She has also had success offshore with a mixed crew of men and women, including winning the 2008 Bruny Island Race and the Fully Crewed division of the Three Peaks Race last Easter. 

A fleet of 20 boats sailed by crews from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania will contest the regatta, the 19th annual event specifically for women sailors conducted by the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. 

Sailing a wide range of boats,  the women will race under IRC, AMS and PHS handicaps with six windward/leeward races scheduled over the long weekend, with Dianne Barkas chartering the Victorian yacht Scarlet Runner,  a Sydney 38 almost identical to her own boat. 

Her crew comprises Danielle McKay, Heather McCallum, Colleen Darcy, Noni Walters, Sally Rattle, Gemma Meincke, Lauren Davison, Louise Jackson and Caroline Walker.   

“We come from three Hobart clubs, the Derwent Sailing Squadron, the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and the Bellerive Yacht Club, and are pleased to be the only fully Tasmanian crew.  We have a support crew of six or seven (friends and partners) coming over, too,” Dianne said today. 

“Scarlet Runner is a Sydney 38 based at Sandringham Yacht Club that is virtually identical to my boat Asylum/Sullivans Cove Whisky and we are entered in Performance, AMS, and IRC Handicap divisions. 

In addition to Scarlet Runner, Tasmanian women Lisa Guy, Liz Buchanan and Danielle Polita will sail in the crew of the Victorian yacht Executive Decision, an Adams 10.  

Heading the Victorian line-up is Rosie Colahan, helming her Jeanneau SO40 Ingenie. Dr Colahan was the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s Ocean Racer of the Year in 2008 and in January sailed Ingenie into second place in PHS Division 2 of the King of the Derwent after competing in the Melbourne to Hobart East Coast Race. – Peter Campbell