Entries open for the Helly Hansen Women's Challenge 2026
by Manly Yacht Club 3 Mar 08:45 GMT
21-22 March 2026
Elliot 7 - Helly Hansen Women's Challenge © Marg Fraser-Martin
The Manly Yacht Club (MYC) invites skippers and their crews to join the Helly Hansen MYC Women's Challenge, taking place over the second-last weekend of March 2026.
The Helly Hansen Women's Challenge is Manly Yacht Club's signature event, reflecting the growing passion women have for the sport of sailing. The Women's Challenge was first conceived in 1995 and has been running and growing continuously since then. It is one of the most popular event on the women's sailing calendar and has now become part of the Sydney Harbour Women’s Keelboat Series, a multi-club series attracting challengers from many clubs on the Harbour. In 2019 Manly Yacht Club was one of the inaugural host clubs and continues to play a leading role in organising this event. The SHWKS has grown for the 2025-2026 season to include a race from SASC and BYC.
The Helly Hansen Women's Challenge is the seventh and final race of this exciting series. Entry is via online through the SHWKS entry system, choosing race 7."
The Women's Challenge committee extends an invitation to female sailors to join us for a weekend of exciting racing in Manly Cove and on Sydney Harbour followed by an evening of prize-giving, food and frivolities on the deck at Manly Yacht Club.
Competition covers every level of experience and age; and encourages all women/girl sailors to borrow, beg or buy a boat and enter.
Saturday racing is one-design in dinghy, Hansa dinghies and ILCA divisions.
Sunday racing is keel boats 6m to 20m, including one design racing (fleet number dependent). Choose to enter as all female crew, or female helm with mixed crew. Nominate spinnaker or non-spinnaker within the fleets. Racing will be conducted under PHS handicapping.
For more information and online entry see the event website.