2021 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

31st July 2021

 

 

On Saturday 31st July 2021 the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia will start the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, an event that is second only in status to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race among long ocean races conducted by the Club.

A category 2 race, approximately 384 nm in length & the qualifier for the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Going north to Sunny Queensland/Gold Coast this race has been known to throw anything at you.

The CYCA introduced the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in 1986 as ‘the great winter escape’, taking advantage of the completion of the Gold Coast Seaway. Extensive harbour works funded by the Queensland Government had opened up an all-weather entrance at the Southport bar to deep keel yachts, large pleasure craft and fishing trawlers.

Since then the 384 nautical mile race has attracted fleets of between 70 and 80 yachts each year, with entries coming mainly from New South Wales and Queensland, but also from Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and New Zealand.  In 1997, a record fleet of 86 boats took part.

Most of Australia’s best-known ocean racing yachts, their skippers and crews have competed at some stage, with names like Apollo, Hammer of Queensland, Sovereign, Brindabella,  Condor of Currabubula, Sydney, Wild Thing, Grundig, Wild Oats XI and Black Jack on the honour roll of Line Honours winners.

The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race marks the start of the Club’s sixth month Blue Water program which is regarded as an important stepping-stone for owners and crew to gain vital offshore racing experience in the lead-up to competing in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The CYCA conducts the Sydney Gold Coast Race with the co-operation of Southport Yacht Club, which provides outstanding club and marina facilities for the visiting yachts in a relaxed semi-tropical setting. This close relationship between the two clubs continues.

For further details on the race please click here

 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Southport Yacht Club is looking for volunteers to help with the finish of the race.

Come and be part of our biggest ocean yacht race as a volunteer – the 2020 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race! We need 6 people every 6 hours over a four day period so there are lots of positions available! Every Volunteer gets food and drinks voucher for every “shift” they do.
Radio Room – The Radio Operator must have a licence but the support person just needs to be a very organised person, keeping track of the boats
Welcoming Team – Rib drivers need to have their marine licence and also be endorsed on our boats (this can be arranged at any time and takes about ½ hour) and the support person needs to be handy on a boat.

 

Please check back soon to view the volunteer Roster and email your details and preferred allocations.