ON THE HORIZON
INAUGURAL BRISBANE TO BUNDABERG RACE
RQYS’s brand new race, the Brisbane to Bundaberg, starts this THURSDAY!! Keep an eye on their tracker for this fast race up around Fraser Island. Best of luck to our SYC competitors taking on this inaugural race:
- Circe, Lea Foster
- Espirit, Rod West
- Wedgetail, David Rose
LATEST NEWS
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.
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.
Fantastic conditions on Saturday were embraced with 10 starters and 9 finishers in our final 25/26 season special event. Results are now live and Race Presentation will be tonight (Thursday) after a rather soggy twilight race. Special mention goes to:
Steven Humphries ‘Stealth Mode’ Greg Watson’s ‘’Touché42’
Lea Foster ‘Circe’ Greg Watson’s ‘’Touché42’
Lee Randall ‘Black Diamond’
David Rose ‘Wedgetail’MARITIMO 6-DAY CRUISE
The Maritimo 6-Day Cruise has come to an end, and what a fantastic week it was on the water! From our opening BBQ at Paradise Point to a scenic run up the Coomera River for coffee at SYC Oxenford, the fleet made the most of every nautical mile. We wrapped things up with a BYO BBQ at Dux and a relaxed lunch at Tipplers—the perfect way to cap off the journey. A massive thank you to our sponsors for making the trip even more memorable:
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Maritimo
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Precision Marine Maintenance
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Spectrum Marine
SAIL OUR WAY – LADIES DAY!
COMING UP AT OTHER SEQ CLUBS…
SYC is proud to support Special Events from our fellow South East Queensland Clubs! Here’s what’s coming up:
WYNNUM MANLY YACHT CLUB
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 for their first Mackay race, and Adelaide based Cool C4ts for their 2nd race into the 2026 fleet! Who else will be racing back to back from Sydney, or 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:
CLUB RACING
Latest Division Coverage:
ACADEMY NEWS
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 in July!
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!
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:
Hannah Slaven (Tackers Fleet)
This week’s Sailor of the Week is Hannah Slaven from our Tackers Fleet group.
Like her sister Elise, Hannah has shown incredible growth and determination throughout her sailing journey. Over the course of the term, her confidence on the water has continued to grow, and she has embraced every challenge with a positive attitude and willingness to learn.
Hannah has become a capable and confident sailor, consistently demonstrating great boat handling skills and enthusiasm during each session. It has been fantastic to watch her progression throughout the term, and we’re excited to see her continue to develop her sailing skills in the future.
Well done, Hannah!
SAILING AT OXENFORD
– by Ashlea Kernahan
Week 6 of 7 was another fantastic week on the water, with moderate winds providing the perfect conditions for our sailors to continue building their skills and confidence.
This marked the final training session for our Youth Learn to Sail sailors before our much-anticipated End of Term Celebration. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back for a fun-filled day where sailors can bring a friend, enjoy some Hobie sailing, receive their certificates, and celebrate another successful term with party food and plenty of smiles.
Our Teens group also enjoyed a wonderful pathway session at Hollywell Sailing Squadron. Everyone had the opportunity to get out on the water and experience what the next stage of their sailing journey could look like. It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm from the group as they explored new opportunities and gained valuable open-water experience.
As we head into the final week of term, we’re incredibly proud of all our sailors and the progress they’ve made throughout the season. We can’t wait to celebrate their achievements this weekend.
Play On! Voucher Reminder
Don’t forget that $200 Play On! Vouchers are accepted at the Southport Yacht Club Academy and can be used towards eligible sailing programs.
Vouchers are valid until 19 June, so be sure to redeem yours before they expire.
Whether you’re looking at Kids Learn to Sail, Teens Learn to Sail, School Holiday Sailing, or Tackers programs, now is the perfect time to put your voucher to good use and get out on the water!
UPCOMING ACADEMY PROGRAM:
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/
NSW OPTIMIST CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026 – SYC Academy Representation
Congratulations to our two SYC Academy sailors, Lyla Greenwood and Jack McGuire, who travelled to compete in the NSW Optimist Championships 2026 at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.
The regatta brought together a strong interstate fleet on Pittwater, with a full schedule of racing across the weekend. Sailors were tested across a range of conditions, requiring consistency, adaptability, and strong decision-making throughout the series.
A standout performance came from Lyla Greenwood, who placed 1st Overall Female and an impressive 4th in the Open Fleet, while Jack McGuire also delivered a strong result, finishing 11th in the Open Fleet.
A fantastic effort from both sailors, representing the Academy at a high level — we are incredibly proud!
