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Obsession crew keen to experience the 2026 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast

Home 2026 Obsession crew keen to experience the 2026 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast

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Passionate sailors Paul and Ceris Arns are going to great lengths to transport their yacht Obsession on a 4000km journey from WA to Sydney for their first taste of competitive sailing on Australia’s east coast.

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The MAT 1245 will be trucked across the Nullarbor from its base at Fremantle Sailing Club to compete in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race that begins on 25 July. 

Since buying the 2012 Turkish-built yacht in 2016, the couple have honed their skills as strong offshore sailors in WA. Obsession has claimed a podium finish in almost every offshore series in WA, in both the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, and took Line Honours and IRC Overall in the 2026 Fremantle to Albany Race (350 nautical miles) in April. Under previous owner David Creese, from Tasmania, the yacht competed in the 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart, but has never raced in the Sydney Gold Coast.

Lured by the sunshine and lifestyle, Paul, a lawyer, and Ceris, a physiotherapist, emigrated from New Zealand to Perth in WA in 1985. It seems like they made the right decision! 

In this Q&A, Paul explains what motivated he and Ceris to enter the popular 384 nautical mile race, established in 1986.

The Obsession crew enjoys a breezy kite run – Obsession pic.

What’s your sailing background? 

Ceris and I did some sailing in New Zealand in our 20s. We took sailing up again in our late 40s. We bought several boats over the following years, doing coastal and offshore sailing including races to Bali. 

What brings you to the east coast? 

We’ve done a lot of sailing on west coast and wanted a new challenge. We had intentions of bringing the boat east in 2020 but were thwarted by COVID. 

Tell me about your crew. 

We sail with a crew of 10. The ages range from 20 to a smidge under 70.  

Geoff Bishop of UK Sailmakers Fremantle is our boat captain. He’s a very experienced international yachtsman. The rest of the crew has extensive sailing experience and has sailed as a team on Obsession for the past three-to-four years.

Celebratory beers following the finish of the Fremantle to Albany Race – Obsession pic.

Have you or any of your crew competed in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race before? 

Several of the crew, excluding me and Ceris, have crewed on other boats in this race.  

What do you consider the biggest challenge? 

Trucking the boat across the Nullarbor and getting it to Sydney in one piece! And then once we get racing? The navigational challenges.  

What are your goals for the race? 

To race the boat competitively. 

On board Obsession – Obsession pic.

After the race, what’s the plan for the rest of the year? 

The boat is going to Hamilton Island Race Week, also our first regatta on the east coast. Ceris and I will fly back to Perth after Hamilton Island Race week. 

After the regatta, the boat will be sailed back to Fremantle by Trevor Taylor and two of his friends who hail from WA. They’re keen sailors and have done many ocean miles together. There’s no time frame for the delivery – they’ll do it as the weather conditions suit and when the fish stop biting at whatever anchorage they stop at along the way. Some of the race crew may join them to do one or two legs.  

Obsession from above – Elizabeth Court & Paul Dunbar pic.

What are you most looking forward to about the Sydney Gold Coast? 

Sailing out of Sydney Harbour to a new destination and with a big fleet, different weather conditions and a change in scenery.  

We’re all very excited to be involved in this event. 

Entries close on Friday 10 July and the race starts on Saturday 25 July. Enter here.