2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race gathers steam

The start of the 2023 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race © Andrea Francolini

The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race has received over 50 registrations, for the CYCA's event that starts on Saturday 26 July.

The CYCA predict a big turn-out for the first race in the 2025/26 Audi Centre Bluewater Pointscore, in the lead up to the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the CYCA's inaugural Trans-Tasman Yacht Race.

Interstate and international competitors

Of the 52 entries (so far), 3 are internationals, 41 are from New South Wales, 4 from Queensland, 2 from South Australia and 1 from both West Australia and Victoria.

The three international competitors are Geoffrey Hill's Santa Cruz 72 Antipodes (Hong Kong), Ronald Epstein's JPK 11.80 Bacchanal (USA) and Brian Petersen's TP52 V5 (New Zealand).

Brian Petersen, V5's owner and skipper, is back after a 20-year hiatus from the event. Although he has owned the yacht for five years, Petersen has not yet sailed it in an offshore race.

"Due to storms and various other issues, we haven't been able to do an offshore race out of New Zealand on V5 and there's no major races out of New Zealand at the moment," Petersen said "So I thought, 'Well bugger it — we'll just make up our own program'."

With a crew made up of Kiwi and Australian sailors, V5 is set for a packed racing schedule in 2025. Other races in their 2025 program include the New Caledonia Groupama Race which starts on 15 June, followed by the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race in early August, the RPAYC's Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race in October and, potentially, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in December.

Petersen has his fingers and toes crossed for the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

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

Double Handed Competitors

To date, nine Double Handed yachts are registered for the 384 nautical mile race, including Andrew Butler's J/122e Rumchaser.

Despite a wobbly start in the 2024 Sydney Hobart due to a spinnaker wipe out, Butler and his co-skipper Peter Just, went on to claim second on PHS in the Double Handed Division.

"That was really encouraging after all that effort to get a result," Butler said. "Pete and I are really keen to try and perform a bit better and to be more consistent in this race.

"We know the boat's capable, but I think the lessons learnt from Hobart is to keep the boat moving and not get too overexcited by trying to push too hard and make a mistake."

Women skippers

Four women skippers have currently entered the race: Awen's Sharon Ferris-Choat, Mako's Emily Sellens, Mondo's Lisa Callaghan and Supernova's Felicity Nelson.

CYCA's Season Opener

For the first time, the start of the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race will also mark the CYCA's inaugural Season Opener — a new event designed to launch the offshore sailing season in style.

Open to Members, guests and all sailing and sports enthusiasts, the day features a spectator boat experience aboard Eclipse with live race commentary by around the world sailor Jack Macartney, followed by an afterparty back at the Club with live music, food activations and a vibrant atmosphere to celebrate the start of the season.

Ticket information can be found here.

For more information visit goldcoast.cycaracing.com.