INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: 2025 VOLVO LADIES HELM

GENERATIONS at the Volvo Ladies Helm 2025. Photo © RHKYC / Vivian Ngan.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, female sailors took center stage at the Volvo Ladies Helm 2025 event, hosted by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC). With 47 boats across seven classes competing on March 8th and 9th, the regatta showcased the strength, skill, and determination of women in sailing.

Despite a slow start due to light winds on March 8th, conditions improved throughout the day, allowing the race committee to set longer courses for the second race. By the afternoon, an 8-10 knot easterly breeze filled in, providing ideal racing conditions.

GENERATIONS at the Volvo Ladies Helm 2025. Photo © RHKYC / Guy Nowell (left), photo onboard GENERATIONS © Miriam Yee (right).

The Volvo Ladies Helm encourages female participation at all levels, with the only requirement being that a woman must steer the boat. While mixed crews were permitted, at least two teams raced with all-female crews—a testament to the growing presence of women in competitive sailing.

Congratulations to all the division winners, with a special acknowledgement for Miriam Yee, who dominated the Big Boat PHS Division aboard the Beneteau Sense 46, GENERATIONS, securing first place in both of the day’s races. It was a fiercely contested division, with roughly 20 minutes separating first and last place in the fleet for both races. Their UK Sailmakers Hong Kong sail inventory powered the team to the top of the podium.

Miriam Yee dominated the Big Boat PHS Division skippering Beneteau Sense 46, GENERATIONS. Volvo Ladies Helm 2025. Photo © RHKYC / Guy Nowell.

Full results available here.

On March 9th, the Dragons and Sportsboats raced at Shelter Cove, where a 6-15 knot south-easterly breeze allowed competitors to showcase their talent on the racecourse.

The Volvo Ladies Helm 2025 was a celebration of skill, camaraderie, and the ongoing progress of women in performance sailing. The event continues to inspire female sailors to take the helm and make waves in the sport.

At UK Sailmakers, we believe in breaking barriers and empowering women in performance sailing. Across the globe, female sailors continue to push the limits, and we’re proud to design and build sails that help drive their success. Recognizing and championing women in the sport isn’t just important—it’s essential to shaping the future of sailing.