The resurrection of the Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race

by Lisa Ratcliff on 4 Mar 2014 Following nearly a decade of being absent from Australia’s major bluewater calendar, the Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race is back.

Sydney’s Middle Harbour Yacht Club and Queensland’s Mooloolaba Yacht Club have reunited as organisers and revived the Category 2 passage race. But there’s a twist.

For the first time the once popular race will be open to eligible monohull and multihull entries.
The 2014 Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race will start from Sydney Harbour at 1pm on Wednesday 9th April.
The Notice of Race has been posted and online entries will open tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5th.

The revitalization of the 469 nautical mile race to the Sunshine Coast and inclusion of multihulls is being driven by Sean Langman, owner of the 60-foot trimaran Team Australia.

Motivated by this year’s New Zealand Coastal Classic, a multihull event open to monohulls, Langman is supporting the first race to offer both Australian fleets the chance to race side-by-side for separate trophies.

'The Sydney to Mooloolaba race was always a great feeder race to get up to Queensland for the Brisbane to Gladstone race at Easter,' said Langman.

'Given the big gap after the Sydney to Hobart with no real distance bluewater racing being offered until July I saw it as a great opportunity to reinvigorate the race and region.

'It’s also about the new discipline of offshore multihull racing and inviting our fellow monohull sailors to compete. It’s a bit of a flip around to what has been happening with multihull owners trying to get into some traditional monohull events.'

Multihull entries will race under OMR and PHS handicap and monohulls will be scored under PHS.

Both are eligible for separate line honours trophies.

An IRC division won’t be offered this year due to the Audi IRC Australian Championship being staged at Newcastle the next week. IRC scoring and trophies will be included from 2015 onwards.

The original feeder race to the Brisbane to Gladstone was founded in 1964 and hosted by MHYC at The Spit. It was first called the Sydney to Brisbane race and later rebadged when the finish line was moved from Moreton Bay to Mooloolaba in 1973 for an open sea finish.

MHYC Commodore John McCuaig says, 'From our club’s perspective we grasp the concept with both hands. Having been involved with the Mooloolaba race from the outset it’s great to have the opportunity be involved again.

'The interest in multihulls generated by the America’s Cup has really strengthened their profile. They are more recognised and more events are putting out the welcome mat.

'We see this as a great avenue to keep the club busy and satisfy a niche in the market.'

Team Australia, Sean Langman’s double World Sailing Speed Council record holder is a definite starter.

'From the outset I have had a commitment from Grant Wharington with Wild Thing. So we already have a supermaxi and an ORMA 60. That’s pretty exciting in itself,' said Langman.

Mooloolaba Yacht Club will be responsible for the finish and warm welcome.

Newport Apartments, The Wharf Tavern, The Wharf Mooloolaba and Mooloolaba Marina have come on board as event supporters.

The resurrection of the Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race marks twenty years since the record of one day 20 hours one minute 43 seconds was set by George Snow’s mighty Jutson 79 Brindabella back in 2004. Event Facebook Page