LATEST NEWS
INAUGURAL BRISBANE TO BUNDABERG RACE
Congratulations to SYC’s Wedgetail skippered by David Rose for cleaning up 1st on Line Honours, IRC and ORCi in the inaugural Brisbane to Bundaberg Offshore Yacht Race, and for scoring 3rd place on PHS. 
To hear what transpired (with very little wind!) during this brand new race and the final results, check out the official Race Facebook here and head to https://brisbanetobundaberg.com/#tracker (click on leaderboard)
Commiserations to Lea Foster on Circe’s retirement from the race, and the last minute withdrawal of Rod West’s Esprit.
SOLO TRANS TASMAN CHALLENGE DONE & DUSTED!
Congratulations to all competitors, supporters, volunteers, sponsors and host clubs who made the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge possible! Regardless of the final standings, every skipper who crossed the Tasman alone has achieved something extraordinary. Together they have helped write a new chapter in the history of one of the Southern Hemisphere’s great offshore sailing challenges.
The Race presentation was held at the Southport Yacht Club on Sunday, with family and friends of these brave skippers attending for a wonderful celebration. For all the results and photos from the race and presentation, head to the Race Facebook Page here.
The race originated in 1968 and is one of the world’s most demanding offshore races — where sailors take on the wild Tasman Sea alone. No crew. No rest. Just skill, resilience, and relentless determination. For days at sea, competitors battle shifting weather systems, towering waves, equipment failures, and the constant challenge of navigating one of the most unpredictable stretches of ocean on the planet. It’s a true test of seamanship, endurance, and mental strength. For more information visit the official website here.
FLAT ROCK YACHT RACE 2026
The 2026 Flat Rock Yacht Race delivered a fantastic day of offshore racing on the Gold Coast, with competitors taking on the course in excellent conditions and close competition throughout the fleet. Flat Rock is our first 26/27 season offshore special event. Full Results here. Special mention goes to:
1st: Chris Noyes ‘Aramex Shining Sea’
2nd: Greg Watson’s ‘’Touché42’ 3rd: Tony Craner ‘Balancing Act’EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026 – SYC ACADEMY RESULTS
Congratulations to our SYC Academy sailors who recently represented Southport Yacht Club at the East Coast Championships 2026 hosted by Woollahra Sailing Club.
Our Youth Squad delivered an outstanding performance throughout the regatta, with all three of our ILCA 4 sailors securing Top 10 finishes in a highly competitive fleet.
ILCA 4 Results
Addison Greenwood sailing Addictive – 2nd Overall & 1st Female
8th – Evie McGuire sailing Ripple
9th – Xavier Edmondson
Optimist Open Results
5th – Jack McGuire sailing Hijacked
19th – Lyla Greenwood sailing Wizz Fizz
A fantastic effort from all of our sailors, competing against strong fleets and representing Southport Yacht Club with skill, determination, and sportsmanship. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing them continue to develop throughout the season.
2026 WIVENHOE WINTER MARATHON – SYC ACADEMY RESULTS
Congratulations to our SYC Academy sailors who competed in the 2026 Wivenhoe Winter Marathon at Brisbane Valley Sailing Club on 6th–7th June.
The annual marathon attracted a strong fleet from across Queensland, with sailors taking on two days of endurance racing in challenging and competitive conditions.
A standout result came from Daniel Thompson and Lincoln Hortz, who sailed their Nacra 4.5 Hot n Spicy to 1st Place in Division 3, an outstanding achievement in a highly competitive fleet.
SYC Academy Results
1st – Division 3
Daniel Thompson & Lincoln Hortz – Hot n Spicy (Nacra 4.5)
8th – Division 4
Jozee Fowler & Keira Ruch – Shake N Bake (29er)
8th – Division 3
Adam Hardy & Mariella Brady – Kit Kat (Topaz 14)
A fantastic effort from all of our Academy sailors, representing Southport Yacht Club across multiple classes and gaining valuable experience against strong competition. We are incredibly proud of their results and look forward to seeing them continue to develop throughout the season.
ON THE HORIZON
THE GAFFERS – VINTAGE YACHT REGATTA
The Queensland Cruising Yacht Club will once again host the Vintage Yacht Regatta from 17 to 19 July 2026, bringing together a unique fleet of classic timber yachts and the sailors who keep them sailing!
For more information, visit the race webpage at QCYC here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SAILING SPECIAL EVENTS
Heaps of updates as we head into a brand new season of sailing. All special events are now live in our online CALENDAR! These are also visible on the Australian Sailing QLD Events Calendar.
Offshore, we have our signature 3rd GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race fast approaching in late July, following the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast race.
Inshore, the annual TK Robertson for OTB dinghies is also coming up on June 28th.
Entries into our 17th SAIL PARADISE Regatta are also NOW OPEN! Scroll down for more details.
Southport Yacht Club holds annual and biennial special racing events across our 5 divisions, with Perpetual Trophies dating back many decades! Special Events feature our dedicated media team, offering footage of all the on-water action to watch on the day after racing as well as to download and share on your socials. These events are open to both SYC members and racers from other yacht clubs, keeping the competition fresh and welcoming sailors to our Gold Coast waterways. Check out what’s coming up here:
THE YACHT SALES CO. SAIL PARADISE REGATTA 2026
FRIDAY 2nd – MONDAY 5th OCTOBER
Entries are now open for the 17th Sail Paradise Regatta! 2026 incorporates the Australian Yachting Championships. Get your entry in here. Don’t miss it!
GCCM GOLD COAST MACKAY YACHT RACE
Entries have grown to 32 so far, surpassing last year’s starting line fleet! Southport Yacht Clubs’ flagship ocean race; the 520nm GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race is fast heading towards its 3rd year, with a start on Thursday 30th July and Welcome party on Tuesday 28th July. This week we welcome Brisbane based Indigo II into the 2026 fleet! Who else will be taking advantage of the free berthing right through to Hamilton Island Race Week?
Indulge yourself for 2 minutes with this short film punching out what you don’t want to miss out on for 2026. You may even see a few familiar faces!
For all the details visit www.goldcoastmackay.com, and click the picture to view the Launch Film:
RACING RESULTS 2025/26
CLUB RACING
Latest Division Coverage:
ACADEMY NEWS
School Holiday Sailing Now Open!
Looking for an exciting outdoor activity these winter school holidays? Our School Holiday Sailing Program is now open for bookings!
June 29th – July 10th
Monday to Friday
Half Day and Full Day options available
Whether your child is brand new to sailing or looking to build on existing skills, our holiday programs are packed with fun, adventure, and time on the water.
Register here:
https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/southportyachtclub/items/575498/calendar/2026/06/?full-items=yes
SAILOR OF THE WEEK:
Luc Desmarchelier (Tackers 2)
This week we’re celebrating Luc Desmarchelier from our Tackers 2 group.
Luc has shown fantastic progress throughout the term, developing strong confidence and independence on the water. His solo sailing skills have continued to improve each week, and he has consistently demonstrated a positive attitude and willingness to challenge himself.
We’re excited to see Luc continue his sailing journey as he moves into our Tackers Fleet program next term. His dedication and enthusiasm for sailing have been wonderful to watch, and we can’t wait to see what he achieves next.
Well done, Luc!
SAILING AT OXENFORD
– by Ashlea Kernahan
The first week of our Winter School Holiday Sailing Program is well underway, and what a fantastic start it has been! With over 160 children booked across the two-week program, Oxenford Watersports Centre has been buzzing with excitement both on and off the water.
Our young sailors have enjoyed a great mix of learning new skills, making new friends, and building confidence in a fun and supportive environment. From first-time sailors discovering the sport to returning participants continuing to develop their abilities, it has been wonderful to see so many smiling faces out on the lake.
The winter weather has also been kind to us, providing excellent conditions for sailing and allowing our instructors to maximise time on the water. We look forward to welcoming another fantastic group of sailors for the second week of the program.
With Term 3 just around the corner, registrations remain open for our Kids and Teens Learn to Sail programs. We can’t wait to welcome both new and returning sailors back for another exciting term.
Adult Learn to Sail – July
Oxenford Watersports Centre
Sundays – July 5th, 12th, 19th
https://www.oxenfordwatersportscentre.com.au/events/354818
Homeschool Sailing – Term 3
Oxenford Watersports Centre
Thursdays 12pm-2pm– Start July 16th (8 Week Program)
https://southportyachtclub.com.au/kids-learn-to-sail/
Kids Learn to Sail – Term 3
Oxenford Watersports Centre
Saturdays 8:30am-11:30am– Start July 18th (7 Week Program)
https://southportyachtclub.com.au/kids-learn-to-sail/
Teens Learn to Sail – Term 3
Oxenford Watersports Centre
Saturdays 8:30am-11:30am or 12pm-3pm – Start July 18th (7 Week Program)
https://southportyachtclub.com.au/teens-learn-to-sail/
SYC SAILORS ON GLOBAL STAGE
Nate McCarthy to represent AUSTRALIA in ITALY
Our Cock of the Broadwater Champion from recent years, Nate McCarthy, has just been selected for the Australian team at the 2026 O’pen Skiff World Championships to be held from July 25th to 31st, 2026 in Calasetta, Sardinia, Italy!
Congratulations to Nate for making the team and best of luck later this month!
AU Junior Sailors Selected for ILCA 4 World Championships
A huge congratulations to Addison Greenwood, Evie McGuire, and Harry Hogan, who have been selected to represent Australia at the ILCA 4 World Championships at the Aarhus International Sailing Centre this August.
The talented trio will compete against the world’s best youth sailors, joining a fleet of competitors from 46 countries in one of the most prestigious junior sailing events on the international calendar.
This achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the sport, and we couldn’t be prouder to see them representing both Australia and our sailing community on the world stage.
Congratulations Addison, Evie, and Harry on this incredible accomplishment. We wish you the very best of luck in Denmark and look forward to following your journey and cheering you on from home!