Yachting News
INSHORE & TWILIGHT CHRISTMAS RACES & FESTIVITIES THIS WEEK!
Inshore Wednesdays:
Wednesday 17th December – Christmas Fun Race!
Dodgy Vindaloo
Mysterimg Skud 
Sea Biscuits
SAIL BRISBANE 2025
RQYS’s Sail Brisbane regatta 2025 is happening now in Brisbane! Best of luck to our SYC Squad members representing the Club:
- Daniel Thompson, Hot n Spicy
- Keira Ruch, Fasta Pastya
- Leo Sparshott, Reprobate
- Joe Thompson, Its a Breeze
- Jozee Fowler, Barracuda
- Henry Campbell, Sailfish
- Jack Sturm, Super Mario
- Flynn Hammel, Ocean Spirit
80th ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART
Southport Yacht Club will once again be organising a special event at Main Beach on BOXING DAY, Friday 26th December for the live start coverage of the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart. More details to come. 14 yachts in this year’s race will feature Club Members crewing aboard, including:
- Awen
- Beautemps
- Esprit
- Flying Fish Arctos
- Hutchies Yeah Baby
- Maritimo 100
- Maritimo Katwinchar
- Moneypenny
- Ocean Crusaders J-Bird
- Pacman (DH)
- She
- Trouble & Strife
- Wild Thing 100
- Yendys
Member Michael Spies Returns for His 47th Sydney to Hobart
Southport Yacht Club is proud to celebrate longtime member Michael Spies, who features in this week’s pre-race coverage ahead of the 80th Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. This year, Michael will contest his 47th Sydney to Hobart, again skippering the beautifully restored 121-year-old Maritimo Katwinchar, the oldest yacht in the 2025 fleet. In the article, Michael is photographed alongside a previous Sydney to Hobart winner, a fitting pairing that reflects the experience, history, and competitive spirit behind this milestone edition of the race.
Katwinchar stands out among the modern giants of the fleet — at just 32 feet, she represents a proud era of traditional craftsmanship. Michael spoke openly in the article about the realities for smaller yachts: while the chances of an overall victory are reduced in fast years dominated by 100-foot maxis, a longer, tougher race can completely reshuffle the standings. And he would know, he famously claimed the Overall Win in 2003 aboard a smaller yacht under exactly those kinds of conditions.
Michael also highlighted how the 80th anniversary race has attracted an exceptional field, with many crews and skippers aiming to make history. Yet amidst the competition, Katwinchar holds a unique place — a living piece of sailing heritage, proudly restored and backed by the passion of the Maritimo team. The entire Southport Yacht Club community wishes Michael and the crew of Maritimo Katwinchar a safe, fast, and unforgettable race.
Check out the latest article:
https://www.rolexsydneyhobart.com/race/2025/news/pre-race/sailors-hedge-their-bets-on-80th-rolex-sydney-hobart/
- Jack McGuire has been selected for the QLD Teams Racing squad for Nationals in Hobart.
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Lyla Greenwood received Most Improved.
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Flynn Hammel was awarded Sportsmanship for his positive attitude and encouragement on and off the water.
- 2nd – Under 17 Division
- 2nd – Overall
- Qld State Championship (Townsville),
- Qld Youth Championship (Yeppoon) and
- NSW Youth Championship (Toronto, NSW).
JOHN MCNAMARA MEMORIAL RACE
Saturday 22nd November
Eight boats, four catamarans and four monohulls, lined up for this year’s Memorial Race. Starting just south of Pelican Banks, the fleet ran towards Peel Island, rounded to port, then headed for Hope Banks before the home run upwind to the finish.
Line honours went to:
Mr Bojangles
Tahanea
TaoCombined PHS results:
Mr Bojangles Ocean Racer Chaser HavachatThis race was a fitting tribute to John McNamara, with competitive racing and great spirit across the fleet.
ANNUAL CHARITY SAILING DAY
Friday 21st November
What an incredible day out on the water! The SYC Annual Charity Sailing Day, proudly supported by Ord Minnett, delivered another fantastic day of sailing, sunshine, teamwork and fun. Industry leaders, colleagues and clients came together for an unforgettable half day of racing, all in support of Youth Sailing. From welcome drinks to post-race celebrations, the energy was high and the camaraderie on board every vessel was inspiring. A huge thank you to our skippers and crew for generously giving their time and boats, and to Nathan Blair and the team at Ord Minnett for their continued commitment.
Special congratulations to Sea-Ya!, who sailed brilliantly to claim the win. Over 10 years on, this event just keeps getting better. Here’s to many more!
UPCOMING SYC SPECIAL EVENTS
SAIL OUR WAY – SYC receives grant for 2026 Ladies Day Special Event
Southport Yacht Club is proud to have received a Sail Our Way Grant—an Australian Sailing initiative funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care. This program supports the participation of women and girls in sailing while also strengthening leadership, coaching, and instructing pathways within clubs and class associations.
On 28 March 2026, Southport Yacht Club will rebrand our traditional Ladies Day as a Sail Our Way Regatta, bringing together sailors and boats from our Oxenford, Hollywell, and Main Beach offshore fleets to race in the Deep Hole. The event will focus on skills development and connection, featuring an on-water coach and a post-race skills development session, followed by drinks and finger food to encourage networking.
SOLO TRANS-TASMAN CHALLENGE 2026
Entries now closed – 21 Contenders!
Entries now closed – 21 Contenders including 7 Australians!
The Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge, the only single-handed ocean yacht race in the Southern Hemisphere, will finish here 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.
For more information 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
Oxenford Sailing – by Ashlea Kernahan
We are now in Week 2 of our School Holiday Sailing program at Oxenford Watersports Centre, with our Teens Learn to Sail Holiday Program also running Monday to Friday. Over the past two weeks, we have welcomed more than 195 children on the water, with fantastic participation across all programs. It has been great to see sailors building confidence, developing new skills, and enjoying their time on the water. We are very excited to welcome all of our January sailors as we sail into the new year.
Our December Adult Learn to Sail group will finish up this Sunday before the Academy breaks for Christmas. Thank you to all participants for a great course, and we look forward to seeing many continue their sailing journey.
The January Adult Learn to Sail course will commence on January 2nd at the Hollywell Sailing Squadron, marking the first time this program has run from Hollywell and offering participants the opportunity to experience open-water sailing on the Broadwater.
Meanwhile Our past Adult Learn to Sail participants are getting ready to take the next step with our Better Sailing (Intermediate) program, which will kick off at the Hollywell Sailing Squadron for the first time. This course is designed for sailors who are ready to build confidence in stronger winds, refine boat-handling skills, and develop navigation and race-day techniques as they progress beyond the beginner level. The program will run on Sundays 4th, 11th and 18th January.
Teen Cadet Holiday Program
Our Teen Cadet sailors will kick off the new year with the RS Quest Sailing Holiday Program, running 5–9 January. Sailors will spend the week sailing our RS Quest dinghies across the Broadwater, focusing on teamwork, confidence, and open-water skills.
Sailor of the Week – Elise Slaven
This week’s Sailor of the Week is Elise Slaven from our Tackers 1 program. Elise has made fantastic progress on the water, showing growing confidence and skill throughout the week. We are excited to see her continue her sailing journey as she moves into Tackers 2, well done, Elise!
Upcoming Programs
School Holiday Sailing
Monday- Friday | 8th December – 23rd January | Full day & Half Day sessions available
Cost: Half day $65, Full Day $95
Fun, hands-on sailing for kids of all levels during the Queensland private school holidays.
https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/southportyachtclub/items/575498/calendar/2025/12/?full-items=yes
Adult Learn to Sail – January Course Hollywell
Saturday January 3rd , 10th , 17th at Hollywell Sailing Squadron
Cost $415pp
Learn the fundamentals of sailing across three Saturdays — no experience required.
https://www.oxenfordwatersportscentre.com.au/events/306494
Better Sailing (Intermediate)
Dates: Sundays 4th, 11th & 18th January at Hollywell Sailing Squadron
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Cost: $500 (payment plans available, includes race fee and temporary membership)
Outcome: Better Sailing Certificate (Australian Sailing)
Prerequisite: Start Sailing 1 & 2 Certificate
Book here: https://www.oxenfordwatersportscentre.com.au/events/319956
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