker division trophy) has been reassigned as the Division 2 trophy with Jan Fielding from RMYS at the helm of Tigris taking out PHS honours and compatriot club members Aurelie Chabrol skippering Remedy to an AMS win.

Above: Tigris Skippered by Jan Fielding - Photo by Bruno Cocozza

Above: Remedy Skippered by Aurelie Chabrol - Photo by Bruno Cocozza

After sole possession of The Kingston Trophies Perpetual Teams Trophy by RMYS since its inception in 2015, this year Royal Yacht Club of Victoria took the crown, recognising the club with the greatest level of female participation and inclusion for the 2019/20 series.  

We look forward to the return of competitive sailing and the next Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series for the 2020-21 season. Tentative dates for 2020-21 and full results for PPWCS 2019-20 can be viewed on the She Sails PPWCS page.