Dates
Dates TBA
Duration
3 days
Location
Mercury Yacht Harbour, Hamble
About
The UK's only all-female open keelboat championship — three days of racing, coaching and community at the Royal Southern.
The Women's Open Keelboat Championship (WOKC) is hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club at Hamble in partnership with the British Keelboat League. Open to all skill levels — from seasoned round-the-world racers to crew finding their feet — with three fleets to suit different boats and entry routes:
- IRC Handicap Fleet — racing for the Women's Open Keelboat Championship trophy. Bring your own boat.
- BKL Women's Championship — supplied one-design fleet, alternates between RS21 (even years) and J/70 (odd years).
- A third fleet option referenced on the championship site (confirm with organiser).
Format: Friday training day with coached on-the-water sessions and video debriefs · Saturday championship racing with coaching support · Sunday final races and prize giving · social programme including BBQ and evening entertainment.
Sponsors include OneSails GBR South, Rooster (official technical clothing partner), and Harken UK. Past editions have raised funds for RNLI and Breast Cancer Now. The Spirit of WOKC Trophy recognises the crew that races competitively and champions inclusion in the sport.
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Race programme
Friday training & video debriefs · Saturday championship racing · Saturday social · Sunday final races and prize-giving.
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Race programme
Friday training & video debriefs · Saturday championship racing · Saturday social · Sunday final races and prize-giving.
Friday — training day
Coached on-the-water sessions for both fleets. Video filming and debriefs ashore at the Royal Southern. A great chance to settle into the boat before racing starts.
Saturday — championship racing
Multiple races across the day with coaching support between starts. Prize-giving format follows the BKL and IRC handicap fleet rules.
Saturday evening — social
BBQ and evening entertainment at the Royal Southern clubhouse. The community side of WOKC is as much the draw as the racing.
Sunday — final races & prize giving
Final day of racing followed by prize-giving — IRC handicap, BKL one-design, and the Spirit of WOKC Trophy.
Good to know
Meeting point
Mercury Yacht Harbour, Satchell Lane, Hamble-le-Rice, SO31 4HQ. We meet on the pontoon by your assigned berth — your skipper will share the berth number and a location pin in the crew WhatsApp group the week before.
Arrival
- Arrive by the start time shown on this event page.
- Subject to availability you can arrive the night before, arrange with the team
Parking
Free at Mercury, except Round the Island Race weekend.
Crew WhatsApp
Set up by the Wednesday before. Confirms timings, weather, destination berth.
Before you arrive
- Emergency contact, medical info and waiver in your dashboard profile.
- International races: upload passport details.
Essential
- Waterproof sailing jacket + salopettes
- Sailing boots (deck shoes only OK for inshore day races)
- Warm base layers (no cotton) + mid-layer fleece
- Hat and sailing gloves
- Sun hat, sunglasses with retainer, sun cream
- Head torch with red-light mode (any night sailing or offshore)
- Personal medication
- Sea-sickness remedy (taken 30 mins before the start)
- Water bottle and snacks for the day
- Soft holdall or dry bag — no hard suitcases
Overnight
- 3-4 season sleeping bag (no bedding provided)
- Toiletries, change of clothes, quick-dry towel
Offshore / double-handed
- Notebook for debrief
- Passport for cross channel races
Provided
- Life jackets and safety kit
- Charts, AIS, VHF (+ satcom offshore)
- Galley kit, water, tea, coffee
- Homebase Mooring fees
- Insurance (Security and damage deposit held for Bareboat Charters)
Not provided
Food and snacks aboard — bring your own, or shared crew food order on overnight / offshore (cost shared, leftovers taken home).
Leave behind
Hard suitcases, hair dryers, excess alcohol.
Who can join
- Beginner — all experience levels welcome
Gallery
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Questions
What's on the boat vs what I bring?
What if the weather is bad?
I'm sea-sick prone — can I still come?
I don't have a partner — can I still book?
Can I arrive the night before?
How do I cancel or change my booking?
Reviews
“Awesome event. Shame that Saturday race was cancelled due to weather but we used the day to go through some drills and that was helpful. Had such a great time.”
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£450