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  • Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Preview

Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Preview

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  • 09 Jul, 2025 01:10:00 PM
Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Preview

Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Preview

Entries have officially closed for the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race which kicks off on 26 July. The race is set to bring with it all the drama, strategy and endurance that defines great offshore racing.

Spanning 384 nautical miles from Sydney Harbour to the Gold Coast’s Main Beach, this much-loved winter challenge promises a thrilling mix of tactical coastal navigation and potential fast-reaching conditions.

Kites up and away. 2019 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race start.  Image: Andrea Francolini

Now in its 37th edition, the race continues to attract top-tier talent from across Australia and beyond, with seasoned campaigners and ambitious newcomers all vying for early-season glory. It also marks the opening event of the prestigious 2025/26 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore and serves as a vital proving ground for teams preparing for the Rolex Sydney Hobart and Trans-Tasman Yacht Race.

From its spectacular start beneath the city skyline to the warm Queensland welcome at the finish, the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast is a bucket-list race.

Season Opener

The 2025 offshore season will kick off in style with the CYCA’s first-ever Season Opener, held on 26 July to coincide with the start of the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. The celebration includes a premium spectator-boat experience aboard Eclipse, complete with live race commentary from expert sailors, before the action shifts back to the Club for an afterparty featuring live music, food activations and a vibrant atmosphere for Members and guests alike.

2024 NSGCYR podium

Last year’s Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race saw Voltstar Yeah Baby, Mistral and Tempo claim the top three spots Overall. Twin brothers Louis and Marc Ryckmans took out first place with their Akilaria RC2 Voltstar Yeah Baby, securing their first major offshore victory with the yacht.

Double-handed duo Rupert Henry and Greg O’Shea sailed their Lombard 34 Mistral to a hard-fought second, holding their own against much larger boats in challenging conditions. Rounding out the podium was Tempo, skippered by Michael Smith, who delivered a smart and consistent race to finish third Overall.

Voltstar Yeah Baby followed by URM Group at the start of the 2024 NSGCYR.  Image: Andrea Francolini

Where to where

The race starts at 1300hrs in Sydney Harbour, just off Point Piper, before heading out through the Heads and turning left up the coast. The finish line is off Main Beach on the Gold Coast, just north of Coolangatta.

Along the way, the fleet sails past some of Australia’s most iconic coastal landmarks, including Seal Rocks, Cape Byron, the country’s easternmost point and the golden beaches of Coolangatta.

Finish partner

Established in 1946, Southport Yacht Club is home to the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race, The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise Regatta and Australia’s largest sailing Academy. With four clubhouse venues across the Gold Coast it is known worldwide for its exceptional superyacht facilities and award-winning waterfront dining.

Finish partner – Southport Yacht Club.  Image: SYC

Prevailing conditions

The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is as much a battle of minds as it is of boats. Success relies not just on speed, but on smart navigation and reading the ever-changing weather systems along Australia’s east coast. Conditions can shift dramatically – ranging from glassy calms to punishing southerlies – forcing crews to constantly adapt.

 

Popeye having a stellar spinnaker run up the east coast of Australia.  Image: Alex McNaught – Roving-Eye.com photography 

Adrienne Cahalan, navigator onboard Wild Oats X during their Line Honours win in the 2019 edition, describes the race as: “It can throw anything at you, a front can come through and suddenly you’re running hard in 25 to 30 knots.

“Other times, it’s very light and the big decision becomes whether to head offshore into the gradient breeze and battle the current, or stay inshore hoping to catch a land breeze. In my mind, this is one of the hardest races to navigate in Australia.”

Slow conditions for Indigo II.  Image: CYCA | Ashley Dart

Last year’s weather proved exactly that, unexpected. After several editions where the fleet battled light airs and hugged the coast in search of breeze, forecasts in 2024 predicted a strong southerly change. And for once, it delivered.

Boats charged up the coast in fast running and reaching conditions in the first two days of racing, turning the usual tactical squeeze into a high-speed offshore drag race. The fleet was then greeted with calmer weather on their final approach to Main Beach.

Why is this race important

The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race marks the beginning of the CYCA’s offshore sailing season and provides a valuable pathway for skippers to train and prepare new crew members for the season ahead. For many competitors, it’s also the perfect launchpad to head north and take part in Queensland’s stunning offshore races and regattas, while escaping the chill of the NSW winter. It’s no wonder the NSGCYR is often dubbed “Great Winter Escape.”

The skyscraper backdrop that is the Gold Coast.  Image: CYCA | Ashley Dart

The 2025 NSGCYR fleet so far

Sixty-five yachts have registered to compete in this year’s opening offshore event. Among them are first-time entrants like First Light, skippered by Elizabeth Tucker and seasoned campaigners such as Pretty Woman and Antipodes, who know every eddy and current along the coast.

Winter gear on for the Pretty Woman crew.  Image: CYCA | Ashley Dart

International contenders join the race

Three international entries will compete: Bacchanal from the United States, Antipodes from Hong Kong and V5 from New Zealand. Bacchanal, a JPK 11.80 owned and skippered by Ronald Epstein, was built by JPK Pacific in Nowra and launched in November 2024. Though her crew had little time to familiarise themselves with the boat, they placed sixth overall in her maiden outing, the CYCA’s Bird Island Race, instantly making their presence felt.

Antipodes in the 2024 NSGCYR.  Image: Andrea Francolini

JPK yachts have a stellar record in international competition and Epstein’s team will be eager to head north after an early retirement from the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart due to a broken boom.

Bacchanal sailing in the 2024 Cabbage Tree Island Race.  Image: CYCA | Ashley Dart

Spotlight on double-handed and women skippers

Fourteen double-handed entries have been received, with many familiar names among them like Avalanche, Blue Planet, Jupiter, Min River, Rumchaser, Toucan and Verite. Six yachts will be skippered by women, including MWF Kayle, Min River, Mondo and Currawong.

Mondo sailing to the 2023 NSGCYR finish line in sunny Queensland.

Small but mighty

Of the 65 yachts entered, 22 are under 40 feet in length. The smallest is Currawong, measuring just 9.1 metres. Launched in 1974, she’s a sistership to Zeus II, winner of the 1981 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Skippered by owner Kathy Veel, this 30-footer may not set any Line Honours records, but in the right conditions, her trustworthy and robust design makes her a fleet favourite.

 

The Currawong crew ahead of the 2024 NSGCYR.  Image: CYCA | Ashley Dart

Strong mid-fleet representation

More than 50% of the fleet falls into the 40 to 52-foot category. Among them is Minerva, a newly acquired Ker 40 owned by Edward Cox. Originally campaigned in New Zealand as Icebreaker, this will be Cox’s maiden offshore race on this reaching and running focused yacht.

Also racing for the first time is First Light, the Class40 skippered by Elizabeth Tucker. Having delivered her boat from Spain through the Southern Ocean with Cole Brauer, Tucker will sail with an all-female crew this season, aiming to create a pathway for passionate and ambitious sailors on a high-performance platform.

Cole Brauer (left) and Elizabeth Tucker (right) on board First Light.  Image: Elizabeth Tucker

The TP52 showdown

Six TP52s will line up on 26 July, including last year’s Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore winner Smuggler, who returns in full force, aiming to start the season strong. She will be joined by Koa, Frantic, Highly Sprung and the New Zealand entry V5.

V5 is coming across the ditch to compete in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.  Image: Suellen of LiveSailDie

With a combined Kiwi and Australian crew, V5 has a packed 2025 schedule, including the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race in August, RPAYC’s Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race in October and potentially the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in December.

Skipper Brian Petersen has his fingers crossed for Hobart:

“If we’ve still got some money left and not too many of us have gotten divorced or whatever, we’ll come back over and have a crack at the Hobart.”

Big boats, big goals

The largest yacht in the fleet will be Grant Wharington’s Wild Thing 100. With a new full-size rig, fresh sails and a longer bowsprit, the team is expected to set the pace offshore. They won’t be the only team sporting upgrades, URM Group, skippered by Marcus Ashley-Jones but owned by the Johnston brother will also race with a new rig. Owner Anthony Johnston and his team were the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore champions (2023/24) and while they’ll be aiming to defend their title, their eyes will undoubtedly be on the crown jewel: the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Wild Thing 100 is the biggest yacht in the 2025 NSGCYR fleet.  Image: CYCA | Ashley Dart

New chapter for Moneypenny

Moneypenny returns to the Gold Coast race with a new owner and skipper, Robert Appleyard. While the boat is no stranger to the course, having won in 2022, they will be chasing results.

Moneypenny racing in the 2024 SOLAS Big Boat Challenge.  Image: CYCA | Andrea Francolini

Past winners

Over nearly four decades, the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race has been claimed by some of the biggest names in offshore sailing. From seasoned Hobart champions to emerging talents making their mark, this race has long been a proving ground for greatness.

Follow the race to find out who will add their name to the list of past winners and will claim the opening rounds of this year’s pointscore.

Follow the race

Keep up with the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race action in real time. Watch the broadcast of the start via our livestream on the race website and the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Facebook page. And track your favourite yachts throughout the race, via the yacht tracker page on the race website. We will also be posting live updates on our race website and social media pages.

See the below links:

NSGCYR entrants

Season Opener tickets

NSGCYR Facebook

Yacht Tracker

CYCA Facebook

CYCA Instagram

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