Yachting News
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
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/
SOUTHPORT YACHT CLUB ACCEPTS CHALLENGE TO RECLAIM THE PRESTIGIOUS GOODWILL CUP
Brisbane, QLD – [2nd Oct 2025] – The stage is set for a thrilling showdown on the water as The Southport Yacht Club’s (SYC) Power Boat Division formally accepts the annual challenge from The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) for the coveted “Goodwill Cup” trophy. The historic event will be held on 1st November 2025 in the waters of Moreton Bay.
The competition, a celebrated tradition since 1962, will feature two distinct disciplines, testing the versatility and skill of the competitors. RQYS, as the challenging club, has set a course in the lower reaches of Moreton Bay around Peel Island, comprising both a modern GPS Navigation Course and a classic Traditional Navigation Course.
The Goodwill Cup has a long and storied history of friendly rivalry, with the trophy frequently changing hands between the two clubs. This year, the competition carries extra significance for the Southport Yacht Club, which is mounting a determined team effort to bring the cup home in anticipation of the club’s landmark 80th anniversary in 2026.
“The ebb and flow of this competition is what makes it so special,” said a spokesperson for SYC. “Bringing the Goodwill Cup back to Southport ahead of our 80th year would be a fantastic tribute to our club’s rich history and the competitive spirit of our Members.”
A Call for Competitors
SYC is now calling for skilled Members to join the “Goodwill Team.” Power boat owners registered with the Southport Yacht Club who wish to be part of this historic challenge are encouraged to express their interest.
Contacts:
Vice Commodore of Power, Justin Sinnamon
Membership Manager, Kellie Foster
A Legendary Record Stands
The Goodwill Cup is steeped in legend, most notably the unique record set in October 1964 by long-time SYC member Vic Drouyn. Navigating with only traditional methods and no electronics, Drouyn and his navigator, Neil Walden, achieved a perfect score of Zero Points in the vessel “Fritter.” This remarkable feat, set by the former SYC Power Boat Committee Chairman who later became Club Commodore, remains unbroken to this day, a testament to the skill at the heart of this competition.
About the Goodwill Cup:
First contested in 1962, the Goodwill Cup is an annual power boat competition between The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron and The Southport Yacht Club. It challenges participants in both modern GPS and traditional navigation, celebrating the sport’s heritage and evolving technology.
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
SYC’s annual offshore shenanigan race is on again in late October! Open to all keelboats and Off The Beach Cats, come join in this frenetic game of strategy or tactic, and choose between a raft of objective wins as well as the famous race to score the first crew member back to the Main Beach bar… however you choose to achieve this!
SYC’s annual offshore shenanigan race is on again in late October! Open to all keelboats and Off The Beach Cats, come join in this frenetic game of strategy or tactic, and choose between a raft of objective wins as well as the famous race to score the first crew member back to the Main Beach bar… however you choose to achieve this!
CORAL SEA BLUE WATER POINTSCORE SERIES
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
SYC ACADEMY
Sailing at Oxenford – by Ashlea Kernahan
School Holiday Sailing has been in full swing, with over 300 kids joining us for the September program. The weather has been perfect, with clear skies and steady breezes creating ideal conditions for learning, racing, and plenty of fun on the water. As we wrap up the holidays, our team is now preparing to launch into Term 4 Kids Learn to Sail and Teens Learn to Sail, kicking off on October 11th.
This week, the Academy also proudly hosted the 2025 UniSports Nationals at Oxenford Lake, welcoming over 90 sailors from 12 universities across Queensland, Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmania. Across three days of exciting competition, sailors completed an impressive 132 races plus finals on Thursday, October 2nd. It was fantastic to see such high-level racing on our lake, and we loved having the universities and their teams join us for this national event.
Upcoming Programs:
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