Experienced skipper Colleen Darcey is leading an all-Tasmanian team of women sailors heading to Melbourne on June 9 for the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta.
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In its 27th year on the waters of the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron in St Kilda, the regatta is the only major keelboat series for all-women crews in Australia.
With two divisions, multiple classes and women from all over the country competing, the AWKR provides a great opportunity for women to take part and thrive in high level, competitive keelboat racing.
Colleen Darcey is in her fifth year racing in the AWKR and has some impressive results including winning all three divisions of the competition in 2012.
She is supported by an experienced Tasmanian crew with multiple Sydney to Hobart sailors, match racing champions and SB20 sailors on board.
Also in the crew is Launceston sailor Jo Breen from the Tamar Yacht Club, who is currently preparing for the 2018 Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race as the skipper of the only all-female entry in the 5500-nautical mile offshore race.
The team will be sailing an Archambault 35 called Absolute, and are hoping for fresh breezes for the event to give them an edge over some of the lighter yachts in the regatta.
“Being from Tassie, we’re used to the heavy weather but will have to adjust our sailing to the slop and chop Port Phillip brings,” Darcy said.
She is hoping the team can reclaim the title this year, after finishing runner-up last year.