The Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series (PPWCS) 2018-19 is back for its seventh edition. kicking off Sunday 2 December 2018. The popular five race series organised by Australian Sailing’s Victorian region and the Women & Girls in Sailing (WGIS) committee has progressively over the years attracted a growing number of female sailors to take up the helm, along with steadily more female crews participating.

This year offers some new enhancements. Inspired by the recent success of Australian female keelboat sailors on the world’s oceans, and the resonance of the United Nations’ International Women’s Day 2019 theme to ‘Press for Progress - Help forge women's equality and celebrate achievement’ the WGIS committee have this year extended their partnership with each of the PPWCS host clubs to provide guest speaker events showcasing inspirational women.

Last season, solo Antarctic circumnavigator Lisa Blair wowed a packed audience at Royal Brighton Yacht Club with tales of her demasting in the Southern Ocean and demonstrated her grit in returning after repairs to complete her circumnavigation. March this year saw three Australian women- Jo Breen (Tas), Annette Hesselmans (NSW) and Sue Bumstead (Vic) - amongst the double handed entrants for the 2018 Melbourne to Osaka yacht race.

In July 2018, Wendy Tuck became the first female skipper to win a round-the-world yacht race when she took out the Clipper Race 2017-18 and was received double awards from Australian Sailing as Female Sailor of the Year and the inaugural winner of the Offshore Sailor of the Year. From home waters, Catherine North from Royal Yacht Club of Victoria (RYCV) was amongst Tuck’s dedicated crew. Wendy Tuck will be talking at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron early next year.

Local female keelboat owners also starred on home waters amongst mixed crews in the highly competitive Nautilus Marine Series 2017-18. Monica Jones (RMYS), triple winner of PPWCS for the last three years, steered her Adams 10 Salamander 111 to victory in NMS Division 2 PHS. Amongst the S80 ranks, Cath Beaufort (RYCV) helming her S80 Up ‘n Go won Division 3 PHS with HBYC skipper Barbra Feore on S80 Skipjack taking out Division 3 IRC.

Watch the website and Facebook for updates and booking for our guest speaker events. Bring your friends, family and crew along to be inspired by the achievements of these amazing Aussie sailors.

With racing for PPWCS 2018-19 only weeks away, the Notice of Series is  now published on the women and girls in sailing website  Click here for the Notice of Series

and a new streamlined single point series entry Click here to enter PPWCS Series is available with a discounted  PPWC Series entry fee. Casual entries are also still welcome to participate.

The PPWCS Teams Trophy which recognises club spirit and support for female sailors will be up for grabs again, an opportunity for your club to demonstrate their commitment to getting more women on board.

The first race of the series is on Sunday 2 December hosted by Hobson’s Bay Yacht Club (HBYC), the Shirley Freeman Trophy race and non spinnaker division themed cup this year celebrating the French explorers of Australia. Bring your crews back post race to toast the season’s opener with canapes and champagne.

For further information about the series, go tohttp://www.womenandgirlsinsailing.com.au/keelboats/portphilip2018-2019/

or contact Sue Phillips at Australian Sailing.

Come and join us. There has never been a better time to get on board!

For more Information about last season 's 2017-2018 Championship series: Click Here