SAWKR
SA Women’s Keelboat Regatta 2026: 3-5 October
The South Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (SAWKR) is held over three days on the October long weekend. The Regatta is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia (CYCSA) in partnership with Port Adelaide Sailing Club (PASC) and the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron (RSAYS). In its fourth year, the recent 2025 SAWKR was a great success attracting 30 boats and nearly 170 women from all over Australia.
SAWKR aims to build women’s participation, skills and pathways into sailing; and to build our leadership, spirit of competition and camaraderie. We are a unique addition to the growing national women’s sailing community. The event is suitable for all levels of sailing experience with a lot of support and courses set in two locations, the stunning waters of Gulf St Vincent and also in the protected waters of the Yartapuulti (Port River).
SAWKR has been greatly enhanced through the generous support and contributions of our sponsors and supporters, particularly our major sponsor, the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, whose grant funding has helped make this event possible.
Check out the photo galleries below to learn more about the event, and follow us on social media for updates about @SAWKR
For any questions, contact the CYCSA Racing Administrator, Inese Lainis 08 8248 4222 or sawkr@cycsa.org
THE REGATTA
SAWKR warmly welcomes all women sailors in South Australia and beyond to come and enjoy this wonderful event.
Regatta Program
| Date | Number of races | First warning signal |
| Sat 3 October | 2 | 10.55 |
| Sun 4 October | 2 | 10.55 |
| Mon 5 October | 2 | 10.55 |
Schedule of Events
| Date | Events |
| Fri 2 October | 1200 to 1800 Skipper registration. All Skippers to see Inese Lainis in the Boating Operations Office at CYCSA to confirm registration details. 1800 to 1830 Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony 1830 Regatta Briefing in Horizons Room |
| Sat 3 October | 0800 Breakfast available at the CYCSA 0900 Race and weather briefing 1055 First warning 1430 Post-race BBQ 1600 Daily presentations 1830 Social event: Dinner at the Port Adelaide Sailing Club |
| Sun 4 October | 0800 Breakfast available at the CYCSA 0900 Race and weather briefing 1055 First warning 1430 Post-race BBQ 1600 Daily presentations 1800 for 1830 – Regatta Dinner CYCSA |
| Mon 5 October | 0800 Breakfast available at the CYCSA 0900 Race and weather briefing 1055 First warning 1430 Post-race BBQ 1600 (TBC) Regatta presentations |
| Tues 6 October | 0800 to 1630 – Optional social event – TBA |
ENTRY
Eligibility
Boats are to be crewed exclusively by women and girls 13 years and older. Australian crew should be affiliated with Australian Sailing (AS) and provide their AS number with registration. Overseas crews must be affiliated with World Sailing through their National Authority. If you do not have an AS number, a Regatta SailPass membership is available (free of charge) through the CYCSA. Contact the CYCSA Racing Administrator, Inese Lainis 088341 3509 (direct line); sawkr@cycsa.org
Please note entry dates for competitor and boat entry close on 23 Sept 2026
Divisions
The following divisions will be available:
| Division | Handicap System |
| 1 | PHS, AMS |
| 2 | PHS, AMS |
| 3 | PHS |
| Elliott 7s | PHS/OD |
Divisions 1 and 2 keelboats and Elliott 7s will be run in Course Area A in Gulf St Vincent adjacent to the CYCSA.
Division 3 consisting of trailerables and small keelboats will race in Course Area B out of the Port Adelaide Sailing Club (PASC). Boats competing in Division 3 need to secure their berthing, and if applicable trailer storage at PASC by contacting Sue Kitto at SAWKR@pasc.com.au | Div 3 Information Sheet [here]
Note: Trailerables and small keelboats can nominate to race in Division 2 in Course Area A. However, once nominated for Division 2 they will be required to complete the Regatta in this division.
Individual Entry
Each participant must register individually. We need details of all Regatta participants.
$75 Early Bird price till 30 August 2026
$90 From Tuesday 1 September 2026
$60 Full time secondary and tertiary students
As part of the Regatta, you will be able to book for the Regatta Dinner, the Saturday night PASC social event and an optional post-regatta event. Details to follow.
All eligible boats (including Elliott 7s and trailerables) need to register below.
Entries for boats have no associated entry fee and will be accepted up until 23 September 2026. After this time, late boat entries may be accepted at the discretion of the SAWKR Organising Authority. A late entry fee may apply.
RACE DOCUMENTS & RACE RESULTS
SAWKR Area A Emergency Management Plan [click here]
SAWKR Area B Emergency Management Plan [click here]
SAWKR Best Novice Skipper Award nomination form – [click here]
SAWKR Spirit of Sailing Award nomination form – [click here]
Incident Report [click here]
BOAT LEASE & BERTHING
Book a CYCSA Elliott 7
There is a fleet (6) of Elliotts for lease from CYCSA that book out early.
Booking accompanied by full lease payment secures one of the club’s Elliott yachts. Queries about Elliott use and hire: sailing@cycsa.com.au
Book a PASC Elliott 7
For information about leasing one of the two available PASC Elliott 7s in the Port River please contact Sue Kitto on SAWKR@pasc.com.au
Book an RSAYS J24
The Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron has two J24s for lease. Enquiries can be submitted to shesails@rsays.com.au.
Berthing
Cruising Yacht Club SA
For boats competing in Course Area A, berthing at the CYCSA is available free of charge for visiting Regatta entrants. If you need to secure berthing email sailing@cycsa.com.au to ensure that we can attend to it promptly.
Once a berth has been allocated, a booking form must be completed and submitted together with a copy of your vessel insurance certificate.
Berthing booking form available here
Port Adelaide Sailing Club
For boats competing in Course Area B, berthing and trailer storage is available free of charge at the PASC. To secure a berth or trailer storage, see information sheet and booking form. Please send to sawkr@pasc.com.au
SOCIAL/OFF-WATER EVENTS
Watch the racing
On the Gulf – Jump on a spectator boat and watch the competition up close and personal. A number of boats have offered to take spectators out at no cost. To book in email sawkr@cycsa.org
On the river – watch the river racing from Snowden’s Beach and drop into the PASC for refreshments.
Crew Noticeboard
If you are looking for a boat, or crew, please register your interest by emailing sawkr@cycsa.org. Please let us know if you are no longer looking so we can remove your details.
Boats are still required for keen sailors entered in the regatta. Contact Mary Ann Harvey 0416 099 384 or sailormarvy360@gmail.com if you have a boat to lend.
Regatta Merchandise
A great range of Regatta merchandise is available during the regatta at the CYCSA, supplied by Musto.
SOCIAL EVENTS – DETAILS COMING SOON
Event: Regatta Dinner
Sunday 4 October – 6pm for 6.30pm
at the CYCSA, Horizons Function Room
Come celebrate with us! The Regatta Dinner welcomes all regatta participants – their partners and friends, volunteers and all club members.
Enjoy a three-course dinner – $58pp BOOK HERE
Bookings are essential and close 24 September (no bookings will
be taken after this date).
Social Event
Saturday 3 October
Port Adelaide Sailing Club (PASC)
Bar open from 5.30pm. Meals from 6.30pm – cost TBA
Come and join us for a relaxed & informal dinner at the PASC. Click on the below link for more information. Bookings are essential and close Sunday 27 September.
Social Event: TBA
On Tuesday 6 October, after the completion of the Regatta, you will have the opportunity to celebrate your achievements with fellow crew and competitors.
Bookings are essential.
SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
The SAWKR is made possible thanks in large part to the generous support of our major sponsor, the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, through its grant funding, along with our growing band of sponsors and supporters. We would like to sincerely thank them all for their wonderful support, dedication and contribution to the event’s ongoing success.
The Port Adelaide Sailing Club and the RSAYS will be offering assistance and support with racing, on water activity, volunteers and events.
Please support our sponsors where possible.
o
Committee
Dianne Schwerdt, Chair
Kirsty Hammet, Mary Ann Harvey, Sue Kitto (PASC), Adrian Wotton, Heather McIntyre (RSAYS), Mikaila Thomson (AUSC)
VOLUNTEER REGISTER
Volunteers Required
The CYCSA and SAWKR Committee would be interested in hearing from you if you are in a position to volunteer for any of the days over the October long weekend.
On-water volunteers, please contact the CYCSA Racing Administrator, Inese Lainis on 08 8248 4222 or sawkr@cycsa.org / racing.manager@cycsa.com.au
Off-water volunteers, please contact sailing@cycsa.com.au
OTHER INFORMATION / ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation
Accommodation near the CYCSA is available locally at The Peninsula Hotel Motel, just 2.6kms away and through local Airbnb offerings in the North Haven area. The nearest large centre is Port Adelaide, with many accommodation options, and a host of pubs, clubs and great places to eat. It is about a 10 min Uber ride away.
Discovery Parks – Adelaide Beachfront, at 349 Military Road, Semaphore Park, is a caravan and holiday park approximately 10 minutes drive from the Club, offering cabins and caravan sites.
Camping at the CYCSA
Limited unpowered on-site camping for entrants can be booked.
Please complete the Camping Booking Form Here
For more information please contact the CYCSA Racing Administrator, Inese Lainis on 08 8248 4222 or sawkr@cycsa.org / racing.manager@cycsa.com.au
There is also the option to be billeted with Club members. For more information, please contact the CYCSA Racing Administrator, Inese Lainis 08 8248 4222 or sawkr@cycsa.org
Things to do
If you want to explore outside of the sailing weekend, Port Adelaide, has multiple attractions including an extensive maritime history, with many pubs, clubs and great places to eat. There are plenty of things to do in Adelaide and its beautiful surrounds. More information [here].
Logo Designer
The SAWKR logo represents our journey as women sailors traveling along the river and seas of Kaurna country and pays respect to the Kaurna custodians of this land.
Artist: Jardi Welch | Born: 1994, Adelaide, Kaurna Country ~ “I am a proud Kaurna, Narungga, Ngarrindjeri woman living and creating on Kaurna land.”
The logo was made possible through a generous grant from the City of Port Adelaide Enfield Council.
View the SAWKR Media Galleries Below