Brisbane Race Week presented by Porsche Centre Brisbane Sets Sail at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
by Nic Douglass 30 Apr 18:28 PDT
1-6 May 2026
Close to 50 boats will line up this weekend at Brisbane Race Week © Mike Middleton / RQYS
Brisbane Race Week presented by Porsche Centre Brisbane, and proudly supported by Major Sponsor Yachtshare, commences today at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, with a strong fleet of close to 50 boats and a fresh format setting the tone for the week ahead.
Held on the waters of Moreton Bay, Brisbane Race Week (BRW) 2026 will deliver a week of racing with a different format almost every day, continuing to cement its place as one of Queensland's most dynamic regattas.
Now firmly established on the Australian sailing calendar, BRW continues to grow in both participation and performance, attracting a diverse mix of boats and crews.
Just as important as the racing, the social program plays a key role in the week, bringing crews together beyond the racecourse. BRW will feature a full schedule of events, including A Night in Rio, Legends on the Lawn, and the Wynnum Manly Country and Western Evening.
The balance of competitive racing and strong social connection defines the event, creating an atmosphere that brings together experienced campaigners, emerging talent, and the broader Manly Wynnum community.
Event Director Anton Prange said Brisbane Race Week continues to stand out for its accessible, community-driven approach.
"It's a regatta where you can go sailing with your mates, have a drink at the end of the day, and still go home to your own bed at night," said Prange.
"You're not travelling hundreds of miles to get here, you're sailing in your own backyard. It's a Brisbane-based regatta, for sailors, by sailors. It's all Corinthian and we don't take ourselves too seriously."
Prange said the onshore atmosphere is a key part of the event's appeal.
"The social side is massive. Each crew contributes a bottle of rum at the start of the week, and daily winners get to choose from the collection. It's a bit of fun, but it brings everyone together."
With the event now at capacity, Prange said demand continues to grow.
"We've got around 400 people involved across the week off the water, and it's a great sign of how much the event has built. There's a really strong community around it now."
Racing begins with the Green Island Lap, a 'hot lap' format inspired by Formula 1-style qualifying. Boats will nominate their own predicted elapsed time before heading out, with the closest to their estimate taking the honours.
The format encourages both strategy and self-awareness, sparking early conversation dockside and offering a different kind of pressure and camaraderie to open the regatta.
Race Officer Paul Bolton returns for his fourth consecutive year overseeing the on-water elements of the event.
"For the fourth year in a row I am proud to be involved with this event. Not only does it go from strength to strength, so too the quality of participants, and I'm sure that everyone will bring the same spirit as previous years," said Bolton.
"Boats may lodge one estimate on their own elapsed time for the Green Island Lap, which should bring some interesting conversation."
Across the week, competitors will face a mix of passage racing and off-the-beach courses, testing crews across a range of conditions and formats while building consistency across the series.
With racing set to unfold across the coming days, Brisbane Race Week presented by Porsche Centre Brisbane is shaping up as another standout edition.