Addison Lester has crammed a lot of sailing into her life, despite her young age, and while no stranger to the hard work and thrill of championship racing, she is equally drawn to the calm and pure joy of being out on the water.
While hard work has taken Lester places, she credits Australian sailing adventurers like Stacey Jackson, Lisa Blair and Jessica Watson as her inspiration.
At just 18 years of age, she is rightfully proud of her sailing achievements, with a fifth place in the Nacra 15 Open European Championship in 2024 alongside skipper, Kris Bilston, a notable career highlight.
Today, the University of Tasmania Law and Criminology student is gearing up to helm an Elliott one-design 6 metre yacht in the Club Marine Tasmanian Women’s Keelboat Regatta in Hobart, marking a shift from the pacy catamaran into keelboat sailing.
The aim of the 2026 Club Marine Tasmanian Women’s Keelboat Regatta is to celebrate and encourage women in all aspects of sailing, and Lester, who is skippering a Bellerive Yacht Club entry, is excited to get out on the water with her crew of Katherine Denholm, Gabrielle Haros and Samantha Birmingham.
Lester’s interest in sailing was sparked after spending time with her family and sailors at Airlie Beach Race Week as a 12-year-old, leading her to believe that sailing was a “pretty cool” sport to pursue.
She enrolled in the Australian Sailing Learn to Sail Tackers Program, completed a number of training courses, and transitioned into the International Optimist Dinghy, before campaigning the Nacra 15 in Italy after her selection in the Australian Youth Sailing Squad.
Throughout her journey, Lester raced in the Pacer Class as part of a school team, competing in various Australian states, national championships and inter dominion regattas.
Lester and Bilston were recognised as the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) Youth Sailors of the Year for 2023-24, while Lester was awarded RQYS Female Sailor of the Year for that season.
After concluding their European campaign, limited mostly by funding, she decided it was time to transition into offshore racing, with a Sydney Hobart Yacht Race high on her priority list.
“In Queensland, I did a few keelboat delivery trips, and two Surf to City [Gold Coast to Brisbane] Yacht Races, but a Sydney Hobart is what I’m hoping to do in 2026 with luck,” she stated.
“I’ve recently moved from Queensland to Tasmania with my family, but for me, part of the attraction is the extensive yachting program here that provides numerous opportunities to engage in sailing,” she shared.
“I sailed in a women’s regatta in Brisbane, and I love seeing all the women on the water in what is a male-dominated sport.”
“In our sport, there are pathways to follow including the off-the-beach program that could lead to an Olympic campaign, or keelboats where one might emulate Stacey Jackson sailing laps of the world, as well as opportunities in volunteering and race management.”
“For me, I love the fast-paced sailing of yachts and being out on the wire on the Nacra, but I also enjoy the calmness of being on a boat, with dolphins on the bow, jellyfish in the water, and whales breaching, making each experience unique.”
“I appreciate the opportunities a women’s regatta presents to all women.”
“My mum always tells me it’s important to have a goal, and when I see someone like Stacey, with her drive and determination, and her ability to seize opportunities, I find it very inspiring.”
“Witnessing other women in sailing working hard and achieving success makes it feel like anything is possible,” said Lester.
Over 100 women across 15 keelboats, race management, media and volunteering will be on the River Derwent in Hobart on Saturday the 14th of March for the event, hosted by the Bellerive Yacht Club and supported by Australian Sailing-Tasmania and SheSails Ambassador, Nic Douglass.
Racing starts at 9:25 am with music and entertainment at the BYC from 5 pm after racing.
Words: Jane Austin
#WomenInSailing #TasmanianKeelboatRegatta #SailingAustralia
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