yacht race today sydney

Andoo Comanche takes out Sydney to Hobart as supermaxi makes race history

Australian supermaxi Andoo Comanche secured a fourth line honours victory in the gruelling Sydney-Hobart ocean race Wednesday, but fell short of setting a new course record.

The 100-foot yacht, skippered by John Winning Jnr, triumphed in a nail-biting finish in the early hours of Wednesday after leading the blue water classic for much of the race.

It completed a quartet of line honours wins for the boat in the prestigious event since 2015 under a third different owner.

Andoo Comanche crossed with a time of one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds -- about 20 minutes in front of rival supermaxi Law Connect -- and just under three hours short of its own record.

The current race record of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds was set by the same Comanche boat under a different skipper in 2017.

Winning Jnr was part of the team that won the event in 2016, but said it was something special to skipper his own crew.

“To do it in a campaign that I was part of putting together is really quite exceptional,” he told national broadcaster ABC.

Last year’s defending champion Black Jack crossed third, followed by Wild Oats, which fell behind after tearing one of its sails earlier in the race.

The 109-strong racing fleet set off from a sun-splashed Sydney Harbour on Monday afternoon, charting their way through the 628-nautical mile course (1163km) to Hobart.

Favourable weather early in the race raised the prospect of toppling that mark, but the strong winds faded as the boats barrelled towards the finish line in Hobart.

The Bass Strait, which separates Tasmania from the mainland, can unleash perilous conditions.

A deep depression proved catastrophic for the fleet in 1998, when six sailors were killed and 55 more were rescued after five boats sank.

Race officials on Tuesday evening said only three of the starting fleet had been forced to retire so far.

One of them, 40-foot yacht Yeah Baby, withdrew less than four hours into the race after reportedly colliding with a massive sunfish.

Dozens of smaller yachts were still in the water Wednesday morning, competing for the handicap prize, which compensates for boat size.

READ BELOW FOR A FULL WRAP OF ALL THE ACTION FROM THE RACE!

Comanche held a consistent lead of 20 nautical miles throughout the afternoon as it moved towards the Derwent with LawConnect telling the Nine papers they expect to arrive at Constitution Dock in Hobart at around 2am AEDT.

As darkness neared, Wild Oats XI fell back into fourth having suffered sail damage overnight while reigning line honours winner Black Jack was third, some five nautical miles behind LawConnect.

FOLLOW THE LIVE RACE TRACKER HERE

Comanche led the fleet into Bass Strait in the early morning, but slipping well behind LDV Comanche’s race record from 2017. Three of the four supermaxis (100-plus-footers) ran well east of the rhumbline to take advantage of marginally stronger winds, before turning back towards the coast of Tasmania around midday.

There were two retirements on the first day, with two-hander Avalanche the first to pull back to shore with a damaged bowsprit after a collision with Llama II just outside the Sydney Heads. Llama II escaped with only superficial damage.

Yeah Baby then retired in the evening after sustaining rudder damage near Wollongong due to a collision with a sunfish, but returned safely to Sydney.

Koa then became the third retirement after breaking her rudder, and is set to be towed to Eden on the NSW south coast, leaving 106 yachts still in the race. Enterprise Next Generation put in a request for redress after helping their stricken rival.

WILD OATS COPS DAMAGE OVERNIGHT

Hamilton Island Wild Oats came within 0.3 nautical miles of Black Jack around 2am overnight in the hunt for third position, before Black Jack surged in the early morning.

The pair traded positions throughout the day, with Wild Oats taking a line significantly closer to rhumbline.

It followed a wild start where both Comanche and Wild Oats were forced to take penalty turns following a series of near-misses in Sydney Harbour (more below).

Wild Oats - hunting a record tenth line honours win - then suffered damage to one of their two largest sails overnight.

Their veteran crewman Chris Links told NewsLocal a seam across one of their large downwind sails split, requiring running repairs on deck.

“It is not an easy job,’’ Links said.

“It has a cable in it and we had to do the repair on deck.

“It took around one and a half hours to repair.’’

LIVE STREAM

Watch live on-board action from LawConnect below.

WILD START CAUSES CHAOS

“Protest, get the flag up, that was f***ing bull***t,” someone yelled on Andoo Comanche in the first two minutes after being cut off by rival supermaxis LawConnect and Black Jack.

URM and LawConnect were also “inches” away from crashing into each other, according to URM skipper Ashley-Jones.

Less than a minute later, one of the crew was heard barking: “you’re asking for a clusterf***, we’re going to be in a collision,” and labelled one rival a “f***ing idiot”.

Comanche hit a turning mark as it exited the heads and was later spotted flying a protest flag of their own, after another boat protested them.

On Wild Oats, which took two penalty turns, skipper Mark Richards could be heard yelling “furl, furl, we are going to do a 720 (penalty turn)”.

Wild Oats famously lost the win in 2017 upon arrival in Hobart, after being handed a one-hour penalty for a rule breach over an incident with Comanche.

That race saw the record time set, with 2022’s Comanche roughly eight nautical miles behind the 2017 edition’s pace late on Monday night and falling further back overnight.

EARLY RACE UPDATES AND PREVIEW (via AFP)

More than 100 yachts set sail Monday on the Sydney-Hobart race as favourable winds raised hopes for a record time in one of the world’s most punishing ocean events.

Fans gathered at coastal vantage points and on spectator boats in a sun-splashed Sydney Harbour, which hours earlier had been shrouded in a thick fog that halted all ferry traffic.

The starting cannon fired to release 109 yachts on the 628-nautical mile (1,200-kilometre) blue water classic.

Crews dashed to get out of the city’s harbour on the first leg of the race down Australia’s eastern coast and across the treacherous Bass Strait towards the finish line in the Tasmanian state capital.

A final weather briefing on race day predicted “fresh to strong” north to northeasterly winds in the next day or so, giving the fastest, 100-foot supermaxi yachts a chance to challenge Comanche’s 2017 record of one day, 9 hours, 15min and 24sec.

Mark Richards, skipper of nine-time line honours-winning supermaxi Wild Oats, said his crew was buoyant after preparing for exactly these conditions.

“We put all our eggs in one basket and we put all our money on black for a downwind forecast and we have ended up getting it,” he told public broadcaster ABC.

“I think Wild Oats is going to be very fast,” Richards added. “The world is going to find out who is the fastest boat downwind.”

Wild Oats is competing for line honours against three rival supermaxis: Andoo Comanche, last year’s line honours winner Black Jack, and LawConnect.

Weather is a critical factor in the race, which was first held in 1945. Though the supermaxis are expected to be powered by northerly winds to a quick finish as early as Tuesday, slower mid- to small-sized boats will still be in the water in the following days facing possible gales and changes in wind direction.

In 1998, when a deep depression exploded over the fleet in the Bass Strait, six men died, five boats sank and 55 sailors were rescued.

Black Jack took line honours last year after a tight tussle with LawConnect, ending years of frustrating near misses to cross the finish line on the River Derwent after two days, 12 hours, 37min and 17sec.

Ichi Ban, which is not racing this year, was the 2021 winner of the overall handicap prize, which takes into account the yachts’ sizes. The boat pipped rival Celestial in a race where dangerous waves and weather conditions saw many withdraw.

International boats are making a return after the race was cancelled in 2020 for the first time due to the pandemic, and Covid hit the fleet last year.

Entrants come from Germany (Orione), Hong Kong (Antipodes), Hungary (Cassiopeia 68), New Caledonia (Eye Candy and Poulpito), New Zealand (Caro), Britain (Sunrise) and the United States (Warrior Won).

Sunrise is a proven ocean racer, winning the 2021 Fastnet Race in Britain, while Caro has been tipped to take out overall handicap honours, although skipper Max Klink played down his prospects ahead of the race saying: “I do not think we are the favourite.”

• Skip to content
• Skip to footer

• Français

ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE: DEFINED BY AN INTREPID SPIRIT AND CAMARADERIE

Geneva, 23 December 2021 - The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race holds a towering status in the world of sailing. It captures the attention of a nation and enjoys a glowing international reputation that has long transcended the traditional boundaries of the sport. Rolex has partnered this legendary competition and its organizers, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), since 2002.

Over its three-quarters of a century history, the race has provided a platform for human achievement and endeavour, qualities that align with Rolex's core philosophy and which underpin the Swiss watchmaker's more than 60-year involvement in yachting. The 76th edition is scheduled for the traditional lunchtime start on 26 December, with a fleet of more than 90 yachts expected to take on the famous 628-nautical mile (1,010 kilometres) course.

Some 60,000 sailors and 7,000 yachts have taken part in the race since its inception in 1945. From its beginnings, competitors have been drawn to the scale and unpredictability of the challenge, and to the demands on their skills in both preparing and handling their yacht.

After a spectacular departure from Sydney Harbour, the fleet heads south along the New South Wales coast of the Tasman Sea before crossing Bass Strait to tackle the east coast of Tasmania, Storm Bay and the final 12-nm (22 km) stretch in the often decisive, and sometimes cruel, Derwent River, before finishing in Hobart. Most entrants spend four to five days at sea. Watch systems and resources need to be managed assiduously. To negotiate the testing conditions requires willpower, experience and intuition.

Sir Ben Ainslie, a Rolex Testimonee, four-time Olympic gold medallist and helm of the Great Britain SailGP Team, is a past competitor and says: The experience gave me a real appreciation of the sailing prowess and camaraderie inherent in offshore racing, especially within the Corinthian boats taking two or three times as long and being not quite as comfortable as the maxis. A neat part of these races is the fact that handicap means, whatever the size of boat, everyone has a chance to win. The weather plays a part but smaller amateur-sailed boats often win against the professionals.

Winning the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race overall after time correction and securing the coveted Tattersall Cup guarantees a place in yachting folklore. Matt Allen's Ichi Ban has won two of the past three editions, in 2017 and 2019. Should the Australian boat emerge victorious again, she will join two of the race's most celebrated names, Freya (1963, 1964, 1965) and Love & War (1974, 1978, 2006), on three victories.

Beyond the competition to win overall, the consistent presence of some of the world's most impressive 100-foot (30.5 metre) Maxi yachts has produced epic contests in the battle to be first across the finish line. The race record currently stands at 33 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds, set by  Comanche  in 2017. Arriving in Hobart inside two days, a marker first set in 1999, has been achieved in each of the past four editions.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart attracts both professional and Corinthian sailors. Leaders from the political, business and entertainment worlds, as well as stars from other sports, have been drawn to participate. This all adds to the race’s appeal, which is already bolstered by a distinctive position in the sailing calendar and the pioneering feats of those who have confronted its many obstacles over the years. Matt Allen, a former Commodore of the CYCA, spent decades trying to win the event as a skipper. His story is one of persistence, of the time it can take to acquire the experience and knowledge to succeed. Having completed his 30th race to Hobart in 2019, he remarked:

“Over the years, I’ve seen amazing boats participate but it’s actually the people that  make this race and ocean racing what they are.”

Intrepid human spirit lies at the heart of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race’s creation and remains its foundation today. Rolex is proud to support a sporting contest that mirrors the brand’s own Perpetual spirit: humbly adapting to the elements, constantly seeking to improve and summoning one’s deepest resources.

A NATURAL AND SUPPORTIVE PARTNER Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand's enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events - from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world's most famous harbours. Rolex's partnerships with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.

Contact details

Virginie Chevailler

Giles Pearman

Related News

Local news:

Rock legend’s incredible act for woman standing on ledge of bridge

Rolex sydney to hobart yacht race preview: the two big dogs vying for glory.

Sydney to Hobart contender reveals secret weapon to take on skinny boats

The Seven Network’s summer sport offering is getting hotter with the 77th running of the iconic Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on Boxing Day.

Complete with 120 boats, including four 100-foot Maxis, the race will host an international fleet as they sail from Sydney to Hobart for the first time since 2019.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Rolex Sydney Hobart contender reveals secret weapon to take on skinny boats .

How to watch

The Rolex Sydney Hobart will be live and free from 12:30pm AEDT on Boxing Day on 7mate and 7plus .

Sydney 12.30pm on 7mate and 7plus

Melbourne 12.30pm on 7mate and 7plus

Brisbane 11.30am on 7mate and 7plus

Adelaide 12.00pm on 7mate and 7plus

Perth 9.30am on 7mate and 7plus

Commentary team

Hosted by acclaimed sports broadcaster Mark Beretta, Seven’s commentary team will be bolstered by Peter Shipway, a veteran who boasts more than 30 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races; Jimmy Spithill, an America’s Cup and Sydney Hobart Line Honours winning skipper; and Seven’s own Emma Freedman, who will broadcast live from Super Maxi, Andoo Comanche.

The top contenders

Australian sailing great Iain Murray has predicted a classic Sydney to Hobart tussle between the two big dogs of the sailing kennel: comparing one to a great dane, the other a greyhound.

A former regatta director of the America’s Cup, Murray is preparing for his maiden voyage aboard Andoo Comanche, one of four 30-metre supermaxi yachts charting a course to Hobart from Sydney Harbour from Boxing Day.

Comanche has blitzed the pre-Hobart events - most recently taking line honours at December’s Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour - and Tuesday’s long-range weather forecast only underlines her chances.

The other boat best suited to the predicted northerly and northeasterly winds is nine-time line honours champion Hamilton Island Wild Oats - formerly Wild Oats XI - upon which Murray has sailed in 15 previous editions of the race.

“They’re completely different boats,” Murray, who is Comanche’s sailing master for the 2022 race, told AAP.

“We’ve sort of got a greyhound and a great dane.

“One of them (Comanche) is an immensely powerful, big, wide boat and the other (Wild Oats) is a sleek, skinny little sprinter that just doesn’t have the same power.

“But it doesn’t have the drag, either.

“(Comanche) is probably a harder boat to sail. It’s got to be respected because the loads are just enormous.

“The potential to damage equipment, damage people - you’ve got to be very careful and tempered.”

Wild Oats navigator Stan Honey, who sailed with Comanche on her maiden Sydney to Hobart in 2014, agreed the predicted conditions would favour the supermaxis.

By the time the wind is predicted to shift on December 28, Wild Oats, Comanche, LawConnect and Black Jack are likely to have already made their way up the Derwent River to dock at Kings Pier.

“At this point, it does look like it could be a big boat race. It looks like the big boats will be able to do most of the race in that northeasterly,” Honey said.

But despite the favourable conditions, Murray is not expecting any records to tumble this time around.

Andoo Comanche’s latest estimates have her on track to complete the race in roughly 36 hours - shy of the line honours record of 33 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds she set in 2017.

“We did some routing runs this morning and they had us finishing at two o’clock in the morning. I know Black Jack’s was similar,” Murray said.

Sydney Hobart Yacht Race competition grows.

Stream free on

Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore 24/25

Winners announced for Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

• 08 Aug, 2023 03:34:00 PM

URM Group is the Overall winner of the 2023 Peter Rysdyk Memorial Trophy for the 2023 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, while Andoo Comanche has claimed Line Honours. This is the first in the six-race Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore 2023/24. Philosopher, sailed by David Henry and Stephen Prince, took first prize in the Two-Handed IRC division (as well as IRC Div 3), while other notable mentions go to Tempo (IRC Div 1) and Popeye (IRC Div 2).

In what was a quintessential Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, conditions split the fleet. Many sailors chose to head out to sea to hunt for breeze, while the remainder hugged the shoreline, taking chances in typical light to variable breezes. Whichever way the racing yachts chose to roam, it was a journey in which navigators and tacticians knocked heads throughout the night.

Hedging bets, some of the mid-size fleet chose to chart a course that incorporated both approaches.

In what was overall a slow race, the results show that those who bet big, with long trips out to sea, won out in the end. Prize-winning crews, speaking after the race, reported heading anywhere from 30 to 100 nautical miles out to sea, to seek the speed afforded by a stronger breeze. See full results  here.

Peter Rysdyk Memorial Trophy Winner, Overall Winner  URM Group , skippered by Marcus Ashley Jones said:

“It was a tactical race. Our original plan was to head out early, and then we ended up sticking to the coast, until about Newcastle. Then we decided to head out a bit more and we got up to about 60 miles off the coast. It was a long way out, we lost phone reception! But then we came back in and met the coast around Yamba and it paid off.”

Sailing Master Iain Murray on  Andoo Comanche  said: “The thing for  Andoo Comanche  is that she likes wind. We did end up 60 miles off the coast, which is a long way for a race that is only 384NM. That means that we actually sailed further, but we went out there to get the wind and to avoid the current. For us, the thought of being inshore, with not too much wind is something we put high on the risk factor, that’s something that we try to avoid.”

Veteran ocean sailor David Henry, who won the Two-Handed IRC division with his co-skipper Stephen Prince said he loves the Gold Coast race for the many tactical expressions it provides.

“As a winter race, the downside is that the weather is often like this - a very light westerly and as you go up, often a very light northerly, so it can be a slow race. Which means, for little boats like mine, it gives the little boats a chance, because the big boats often can’t get there quickly enough, to make up for their handicap and the little boats can.”

With only two withdrawals, a fleet of 55 boats arrived safely and smoothly at the finish off Main Beach, to celebrate with teammates and competitors and enjoy the warm hospitality of race finish partner Southport Yacht Club.

Commodore Arthur Lane, from race organiser Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, declared the race, a terrific success.

“The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is an annual event which always provides a wonderful test of the physical and mental strength of our competitors. I would like to congratulate all sailors who took part in 2023 on an amazing effort.”

Commodore of race finish partner, Southport Yacht Club, Drew Jones, said: “Southport Yacht Club is incredibly honored it have all the yachts competing in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race this year, and while it could have been a bit windier, we are now just looking forward to presenting all of prize-winners with their trophies and awards this morning. I also want to extend my thanks to of all our staff and volunteers who have helped around the club over the last four days. They have helped to make it a wonderful event.”

The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is made possible, by naming rights sponsor The Noakes Group, a Group of marine companies that have supported sailing in Australia for more than 30 years.

The 2023 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Prizegiving yesterday brought the race week to a fitting close.

THE RESULTS

Competitors came together at  Southport Yacht Club  to celebrate the many divisional winners & placegetters & were extremely warm in their appreciation of the crews that had triumphed in what had been a challenging trip north.

Thanks again to the staff & volunteers that made the race possible & to  Noakes Group  &  Audi Centre Sydney  for their continued support.

2023 Results  

Overall Winner - Peter Rysdyk Memorial Trophy  

1st – URM Group (Anthony Johnston) 

IRC Overall  

2nd - Popeye (Craig Thomas) 

3rd – Tempo (Michael Smith) 

Division 0 IRC  

1 st  - URM Group (Anthony Johnston) 

2 nd  - Smuggler (Sebastian Bohm) 

3 rd  - Andoo Comanche (John Winning Jr) 

Division 1 IRC  

1st – Tempo (Michael Smith) 

2nd – Calibre 12 (Richard Williams) 

3rd – Pretty Woman (Richard Hudson) 

Division 2 IRC  

1st - Popeye (Craig Douglas) 

2nd – Mistral TH (Rupert Henry) 

3rd - Ginan (Nigel Jones and Cam Mackensie) 

Division 3 IRC   

1st – Philosopher (David Henry) Two Handed (TH) 

2nd - Verite (Paul Beath) 

3rd – Rum Rebellion (Shane Connelly) (TH) 

1 st  - Mako (Paul O’Rourke) 

2 nd  - She’s the Culprit (Glen Picasso) 

3 rd  - Reve (Kevin Whelan) 

Division 4 – Two-Handed IRC  

1st – Philosopher (David Henry & Stephen Prince) (TH) 

2nd - Mistral (Rupert Henry, Greg O’Shea) (TH) 

3rd – Rum Rebellion (Shane Connelly, and Andrew Downing) (TH) 

Corinthian IRC   

1 st  - Philosopher (David Henry) (TH) 

2 nd  - Calibre 12 (Richard Williams) 

3 rd  - Mistral (Rupert Henry) (TH)              

Corinthian PHS   

1 st  -  Calibre 12 (Richard Williams) 

2nd – Ausreo (Ian Creak) 

3 rd  - Pretty Woman (Richard Hudson) 

Line Honours  

1st - Andoo Comanche (John Winning Jr)                            

2nd – URM Group (Anthony Johnston) 

3rd - Whisper (David Griffith) 

2024 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore

PHOTOS | BWPS boats recognised at 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Prizeiving

PHOTOS | BWPS Boats in 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart

PHOTOS | Cabbage Tree Island roundings

PHOTOS | 2023 Cabbage Tree Island Race - finishers

VIDEO | Start - 2023 Cabbage Tree Island Race

VIDEO | 2023 Bird Island Race Start

VIDEO | 2023 Tollgate Islands Race Start

VIDEO | 2023 Flinders Islet Race Start

WATCH | From the Rails Celestial - 2023 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

AUDIO | 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 5

AUDIO | 2021 Cabbage Tree Island Race position report "sked" 1

2023 cyca club merchandise is on sale now.

Visit the CYCA Online Store today where you will find the latest range of men's and women's Club clothing exclusively manufactured by  Helly Hansen .

Our new range is out now... but it won't last long. SHOP NOW!

P.S. We deliver worldwide!

Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race

The Race to Auckland has STARTED...

Early bird entry discount enter before 11 october 2024, sydney to auckland ocean race 2025, the race of a lifetime.

Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) together with the Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC) invite competitors to participate in the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025, 11 October .

A dramatic and compelling ocean (and we mean ‘ocean’) racecourse has been shoe-horned into the start of next year’s busy Spring / Summer sailing season.

The race will start in Sydney Harbour on 11 October 2025 and finish in Auckland Harbour.  This challenging trans-Tasman 1,250nm Category 1 race is open to offshore cruising and racing yachts, Two-Handed Yachts, superyachts and ocean racing multihulls. 

Follow the Fleet Live

I think it’s going to be a premier race, the longest (from Australia) and an international race. This is the first time anyone gets to do it, so there should be quite a bit of interest and a strong fleet Mark Griffith, DK46, The Old School Racing

The Alfreds have been so helpful. I had a call to see if I needed any help. You don’t get much of that these days. To have internal support makes you feel connected. Sibby Ilzhofer, Cookson 47, Dare Devil

RPAYC’s Robert McClelland explains the race’s communications have been simplified for the 1250 nautical mile race: “Satellite phones, AIS and trackers on each boat, no time-consuming skeds. This follows the Club’s successful Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race , which is run on the same basis.”

The other joy for competitors is that the Sydney to Auckland into New Zealand Ocean Race has been timed to allow prospective competitors to compete on the northern circuit in Queensland beforehand and to be back in Australia in time for the Rolex Sydney Hobart and Melbourne to Hobart yacht races.

Alternatively, entrants can stay on in New Zealand and take advantage of the famous Coastal Classic held in late October. There is also the Bay of Islands Sailing Week in late January 2025 to consider and  Auckland to Noumea  – not to mention the scenic cruising opportunities.

The Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race is open to fully crewed racing and cruising yachts, two-handed yachts, superyachts and ocean-going multihulls. It is the longest race originating from Australia open to a variety of yacht classes.

Early Bird discount Entry Fee closes 11 October 2024.

Standard entries for the Category 1 Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race, to be held by Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Association with the Royal Akarana Yacht Club in New Zealand, close on 11 September 2025.

Royal Akarana Yacht Club – The Home of Blue Water Sailing

The Royal Akarana Yacht Club is one of New Zealand’s oldest yacht clubs and occupies a unique place in this country’s recreational sailing history.

Throughout its 127 years, it has been at the forefront of New Zealand yachting and particularly in its early years, had a huge influence on the way the sport developed in this country. Visit the club at https://rayc.co.nz/ 

Future event dates

• 2025 Race – October 11
• 2027 Race – October
• 2029 Race – October

Additional Races

• Coastal Classic Race
• Bay of Islands Sailing Week
• Auckland to Noumea
• New Caledonia GROUPAMA RACE
• Hamilton Island Race Week

Latest News

Hooligan smashing sydney to auckland-like conditions on pittwater.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Chasing titles and records in Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025

Both the reigning line honours champion and overall winner of Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s inaugural Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race are to return for

Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race – Presentation

Competitors and Club members came together to celebrate the 2023 Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race at the RPAYC Clubhouse on Thursday 23 November for the

Share your experience

Competitor information, race documents, find or register as crew, auckland accomodation options, contact information.

• For more information on participating contact [email protected]
• For supporting sponsorship opportunities contact: [email protected]

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• 11 October 2024: Early Bird entry discount closes
• 11 September 2025: Entries Close (Late fee applies)
• 1 October 2025: Sailing Instructions, Entries, Divisions & Provisional Ratings Published
• 4 October 2025: Rating Deadline
• 9 October 2025: Skippers Briefing and Crew Cocktail Party (6:00pm RPAYC)
• 11 October 2025: Race Start Sydney Harbour

MEDIA RELEASES

• The Celebration Begins
• Sydney to Auckland make for the Corner
• And we are off!
• Crews countdown to the start of the inaugural Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race
• Hong Kong entry in race for historic Lipton Cup
• Talk turns to Weather
• Serious Business
• Mayfair first interstate entry for the inaugural Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race
• Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race, scheduled for October 2023
• First entries received for the inaugural Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race

Official Race Merchandise available through Official Partner Quality Marine Clothing

20% discount on 2023 Sydney to Auckland Merchandise

Further Information

The race has been classified by the Organising Authority an Australian Sailing Special Regulations category 1 race with the addition of the OAs own additional requirements as listed in the Notice of Race. 

This means that an entrant will need to have a Cat 1 Audit done and additionally have an Australian Sailing National Certified Auditor sign off the O.A.’s additional items.

• Download at Category 1 Audit requirements form here (from 1 July, 2025)
• Stability Declaration Form
• Communication Equipment Form
• Sat Phone Declaration
• Hull Construction World Sailing Structural Plan Review requirement information
• Australian Sailing Special Regulations Information

RPAYC : Berths for competing boats may be available at RPAYC for a discounted rate in the build-up to the Race. For more details on berthing at the RPAYC and alternative berthing in Pittwater and Sydney, please contact the RPAYC. [email protected]

AUCKLAND : Berthing will be provided on arrival in Auckland at Jellicoe Harbour at the Wynyard berths.

Berths have access to power (63 and/or 125 amp 3-phase) and water, plug-in internet and black water pump out.

These are med-style mooring berths suiting vessels 30 – 50m in length, alongside berthage depending on size and number of vessels is also available.

The Race Committee will direct boats to their temporary berth. Boats planning to stay on in Auckland or New Zealand should contact Via Duct Marine to make arrangements. It is a condition of Entry that boats must moor in accordance with the directions of the Via Duct Marina Manager. 

Australian Registration

Guide to registering your ship on the Australian General Shipping Register

Under the Shipping Registration Act 1981 (the Act), all Australian owned or operated ships, 24 metres and over in tonnage length, and capable of navigating the high seas, must be registered. Any ship sailing to a foreign port must also be registered, regardless of size. All other craft, including Government ships, fishing and pleasure craft need not be registered, but may be if the owners desire.

https://www.amsa.gov.au/guide-registering-your-ship-australian-general-shipping-register  

Apply for a temporary pass for yacht races, rallies, and sailing overseas

https://www.amsa.gov.au/vessels-operators/ship-registration/registration-yachts-cruisers-and-fishing-boats/apply-temporary

Custom requirements are applicable to all crew and boats. RPAYC has arranged for the Australian Boarder Force to conduct Custom Clearances at CYCA and MHYC.

New Zealand Customs

Competitors are reminded that it is their sole responsibility to ensure that they clear out through customs in Australia and clear customs into New Zealand on arrival. NewZealand Entry and Visa requirements may be applicable to you. NewZealand Custom Officers will meet Competiors on arrival to Auckland on berthing at the Auckland ViaDuct Berths.

For more information on the requirements for entering New Zealand by Yacht and for the New Zealand Customs Service, Yacht Pack see:  https://www.customs.govt.nz/personal/travel-to-and-from-nz/yachts/

Australian Border Force

View Departure & Entry requirements here: https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/entering-and-leaving-by-sea

A crew register is available for the race hosted by MySailTeam .

• Follow this link to find crew for your boat and or register as crew. 

Pack & Send in Mona Vale

They will meet you at the RPAYC on Thursday 5th October from 1500hrs – before the skippers briefing and collect bags and gear.  Packing crew bags between you is recommended. Sails and heavy bulky gear we suggest chatting to them about the costs ahead of Thursday.

Pricing of a bag/box depends on its destination and on its volume or weight.

Approximate estimations heading to New Zealand.

Box Dimension | Weight | Cost of Freight 46 x43 x 64 CMS 25kgs $300 46 x 43 x 50 CMS 20kgs $250 46 x 43 x 35 CMS 15kgs $205 Pack & Send can tailormade box sizes to any size according to customer preferences.

Safety and Survival at Sea & other Crew qualifications

Several companies offer Crew Training certification:

Ocean Boardroom

Pacific Sailing School

Marine Safety Works

Several companies can lease equipment to yacht owners as required for the race, e.g. Satelight phones, Liferafts, PLBs.

The Place to Buy, Hire or Rent a Satellite Phone – EPIRBhire Thuraya Iridium Inmarsat

Great Circle Lift Rafts

Great Circle Life Rafts Hire

Sail Exchange

https://www.sailexchange.com.au/personal-safety-equipment/rental-gear/life-rafts-rental.html

Bettina Crafoord | Mobile – 0418 866 333

www.sailexchange.com

The race of a lifetime will draw the attention of an international and nationwide audience. 

To be part of this event contact the Organising Authority at [email protected] for a prospectus. 

Share the event!

Crewing opportunites, event enquiry.

Contact the Organisation Authority Here and also be added to the 2025 Expression of Interest group

• AMERICA'S CUP
• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race winners announced

Related Articles

• Visit our Facebook page
• Visit our Instagram profile
• Visit our Twitter feed
• Visit our YouTube channel

Events Search and Views Navigation

Event views navigation, september 2024, live music | harvey.

Join us for more blissful winter evenings at the club, accompanied by Live Music. Don’t miss out on this great performance from local musician Harvey.

Club Marine Ocean Pointscore | Lion Island Race

The Club Marine Ocean Pointscore will commence on Saturday 14 September 2024. The series consists of eight races including trips to each of Lion Island, Botany Bay and Port Hacking and Day One of the MHYC SSORC. This series is perfect for the yachtsperson who wants to do various ocean races without the pressure of having […]

Live Music | Seani

Currently one of Melbourne’s most popular live music acts, Marchetti’s enviable career thus far has seen the 29 year-old play shows right across his home state; including numerous AFL functions, and supporting industry stalwarts: Jimmy Barnes, Thirsty Merc, John Stevens, James Reyne, and Missy Higgins on their respective tours.

Club Social Lunch

CYCA Social Lunch, this informal event hosted by the Associates’ Committee provides an opportunity to come to our Club and enjoy lunch with other Members. All Members and their guests are welcome. It is a great opportunity for long term Members to catch up and for new Members to meet others at a relaxing lunch […]

Information Evening | Racing Rules of Sailing

Join us at 6.00pm on Tuesday 17 September as Sean Kirkjian hosts an Information Evening on the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Sean will run through the current Racing Rules of Sailing and apply them to situations which arise on the racecourse during the CYCA Summer Series. This will include pre-race start line conditions, mark roundings and […]

Lord Howe Island BBQ Compass Check

There will be a “Compass Check” to be held at the SASC September 17tt 1800h for those planning to attend the Lord Howe Island BBQ this year. Those thinking of heading over are most welcome to attend to meet up for the latest info on those planning to attend the BBQ Sausage sizzle on the night […]

CYCA AC Lounge – Races 1 to 4

The CYCA invites Members to the Rani Room, to the America’s Cup Lounge. Come together to support our Australian team as they compete in the UniCredit Youth America's Cup, showcasing the next generation of sailing talent. Join fellow Members to watch the live action and immerse yourself in the excitement of the UniCredit Youth America’s […]

CYCA AC Lounge – Reserve Day

Live music | rayn.

RAYN is an intriguing Australian-born R&B artist who weaves a musical blend of Jazz, R&B, and Pop. She has appeared on Triple J Unearthed and BBC Introduction Radio (UK), as well as on stage with Jessica Mauboy, Kate Ceberano, and Timomatic. Join us at the Club for an afternoon of R&B vibes.

YSA Presentation

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is pleased to invite you to attend the CYCA Youth Sailing Academy Presentation Dinner, celebrating YSA achievements for 2023 and 2024. The evening will include a special guest speaker and buffet dinner by The Boathouse Group. Dress code: Smart Casual Please RSVP by Monday 2 September 2024 to secure […]

CYCA AC Lounge – Races 5 to 8

Acsbwps | flinders islet race.

The Flinders Islet Race is an 88nm race.  The race starts on a Saturday morning near Point Piper on Sydney Harbour.  The fleet proceeds out Sydney Heads and tracks south down the coast to round Flinders Islet, approximately 1nm east off Port Kembla Harbour, Wollongong, before returning to finish in Sydney Harbour.

• Google Calendar
• Outlook 365
• Outlook Live
• Export .ics file
• Export Outlook .ics file

CYCA Principal Sponsor

Cyca official sponsors, helly hansen, club marine, sydney brewery, lgt crestone, the luxury collection, winnings appliances, roads and maritime services, cyca youth sailing academy sponsors and supporters, helly hansen, forecasts.global, vibe hotels, network marine, sun foundation.

MELBOURNE OSAKA CUP

A father & son team.

It would be hard to find a more capable co-skipper for the world’s longest south to north race, The Melbourne to Osaka , than Tasmanian sailing legend, Ken Gourlay. Recently recognised in the King’s Birthday honours list with an Order of Australia for his services to sailing, Ken has teamed up with his son Tristan for the big event.

In 2007 Ken completed a solo circumnavigation of the world just to add to his long list of notable sailing achievements. Tristan meanwhile has been busy racking up his own impressive list of sailing feats, both racing and cruising. Recently the pair teamed up for shakedown voyage, completing a lap of Tasmania just to see what needed to be to the boat which will make the journey to Osaka.

Their Melbourne to Osaka entrant is Blue Moon 2 , an Adams 16.4 built in Victoria. Blue Moon 2 spent most of its life in NSW where she once took line honours in the Sydney to Coffs Harbour race before moving to Brisbane and racing competitively in, social twilight and club racing. Ken bought the boat in December 2023 and by the end of January Ken and Tristan had covered 2000nm double handed, including the circumnavigation of Tasmania.

Since then the boat has spent  considerable time on the hard undergoing a significant refit, including a complete re-rig of the mast. Tristan said, “ Blue Moon 2 has undergone a major refit in the 2024 winter to get her up to racing compliance and optimisation for double handed sailing.

“New AIS, radar and GPS unit along with some minor furniture modifications inside the wheel house will make the trip safer and more comfortable for Ken in the new captain’s chair.

“The rig has been stripped and fully rebuilt with all new wire fittings and chain plates, new Almast Reefit furlers to both forestay and staysail. A new motor has been installed along with new forward and aft bulkheads as per race regulations, second auto pilot along with an overhaul of the steering pedestal and linkages, “ he said.

With new decals and sugar scoops the boys will be traveling in comfort and style on their trip to Japan. Ken and Tristan are looking at some training runs across Bass Strait along with the inaugural Three Hummock Island race which will be their first offshore race with Blue Moon 2 . This will qualify them for the Sydney to Hobart and in turn will qualify them for the 2025 Melbourne to Osaka Race, with a little cruising between start and finish lines Ken and Tristan should have their systems and feel for the boat worked out to tackle any conditions thrown their way.

Revamping the sail inventory to fit easy to handle sails for the generally lighter conditions expected in the M2O race has also been on the list. The next big test for boat and crew will be the Three Hummocks Island race from northern Tasmania to the island on the east coast of King Island in Bass Strait. As any seasoned Australian sailor well knows, the rigors of Bass Strait are a good proxy for almost anything the world’s oceans are likely to throw at a boat and short-handed crew.

And the Gourlay team have Bass Strait credentials in spades, having competed regularly in many races in those waters. Together the father/son team has competed in almost all of the local Tasmania offshore races including the Three Peaks, Launceston to Hobart, Melbourne to Hobart, Sydney to Hobart, including a line honours racing double-handed together in the 2004 Melbourne to Launceston.

In 2005 Ken and Tristan raced against each other in the two-handed Melbourne to Vanuatu event and Tristan shades his respected elder by having competed in the 2018 Melbourne to Osaka race. It was that event which tempted Ken to come out of his self-imposed racing retirement but the desire for a bit more comfort and size saw the departure of their previous open 40 design yacht for the more spacious Blue Moon 2 .

In the recent King’s Birthday awards Ken Gourlay was honoured alongside the late Sir James Hardy, a world famous ocean and America’s cup racing identity. Ken’s sailing ambitions led to an early ambition to sail around the world.

Beginning his voyage in November 2006 Ken Gourlay became the first Tasmanian and the fastest Australian to sail alone, non-stop and unassisted, around the world. Completing his voyage at Launceston in the record time of less than 180 days, he beat the previous best time and officially became only the sixth Australian at the time to complete the circumnavigation making  him the fastest, and oldest, Australian to circle the world. The voyage also raised more than $100,000 for medical research into eyesight disorders and diseases in children.

“The trip was always something that I just wanted to do. It was a personal thing’, Ken said at the time. Ken Gourlays’ sailing career began early when he started sailing on his dad’s Derwent class yacht, which he had built and launched in 1939. At eight, his Dad bought him a Sabot, which he sailed until he graduated to a Tamar class dinghy which ultimately led to his first yacht, an Adams 13 in which he started his offshore racing career.

A series of ocean races over the years prompted Ken to build Spirit Silver Edition , his fourth keel boat. Built with the circumnavigation in mind  that yacht was also a quick racer.

In 2004 he and Tristan entered and won the Melbourne to Launceston race, sailing two-handed, in which 23 boats entered, only 17 elected to start and only three finished. But other family oriented cruises kept the sailing spirit alive. In 1998 Ken’s wife Wendy and daughter sailed the Pacific and with Wendy in 2000 the pair delivered a yacht from Darwin to urban in South Africa with her owner.

Story – Ian Howarth

• Horse Racing

Rosehill Racecourse track relocation threatened by endangered green and golden bell frog

Habitat concerns of an endangered animal could undermine a proposal to raze a racecourse and replace it with a metro station and 25,000 homes.

Little sister could blow up Flemington feature for Zahra

Romantic Warrior success inspires Japanese star’s Cox Plate bid

Rosehill Turf Talk: Import can cause boilover at $16

A proposal to relocate the Rosehill race track to a new location at Sydney Olympic Park could be derailed due to concerns the endangered green and golden bell frog cannot easily be relocated.

The plan to redevelop the Rosehill racecourse into a 25,000 mini city hinges on the development of a new racecourse in metropolitan Sydney, with Sydney Olympic Park’s historic brick pit touted as an option.

During an upper house probe into the proposal on Thursday, Sydney Olympic Park Authority chief executive Carla Armanet dashed hopes of potentially relocating the protected “high-risk” bell frog colonies, which live in the wet lands of the sunken brick pit - though this does not exclude other sites from being chosen for a new race course.

“The work that’s been undertaken over the last 24-odd years at Sydney Olympic Park with the green and golden bell frog is that it’s a habitat that doesn’t easily relocate,” she said.

“I don’t have full details of all studies that have been undertaken to date, but the survival rate is not high.”

The NSW government is considering a large-scale bid by the Australian Turf Club (ATC) to redevelop Rosehill Racecourse into a mixed use site with space for at least 25,000 new homes and a metro station.

The plans for the current Rosehill site are in the second stage of the three-level unsolicited proposal (USP) process and will be contingent on a vote from the ATC’s 11,000 members slated for later this year.

While Ms Armanet wouldn’t directly say whether SOPA would object to the construction of a racecourse at the brick pit, she said the zoning constraints would make things “challenging”

She also said the department had yet to be consulted on the suitability of the site and whether the government could circumvent ecological concerns by building a racecourse on the nearby cliff tops.

Racing NSW chair Saranne Cooke said it was a “prerequisite” for the board that a Class 1 racetrack be built in another Sydney location.

While the Sydney Olmypic Park site was an option, she said the regulatory body was currently conducting ecological and planning work, and warned there would be “a lot more to come if it gets past the first hurdle”.

Asked about a potential Warwick Farm site in Western Sydney, Dr Cooke said initial assessments had found it would be “very expensive”.

While Ms Armanet wouldn’t directly say whether SOPA would object to the construction of a racecourse at the brick pit, she said the zoning constraints would make things “challenging”.

Office of Sport chief executive Karen Jones also said she had not refined any “detailed plans” about relocating Rosehill’s training facilities to the Sydney International Equestrian Centre’s Horsley Park site.

However Ms Jones said the organisation would “fully co-operate through the unsolicited proposal process,” once they are called to do so.

BUREAUCRATS DENY PROPOSAL WAS RUSHED

Earlier on Thursday, senior bureaucrats denied the evaluation process was anything out of the ordinary after the committee raised questions over the speed of progress.

Following a meeting between NSW Premier Chris Minns and the ATC’s head of corporate affairs and government relations Steve McMahon, who is Mr Minn’s friend and Labor ally, on October 30, 2023, departments took four days to progress the idea to a four-option strategy on November 6.

Department chiefs were grilled over the fast turnaround of the proposed project, which was officially announced to major fanfare in December least year.

The ATC then officially submitted their USP on March 28 this year.

Premier’s Department secretary Simon Draper said the ATC would have been aware that the government was pursuing locations for other metro stations and extra housing when they first flagged the proposal.

“I don’t think there’s any great conspiracy or surprise about that. It was a well publicised, worst kept secret,” he told the committee.

“The government was trying to find additional station locations and build housing around those stations.”

However, Independent MP Mark Latham questioned whether there were issues with the “speed with which the cabinet office was moving on, doing it too fast and maybe some corners were being cut?”

In response, the Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade (DEIT) director of commercial transactions Rowan Fisher disagreed.

“The USP process, as we’ve described before is, is a very robust and structured process for government examining proposals from the private sector,” he said.

The DEIT executive director of commercial transactions Katie Knight said the USP process was robust.

Both Mr Fisher and Ms Knight confirmed they had not received any communication from the Premier’s office in the time between Mr Minns and Mr McMahon meeting and the first meeting between the department and the ATC on November 8 on USP guidelines.

Ms Knight also backed an unsolicited proposal process for its “really robust guidelines”.

“It has a very staged approach. It has a rigorous assessment and decision making, separating criteria, so I recommended it as the appropriate path,” she said.

In an earlier sessions, Sydney Metro chief executive Peter Regan also said the Metro West line’s proposed 2032 opening was not dependent on the success of the Rosehill proposal.

As it stands, tunnelling has yet to reach Rosehill and only design costs have been invested in the project, with Sydney Metro bosses “hoping” to provide advice to government in the “coming months”.

Should Rosehill’s USP be approved, the project still needs the backing of ATC members.

Mr Minns has described it as an “once-in-a-generation” opportunity; however, he acknowledged the decision was in ATC members’ hands.

“We’ve really made it clear from the very beginning that this is a decision for ATC members. We don’t own the land, the land’s owned by the members of the racecourse, and there’s no compulsory acquisition,” he previously said.

“But we’d be crazy just to walk away from a proposal that could see more housing for young people on a brand new public transport line for Sydney.”

Simon Zahra won last year’s Cap D’Antibes Stakes in an upset and is keeping it in the family as he attempts to post another shock win in the Listed contest at Flemington on Saturday.

Romantic Warrior’s win in the Cox Plate encouraged the connections of Japanese star Prognosis to take up the challenge this year.

Racenet’s Mitch Cohen is keen to dive into a $16 value bet in one of the feature races at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, while Shayne O’Cass is keeping a keen eye on fluctuations on a key runner.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

• 01 Aug, 2024 10:21:00 AM

Maritimo Katwinchar – 120 year old yacht back and racing

Maritimo’s Bill Barry-Cotter has once again demonstrated his passion and dedication to all forms of boating.

• 30 Jul, 2024 10:16:00 AM

Winners Announced for the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

Twin brothers Louis and Marc Ryckmans' Voltstar Yeah Baby is the Overall Winner of the Peter Rysdyk Memorial Trophy for the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. URM Group has claimed Line Honours.

• 29 Jul, 2024 10:17:00 AM

URM Group claims Line Honours of the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Race

• 27 Jul, 2024 10:19:00 AM

Start of the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

A gentle start was delivered to those competing in the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. Fifty-one yachts assembled on the start line before the yachts crawled across Sydney Harbour and north up the Tasman Sea.

• 14 Jun, 2024 02:15:00 PM

2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race | Entries Open

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is pleased to invite eligible boats to enter 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Congratulations to all the divisional winners of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

PHOTOS | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

PHOTOS | Day 5 Morning - Tasman Island and Storm Bay

PHOTOS | Day 5 and Day 6 finishers

PHOTOS | Official Presentation of Tattersall Cup and Rolex Timepiece to the Overall Winner

2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - A Race for the Ages

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Rolex Daily Video Summary

VIDEO | Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

VIDEO | Race Update - 31 December Morning

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 10

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 9

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 8

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 7

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 6

Official rolex sydney hobart merchandise.

Shop the official clothing range of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in person at the Club in New South Head Road, Darling Point or online below.  

From casual to technical clothing, there is something for all occasions. Be quick as stock is limited!

• CNA Explains
• Sustainability
• Latest News
• News Reports
• Documentaries & Shows
• TV Schedule
• CNA938 Live
• Radio Schedule
• Singapore Parliament
• Mental Health
• Interactives
• Entertainment
• Style & Beauty
• Experiences
• Remarkable Living
• Send us a news tip
• Events & Partnerships
• Business Blueprint
• Health Matters
• The Asian Traveller

Trending Topics

Follow our news, recent searches, nervous excitement as sydney marathon closes on major status, advertisement.

FILE PHOTO: Competitors run across the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Sydney marathon September 21, 2014. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo

SYDNEY : If all goes well when the biggest marathon field ever gathered in Australia races 42 kilometres around the streets of Sydney on Sunday, World Marathon Majors will soon add a seventh race to the elite series.

The Sydney Marathon will become the first race since Tokyo in 2013 to join long-established majors in New York, London, Boston, Berlin and Chicago if it passes the WMM assessment criteria for the second straight year.

"We're really excited for Sunday to arrive," race director Wayne Larden told a news conference in Sydney on Thursday.

"We're prepared, we're ready. All of our plans look good on paper, I feel we're ticking all the boxes. So we've just got to go out there now and deliver the event as per the plans and I'm sure we'll meet the meet the criteria."

Larden has been race director since 2005 when there were 2,300 finishers and has overseen the growth to the 25,000 runners who will test themselves over a newly re-jigged course on Sunday.

"It's taken me 18 years to build it to 5,000 and two years to get it to 25,000," Larden told Reuters.

"So the trajectory has been very steep in the last two years since we became a candidate race, because there's a lot of excitement about the world majors being in Sydney."

The size of the field and a new start location - back at North Sydney Oval where the Olympic marathon got underway in 2000 - will make the task a bit harder for Larden and his team, but he is optimistic they will deliver.

"I'm feeling confident, but it's a big event and anything can happen. But I think we're well prepared for it," he said.

"I will pretty well know on race day how we've gone, based on our plans and how we've delivered them."

'ICONIC CITY'

The World Marathon Majors series started in 2006 and the candidacy programme was introduced in 2017 with the idea of bringing the total number of races to a maximum of nine.

"It's World Marathon Majors, and the word 'world' is in there, and we are not really worldwide, right?" WMM chief executive Dawna Stone told Reuters outside the city's world renowned Opera House.

"We were looking around the world and saying, 'Where are we not and where maybe should we be to bring more access to individuals that want to take place in a major'."

Stone's assessment team will be on the ground in Sydney on Sunday and a decision on whether the race gets the nod is expected in October.

"What better place to be than iconic city like this that everybody wants to go to?" Stone added.

"If everything goes according to plan, I am hopeful that they will become the next major."

A decent elite field is clearly one of the WMM criteria and 2022 world champion Gotytom Gebreslase will run in the women's race on Sunday with fellow Ethiopian Leul Gebresilase, bronze medallist at last year's worlds, competing in the men's.

Some of the loudest cheers from the crowd might come for defending women's wheelchair champion Madison de Rozario, who won silver in the Paris Paralympics marathon last Sunday and only arrived back home in Australia on Wednesday.

"I love the marathon, it's my favourite event," de Rozario said.

"Doing two in a week is pretty brutal, but a lot of us love it so I'm glad to be here."

Sign up for our newsletters

Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox

Get the CNA app

Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories

Get WhatsApp alerts

Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app

Also worth reading

This browser is no longer supported.

We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast, secure and the best it can possibly be.

To continue, upgrade to a supported browser or, for the finest experience, download the mobile app.

Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us

• Adelaide Crows Adelaide Crows
• Brisbane Brisbane
• Carlton Carlton
• Collingwood Collingwood
• Essendon Essendon
• Fremantle Fremantle
• Geelong Geelong
• Gold Coast Suns Gold Coast Suns
• GWS Giants GWS Giants
• Hawthorn Hawthorn
• Melbourne Melbourne
• North Melbourne North Melbourne
• Port Adelaide Port Adelaide
• Richmond Richmond
• St Kilda St Kilda
• Sydney Swans Sydney Swans
• West Coast Eagles West Coast Eagles
• Western Bulldogs Western Bulldogs

More from Telstra

Australia's best network.

• Match Centre

• Team Lineups
• Broadcast Guide
• Injury List
• Match Videos
• Team Rankings
• Premiership Winners
• Brownlow Medal
• Leaders & Awards
• 2024 Finals
• Buy Tickets
• On-Sale Dates
• Play AFL Fantasy
• Fantasy Hub
• Fantasy Draft
• AFL On Demand
• VFL/VFLW hub
• Indigenous AFL
• Toyota AFL Club Help
• Competitions & Promotions
• Mental Health & Wellbeing
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Marvel Stadium
• AFL Policies
• Annual Reports

Follow us on social media

Key factor for Eagles targets, Swan gets offer, clubs meet for trade talks

Check out all the latest trade news from around the League

Brought to you by

Get all the latest news in the trade, free agency and draft landscape every week in Inside Trading, AFL.com.au 's dedicated column for player movement. Find out the latest on contracts, deals, trades, draftees, rules, agents and who is going where from the  AFL.com.au  team. 

COACH FACTOR IN EAGLES SEARCH

WEST Coast's new coach could be a pivotal factor in the trade and free agency decisions of star targets Liam Baker , Jack Graham  and Shai Bolton , as the Richmond trio continue to weigh up their options.

Former Tigers assistant Andrew McQualter is among the genuine contenders in the Eagles' coaching search and shares a good relationship with all three players from his 10-year career at Punt Road.

Baker and Bolton have already requested trades to Western Australia and have interest from both West Coast and Fremantle, while Graham is tossing up four-year free agency offers from the Eagles and the Tigers.

Speaking on  AFL.com.au 's trade and draft show Gettable this week, West Coast list manager Matt Clarke said the club was still waiting on a call from Baker, with clarity on the Eagles' coaching position expected to be a factor for players considering moves. 

GETTABLE: Fresh trade details, Dogs 'standoff' looms, race for top pick, Crows hunt tall

Riley Beveridge and Cal Twomey provide the latest trade and draft news and are joined by West Coast list manager Matthew Clarke

"I'm not sure about confident (of landing Baker)," Clarke said.

"He's still to make a decision. His management and Liam have been upfront about that, they're still weighing up a few things. We've put our best foot forward to see what we can do there.

"We'd love to get Liam on board given what he offers from a talent point of view and a leadership point of view with our group. We're still working through that.

"He's got a decision to make and we don't have a coach at the moment as well. That may play a factor in it at some point, potentially. We'll have constant dialogue with his management group."

Graham is still weighing up offers from West Coast and Richmond as an unrestricted free agent, while Bolton has also requested a trade to Western Australia but remains under contract with the Tigers until 2028.

West Coast has joined Fremantle in the hunt for Bolton, though Clarke conceded it would be difficult to get a deal for the star small forward done given Richmond would hold the leverage in negotiations.

"I think it'll be difficult for anybody, really," Clarke said.

"Shai, obviously, is keen to get home. The Tigers are in a good position there. He's heavily contracted and he's a high-end, quality player. I'm not sure where that one actually sits with both clubs, to be honest."  – Riley Beveridge

SWANS MAKE FREE AGENT OFFER

SYDNEY free agent Harry Cunningham has a two-year offer to stay at the Swans as the club marches into a preliminary final.

Cunningham is an unrestricted free agent and played his 200th game for the club earlier this year and the extension would take him through to the end of 2026, with the reliable Swan keen to stay.

The 30-year-old has played 21 games this season, and 45 of the Swans' past 48 games since the start of 2023.

Sydney successfully secured the signatures of its five priority re-signings this season – Errol Gulden, Will Hayward, Ollie Florent, Logan McDonald and James Rowbottom – with Cunningham among a small group of Swans who remain unsigned for next season.

The defender had 15 disposals and seven tackles in the Swans' come-from-behind win over Greater Western Sydney in last week's qualifying final. – Callum Twomey 

CLUBS MEET AHEAD OF TRADE PERIOD

TRADE talks heated up on Wednesday, with a large contingent of clubs meeting in Melbourne for a series of 'speed dating' chats ahead of this year's player movement window.

Clubs met at the Pullman Hotel across from the MCG throughout Wednesday morning to discuss which players could be available and what deals could be negotiated throughout next month's Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period. Club list or recruiting bosses from 14 clubs were in attendance at the day of meetings.

TRADE HUB  All the latest player movement news

The informal catch-up will be one of a number of times clubs will meet ahead of the Trade Period starting on Monday, October 7, with the meetings valuable in gauging an early understanding of asking prices, player availability, list spots and contract status' across the competition. 

A series of dominos are still to fall ahead of the Trade Period commencing, led by contracted stars Dan Houston and Jack Lukosius  deciding on new homes, as well as the Giants' free agent pair Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming making a call on their futures.  – Riley Beveridge

DEES FLAG WINNER TO GO ON

MELBOURNE veteran Tom McDonald has secured another deal for 2025.

McDonald, who turns 32 next week, has been in talks to extend for another season in recent weeks.

The Victorian is now finalising a deal to play on for a 15th season with the Demons. 

After managing only nine appearances in 2022 and eight last year due to foot and ankle injuries, the 2021 premiership player returned to defence in 2024, playing 22 of 23 games for Simon Goodwin. 

McDonald has played 232 games for the Demons since being selected at pick No.53 in the 2010 Telstra AFL Draft.

Melbourne is finalising its defensive coverage for next season. The Demons are yet to offer Adam Tomlinson an extension with the veteran exploring opportunities at a third club.

Mature-age recruit Marty Hore will have to wait until next month to learn his fate after playing six games during his first season back at Melbourne, after being signed during the pre-season supplemental selection period last summer. –  Josh Gabelich

SAINT TO STAY

ST KILDA has added another re-signing to its list, with key defender Dougal Howard penning a one-year extension.

Howard was coming to the end of his five-year deal he signed when he joined the Saints at the end of 2019 ahead of the 2020 season. 

But he has joined the group of Saints to have recently secured new deals, with the 28-year-old key defender to return to Moorabbin for next year.

Howard had hamstring issues in the first half of the season but played the final 15 games of St Kilda's campaign.

St Kilda has announced a run of re-signings recently, leaving Tim Membrey , Zak Jones , Olli Hotton  and Ben Paton among the Saints who remain out of contract. –  Callum Twomey

BLUES' FUTURE PICKS ON THE TABLE

CARLTON is willing to dip into its future picks this off-season to strengthen its trade ammunition, with the club hopeful of using a full complement of this year's selections at the draft.

The Blues will look to build out their midfield and their key defensive stocks throughout the player movement window and are set to sign Giants veteran Nick Haynes as an unrestricted free agent.

Gettable revealed last month that Carlton was targeting Port Adelaide star Dan Houston , though the Power are expected to demand at least two first-round picks to lure the dual All-Australian out of Alberton.

Carlton, which will welcome young South Australian pair Ben and Lucas Camporeale  as father-sons, currently has pick No.11 at this year's draft and appears unwilling to place it on the trade table.

However, speaking to  AFL.com.au  this week, the club's general manager of football Brad Lloyd suggested the Blues could be open to shifting their future picks to bolster their playing group this October and November.

"We want to keep improving our list," Lloyd told  AFL.com.au .

"That comes with the starting point of who we re-sign. We also want to go to the draft as well. We've got the Camporeales coming in. We sit at pick No.11 at this stage, so that's a really good quality high-end draft pick. We haven't been to the draft as much in recent years, so we'd like to take a number of picks to the draft.

"There are also future picks as well. We'll look for a combination of improving the list, starting with some father-sons and a high draft pick. Whether we use our future picks, we'll look at a combination of that. But we do want to get some good young talent and an injection of that into the club."  – Riley Beveridge

NO ACCESS FOR DEES NGA TALENT

MELBOURNE will not have access to tall forward prospect  Tairon Ah-Mu under Next Generation Academy rules when the 17-year-old hits his draft season next year.

Ah-Mu is a member of the Demons' NGA program but under the AFL's eligibility criteria, he does not qualify for the club to have any priority access over him as a draftee.

Ah-Mu kicked three goals for the Dandenong Stingrays on Saturday against the Gippsland Power, taking the straight-kicking key forward's tally to 21.5 from 10 games this season.

Ah-Mu, who has Samoan descent, is 198cm and also has featured for the under-17s futures team as well as playing under Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd at Haileybury College in Melbourne.

Former Port Adelaide and North Melbourne player Stuart Cochrane has written to the AFL to have his sons Douglas and Tom be a part of the Power's NGA system as he explores his Indigenous background.

DRAFT HUB  Click here for the latest draft news

Tom is eligible for this year's draft while Douglas was the standout player of the under-16s carnival and is considered a No.1 pick contender in 2026. They are expected to have provisional access to be a part of the NGA development program but any decision on draft access to the pair has not been made. – Callum Twomey

SUNS MAKE VETERAN OFFER

GOLD Coast veteran Sean Lemmens looks set to play on after being offered a one-year deal to remain at the Suns.

Lemmens played the final three games of Gold Coast's season and offered some experience in defence, having had an interrupted campaign before then with a VFL suspension and injury.

The unrestricted free agent has remained without a deal for 2025 but the Suns have put forward an offer to remain at the club.

The 29-year-old had played 148 games for the Suns since making his debut in 2014.

Gold Coast made a swathe of delistings earlier this month as it moves to a shorter rookie list next year under AFL rules, with six players, including Darcy Macpherson , cut. –  Callum Twomey

BASKETBALL TALENT CHOOSES FOOTY

DUAL sports talent Cooper Duff-Tytler  has chosen to pursue an AFL career over basketball after an exciting end to his 2024 season.

Duff-Tytler was selected in the Australian under-16 basketball team to play in the FIBA Asia Cup last year, having had a quick rise up the ranks in the sport.

But the 17-year-old has made the decision to push for an AFL career, with the 200cm talent's end to the year with the Calder Cannons proving him as a likely top draft choice in 2025.

Playing as a roaming ruckman, Duff-Tytler pieced together an excellent final month of the year, including a best-afield two-goal and 30-disposal effort against the Dandenong Stingrays, when he also had 17 hitouts.

His athleticism and ball handling have stood out to club recruiters looking ahead to next year's draft. 

Duff-Tytler's decision follows that of South Australian prospect Alex Dodson , who is a possible top-20 pick this year after a terrific carnival. Inside Trading reported last month Dodson will choose football over a promising basketball career by nominating for this year's Telstra AFL Draft. –  Callum Twomey

TOUGH CROW SET TO SIGN

ADELAIDE youngster Hugh Bond is set to secure his future for next season, with the promising defender closing on a one-year deal with the Crows.

The tough-tackling Bond broke through late in the year, playing the final seven games of the season under coach Matthew Nicks to earn a contract offer for 2025.

Adelaide conducted its exit interviews a fortnight ago after missing the finals, with veteran Taylor Walker (2025) and defender Mark Keane (2028) among those also offered fresh post-season deals.

Bond's contract offer makes Elliott Himmelberg one of the few Crows yet to sign for next season, with the free agent still assessing his options after a move to the Giants fell through last year.  – Riley Beveridge

Finals Focus: The Hawk that Port can’t match, clock ticks for Ken

Alastair Clarkson, Matthew Lloyd and Sarah Olle break down the semi-final between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn

Finals Focus: The Lion that Giants MUST tag, can Cam back it up?

Alastair Clarkson, Matthew Lloyd and Sarah Olle break down the semi-final between GWS and Brisbane

Jasmyn Smith on THOSE TikTok edits

In A Minute With… Jasmyn Smith, the Bulldogs recruit shares her reaction to all the TikToks fans have made of her

SEMI-FINAL TEAMS: Port's big call, Lion fit, Giants tagger in

The teams are in for the finals on Friday and Saturday

AFLW TEAMS: Sheer-IN, star Cat injured, Swan out

The teams are in for week three of the 2024 NAB AFLW season

Can Dogs celebrate Whitten Oval homecoming with a win? Live from 7.15pm AEST

All the action from Thursday night's AFLW match between the Western Bulldogs and West Coast

FINALS FOCUS: Why pressure won't get to Ken, the Lion who must deliver

Alastair Clarkson and Matthew Lloyd join host Sarah Olle for Finals Focus ahead of Week 2

Great finals feats: Where do Heeney's heroics rank?

After Isaac Heeney's incredible game in Sydney's thrilling win over GWS, we look at some of footy's best September showings

Latest Videos

Footy Feed: Ken fires up over future, Lions with ‘not much to lose’

Nat Edwards with all the latest news

The W Show: AFLW's 'line in the sand' moment, Bonnie's bold bid

Bonnie Toogood joins The W Show to dissect the fallout of Chloe Molloy's injury announcement, plus how she's plodding a comeback from an MCL injury.

Latest News

'Not put a foot wrong': Hawks back young defender in cutthroat final

Jai Serong has been named to replace the injured Sam Frost for the semi-final against Port Adelaide

Naming Rights Partner

Major Partners

Download the Official AFL App

• Download on the app store
• © 2024 AFL
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Get Involved
• Schools.AFL
• AFL Membership

Acknowledgement of Country

In the spirit of reconciliation the AFL acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on WhatsApp
• Copy link Copied to clipboard!

Nervous excitement as Sydney Marathon closes on World Marathon Major status

Topic: Marathon

The Sydney marathon hopes its iconic setting will be added to the list of World Marathon Majors. ( Reuters: David Gray )

The Sydney Marathon could become the seventh race in the World Marathon Majors elite series.

There will be 25,000 runners taking to the course, starting at North Sydney Oval, on Sunday.

What's next?

The decision looms in October as to whether Sydney will join New York, London, Boston, Chicago, Berlin and Tokyo in the Major series.

If all goes well when the biggest marathon field ever gathered in Australia races 42 kilometres around the streets of Sydney on Sunday, World Marathon Majors will soon add a seventh race to the elite series.

The Sydney Marathon will become the first race since Tokyo in 2013 to join long-established majors in New York, London, Boston, Berlin and Chicago if it passes the World Marathon Majors (WMM) assessment criteria for the second straight year.

"We're really excited for Sunday to arrive," race director Wayne Larden told a news conference in Sydney on Thursday.

"We're prepared, we're ready. All of our plans look good on paper, I feel we're ticking all the boxes. 

"So we've just got to go out there now and deliver the event as per the plans and I'm sure we'll meet the meet the criteria."

The Sydney Marathon will have 25,000 participants this year. ( Getty Images: Jenny Evans )

Larden has been race director since 2005 when there were 2,300 finishers and has overseen the growth to the 25,000 runners who will test themselves over a newly re-jigged course on Sunday.

"It's taken me 18 years to build it to 5,000 and two years to get it to 25,000," Larden told Reuters.

"So the trajectory has been very steep in the last two years since we became a candidate race, because there's a lot of excitement about the world majors being in Sydney."

The size of the field and a new start location — back at North Sydney Oval where the Olympic marathon got underway in 2000 — will make the task a bit harder for Larden and his team, but he is optimistic they will deliver.

"I'm feeling confident, but it's a big event and anything can happen. But I think we're well prepared for it," he said.

"I will pretty well know on race day how we've gone, based on our plans and how we've delivered them."

Sydney is an 'iconic city'

There are currently six World Marathon Majors, with plans to increase that number to nine. ( Getty Images: Jenny Evans )

The World Marathon Majors series started in 2006 and the candidacy programme was introduced in 2017 with the idea of bringing the total number of races to a maximum of nine.

"It's World Marathon Majors, and the word 'world' is in there, and we are not really worldwide, right?" WMM chief executive Dawna Stone told Reuters outside the city's world renowned Opera House.

"We were looking around the world and saying, 'Where are we not and where maybe should we be to bring more access to individuals that want to take place in a major'."

Stone's assessment team will be on the ground in Sydney on Sunday and a decision on whether the race gets the nod is expected in October.

"What better place to be than iconic city like this that everybody wants to go to?" Stone added.

"If everything goes according to plan, I am hopeful that they will become the next major."

A decent elite field is clearly one of the WMM criteria and 2022 world champion Gotytom Gebreslase will run in the women's race on Sunday with fellow Ethiopian Leul Gebresilase, bronze medallist at last year's worlds, competing in the men's.

Some of the loudest cheers from the crowd might come for defending women's wheelchair champion Madison de Rozario , who won silver in the Paris Paralympics marathon last Sunday and only arrived back home in Australia on Wednesday.

"I love the marathon, it's my favourite event," de Rozario said.

"Doing two in a week is pretty brutal, but a lot of us love it so I'm glad to be here."