Yachting News
SYC OFF THE BEACH TROPHY PRESENTATION 2024/25
On Saturday night, Southport Yacht Club’s two OTB divisions, dinghies and catamarans came together at Hollywell for a fantastic annual night of celebrating the achievements of our OTB sailors in the 2024/25 season. For all the photos from the evening please visit SYC’s OTB Dinghy or OTB Multihull Facebook Groups.
Special mentions to the following perpetual trophy winners for 2024/25!
- JUNIOR COMMODORE’S CHOICE AWARD: Jack McGuire
- GRASSROOTS OF SAILING – THE RON BLACKLER AWARD FOR IMPROVEMENT & ENCOURAGEMENT TO JUNIORS: Stuart Waters
- KINGAROY CUP – MOST IMPROVED DINGHY SAILOR: Lyla Greenwood
- SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Fintin Griffin
- OFF THE BEACH CATAMARANS MOST IMPROVED SKIPPER – THE LYON TROPHY: Matt Engwirda
- 2024/2025 KELLOND-KNIGHT FAMILY SHIELD – LEADING SKIPPER: Jack McGuire
SAIL PARADISE REGATTA 2025
This long weekend provided some fantastic conditions for our 16th signature regatta, The Yacht Sales Co. Sail Paradise 2025.
Southport Yacht Club’s Vice Commodore of Sail Wayne Kirby has complimented all staff and volunteers on a well run and successful regatta, saying there were many happy faces at the final presentation as well as around the main bar each evening at Main Beach. The range of light and heavier conditions offshore resulted in some close racing which tested sailors across divisions. In particular, the competition in the 40+ foot class was the strongest it has ever been in South East Queensland, with visiting boats and crews from Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland participating this year.
Congratulations to all competitors and a special mention to our Queensland Yachting Championships winners:
Full results from The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise 2025 are available here.
The scene is set for next year’s event, with Sail Paradise co-hosting the Australian Yachting Championships.
If you haven’t caught up on any of the epic video footage or photography from the weekend, make sure you check out the YouTube playlist and Photo Gallery available on the Regatta website, www.sailparadise.com.au
2025 Zhik Youth Sail Queensland – Yeppoon
Congratulations to all of our SYC Academy Sailors who proudly represented Southport Yacht Club at the 2025 Zhik Youth Sail Queensland, hosted by Keppel Bay Sailing Club in Yeppoon.
This year’s regatta is the largest Zhik Youth Sail regatta in Australia with an abundance of youth sailors, coaches, Olympians, and volunteers. Across three days of coaching and three days of racing, our Members showcased determination, skill, and team spirit , continuing SYC’s strong presence on the Queensland sailing stage.
A special thank you to Cameron and Jacqueline Dickson The Moreton Group for their generous sponsorship of the SYC Academy Sail Racing Team. Their support has been invaluable, allowing us to provide rashies, bibs, training, and essential regatta assistance. With the help of coaches, our young competitors received exceptional on-water guidance during the unforgettable 2025 Zhik Youth Sail Queensland at Yeppoon. Thank you to all participants, coaches, volunteers, and especially to The Moreton Group for making this event a success!
SYC Academy Sailors – Results
ILCA 4 – Division 1
- Matthew Sinnamon – Slippery Too (4th Overall)
- Teegan Mitchell – Frostier
- Max Latter – Kraken
- Alistair Kelly – Dominator
- Jessica Sinnamon – Tropicana
- Xavier Edmondson – Maverick
- Finnin Griffin – Jetboat
ILCA 6 – Division 2
- Joe Thompson – It’s a breeze
- Stirling Kelly – Tornado
- Lewis Falconer – Remaining Nameless
- Bentley O’Sullivan – Knot Stoppin
Open Skiff – Division 1
- Nathaniel McCarthy – Biccie – 1st Overall
- Addison Greenwood – Skiff Happens (equal points with 4th)
- Travis Pinter – Shore Thing
Optimist Intermediate – Division 2
- Tanner Arendsen – Bazinga
- Jozee Fowler – Barracuda
- Flynn Hammel – Ocean Spirit
- Henry Campbell – Sailfish
- Owen Davies – Axolotl
- Elizabeth Lake – Sea Glider
- Mariella Brady- Sea Biscuit
Optimist Open – Division 3
- Jack McGuire – Hijacked (2nd Overall)
- Lyla Greenwood – Wizz Fizz (6th Overall)
- Evie McGuire – Ripple (7th Overall)
- Alex Walker – Sunrise (8th Overall)
- Lucas Dickson – Sonic
RS Feva – Division 2
- Daniel Thompson and Lincoln Hortz – Hot n Spicy 2
Highlights & Special Mentions
Nathaniel McCarthy secured 1st Overall in the Open Skiff Division, Addison Greenwood sailed strongly to finish tied 4th Overall in Open Skiff Division. In the Optimist fleets, Jack McGuire achieved 2nd Overall in Optimist Open, with Lyla Greenwood in 6th Overall and Evie McGuire close behind in 7th Overall.In the Optimist Intermediate division, Tanner Arendsen delivered an 3rd Overall finish, while Flynn Hammel followed closely in 4th Overall. In the ILCA 4 fleet, Matthew Sinnamon placed 4th Overall, showcasing remarkable speed and consistency throughout the regatta.
UPCOMING SYC SPECIAL EVENTS
COOK ISLAND YACHT RACE
Next u
p in our Blue Water Pointscore Series is the Cook Island Race on November 2! Entry link and details below!
Combining four of our special events into an overall annual series! Earning a fantastic perpetual trophy, the Coral Sea Pointscore Series Winner will be determined by the lowest IRC points score result over the series, with scores accumulated over the four races with one race drop. The four races included in the 2025/2026 season are:
Flat Rock Yacht Race, 66nm, – May 24, 2025 GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race, 520nm, Aug 1 2025 Julian Rocks Yacht Race, 85nm, – Mar 14 2026
DATE CHANGE; …THE BASH IS NOW A CHRISTMAS EVENT!
SOLO TRANS-TASMAN CHALLENGE 2026
Gold Coast Finish Line and SYC Entrant!
The Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge, the only single-handed ocean yacht race in the Southern Hemisphere, will finish at Southport Yacht Club (SYC) in 2026. First held in 1970, the race has long been recognised as a unique test of seamanship, skill, and endurance. The 2026 edition will be the 16th running of the event. Traditionally raced from New Plymouth, New Zealand, to Mooloolaba, Australia, the course has been updated and will run from Opua, Bay of Islands, to Southport.
The Opua Cruising Club is the official Organising Authority for the event, with support from Southport Yacht Club. Commodore Terry Dunn of Opua Cruising Club described the Challenge as “a testament to seamanship and resilience” and highlighted its role in strengthening the maritime bond between New Zealand and Australia. Thirteen yachts have already confirmed for the 2026 race – five from New Zealand and four from Australia – ensuring a true trans-Tasman contest. Kiwi sailors have won the last two editions, while the most recent Australian victory was in 2010.
SYC Member Peter Elkington has entered the challenge with his boat Pacman.
The race will be contested across three divisions:
· Adventure Monohull
· Adventure Multihull
· PHRF
While each skipper races independently, line honours remain a major prize, with the Sir Francis Chichester Trophy awarded to the first yacht to cross the finish line.
Over the years, the Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge has produced many notable achievements, with the race record currently held by an Austrian in 2014, Reini Gelder, who completed the race in 6 days, 7 hours, 13 minutes aboard his trimaran Shark Angels. Some editions have been decided by wide margins, while others have come down to hours – or even minutes – after nearly two weeks alone at sea. As the Taranaki Daily News noted in 2002: “A special race sailed by real people. To compete you don’t have to be a millionaire – and you don’t have to be a world beater. You just have to be made of stern stuff and have a sense of adventure.”
Key Information for 2026:
· Notice of Race and Provisional Entry Form: Available on the event website.
· Entries close: 25 October 2025 (late entries accepted until 27 March 2026).
The 2026 edition is expected to attract strong interest and support on both sides of the Tasman. Competitors, sponsors, and supporters are encouraged to contact the race management team for more information, or visit the website at https://www.solo-tasman.co.nz/
GCCM GOLD COAST MACKAY YACHT RACE 2026
EOI is now open for 2026. Indicate your intention to race now before the early bird, and help grow this race’s momentum across Australia.
SYC ACADEMY
Sailing at Oxenford – by Ashlea Kernahan
Week 1 was a fantastic start to the term, with over 90 kids and teens joining us across the weekend for a beautiful couple of days on the water. It was great to see so many familiar faces back at the centre and plenty of new sailors beginning their journey.
We’re now gearing up for Week 2, and we’re very excited to have the team back on the water. The warm weather is already rolling in, setting the scene for another perfect weekend of sailing.
Our October Adult Learn to Sail course wraps up this Sunday after an incredible few weeks of learning and laughter. Our November course has now completely sold out, and we’re already taking registrations for December — so get in early if you’d like to join before the new year!
Adult learn to sail December: https://www.oxenfordwatersportscentre.com.au/events/273245
We’ve also been welcoming a number of schools from across the Gold Coast to our Learn to Sail sessions at both Hollywell and Oxenford, and we’ve loved having them experience the joy of sailing with us.
This Sunday there will be a Sunglasses Event held at the Oxenford Watersports Centre from 9:00am–12:00pm, offering discounted eyewear. A great opportunity to grab some new sunnies before summer!
Sailor of the Week – Ruby Hollier
This week we’re celebrating Ruby Hollier from our OutThere Fleet group! Ruby showed amazing enthusiasm and focus during her first weekend back on the water, handling gusty conditions with confidence and a smile. She’s been a wonderful teammate and a great example for other young sailors. Ruby started off sailing at our Oxenford facility in the Teens learn to sail group and was hooked from day 1. We are so happy to have her join us Fleet sailing at Hollywell. Fantastic effort, Ruby — keep it up!
Upcoming Course/sessions:
She Sails Sunday, 26th October
https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/southportyachtclub/items/575708/?full-items=yes
Adult learn to Sail November –
Sundays, November 2nd, 9th, 23rd
https://www.oxenfordwatersportscentre.com.au/events/273244
RACING RESULTS 2025/2026
SYC Special Events:
Club Division Results:
- Offshore Division Results
- Thursday Twilight Offshore Series Results
- Thursday Twilight Results
- Inshore Division Results
- Off the Beach Catamarans Division
- Off the Beach Dinghies Results