Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine Pipe Glands

Entry open for the Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race at Royal Prince Alfred YC

by RPAYC 2 Mar 2020 15:18 PST 3-5 April 2020
Start of the Pittwater to Coffs Pittwater © Andrea Francolini

The RPAYC announces a new date for the Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race.

In the heyday of offshore racing on the East Coast of Australia, the RPAYC Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race attracted over a hundred boats. Starting the day after the Sydney to Hobart Race, crews would gather on Pittwater for the relative sprint 230nm north to the ever-popular holiday spot of Coffs Harbour.

Seen as the training ground for those working their way up to longer more challenging offshore races or a popular race for those hardened offshore sailors with less time on their hands to get to Hobart and back, the race flourished.

The reduction in boats adventuring offshore, due no doubt to an increase in regulation and legislation, as well as the many other pressures of modern life has impacted numbers and put the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race in jeopardy. The draw of the classic offshore Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race at Christmas swallowing up the vast majority of the offshore fraternity.

However; it was clear to the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club that the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race remains close to the hearts of many current offshore sailors and it was time to review the east coast racing calendar and find a suitable place for the race to prosper; it was decided upon a week before the Easter weekend - Friday 3rd April 2020.

"The Brisbane to Gladstone Race starts on Good Friday each year and Port Stephens Race Week is at the end of the month so boats can use the race as a step north or there is plenty of time to get back to Port Stephens for the IRC Championships" explains Nick Elliott, RPAYC Race Director. "The timing of the start, 1300hrs Friday 3rd April, should have everyone finished in Coffs Harbour by Sunday lunch time for presentations, leaving time to either jump in the car, on an afternoon flight or train back to Sydney ready for work on Monday" continues Elliott.

Proven by early entries, Matt Allen's double Hobart winning Ichi Ban was one of the first to enter and close rival Gordon Ketelbey has nominated with his TP52, Zen, to battle it out for line honours and an overall win.

The two TP52s won't have it all their own way in aiming to be first boat home; Darren Drew with his Crowther 50 Catamaran, Top Gun, will hope that conditions favour him and they can give Allen and Ketelbey a close run to Coffs Harbour as well as take out the Multihull division.

Close racing can be expected throughout the fleet and it is by no means a given that one of the TP52s will take out overall honours in the race. Carl Crawford and Tim Horkings' Cookson 12, Sail Exchange is incredibly competitive, only beaten by two lower rated boats in the 2019 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race to finish 16th overall and second in division 5 so expect the higher rated boats to watching the clock at finish for the arrival of Crawford and Horkings.

The host club, RPAYC, will be well represented throughout the fleet and are expected to feature well in the standing come Sunday 5th April. Past Commodore Richard Hudson was the first to enter with his optimised Farr45, Pretty Woman, part of the Pretty Woman Syndicate which includes past Commodore, Russel Murphy and current Commodore Michael Lockley, the boat and crew have done thousands of nautical miles up and down the coast in Blue Water Races and will be all out for a home win.

The race starts off Barrenjoey Headland at 1300hrs on Friday 3rd April 2020. Spectators are welcome, with a great view affordable from Barrenjoey Lighthouse or come out and cheer the boats from the water.

YB Tracking and Facebook updates will be live from 1200hrs Friday 3rd April 2020 for those wishing to follow friends and families throughout the race.

Enter here...

More information at official website here.

Related Articles

Packing for a Summer Sailing Weekend
Just because it's summer doesn't mean you're going to stay warm and dry all the time Just because it's summer doesn't mean you're going to stay warm and dry all the time, particularly when you're out on the water. The day may start windless, with a little dew on the ground, but a sea breeze can pick up in the afternoon. Posted today at 11:00 am
Young Sailors Invited to the 2025 Fireball Worlds
A special discounted entry fee for eligible youth participants for the event at Lake Garda Circolo Vela Arco and Fireball International are inviting young sailors from around the world to take part in the 2025 Fireball World Championship at spectacular Lake Garda, with a special discounted entry fee for eligible youth participants. Posted today at 8:02 am
Jazz Turner completes Project FEAR
Drama right to the end in her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles Jazz Turner has completed Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin 27 yacht. A flotilla of supporters met her in Seaford Bay, which grew and grew the closer they came to Brighton Marina. Posted today at 5:39 am
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D1
Sunday's storm winds cleared to deliver ideal conditions for the opening race day Sunday's storm winds cleared to deliver ideal conditions for the opening race day of the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, official championship stages of the World Match Racing Tour and Women's World Match Racing Tour. Posted today at 4:33 am
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros day 2
The strong Meltemi blowing all throughout the night, greeted the riders in the morning Day 2 at the Freestyle Pro Tour Paros once again delivered, with the strong Meltemi blowing all throughout the night, greeting the riders at around 30 knots in the morning. Posted on 30 Jun
World Sailing announces split venues for LA28
The boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port World Sailing has said it welcomes the confirmation of sailing venues for the Olympic Games LA28 the boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port. Posted on 30 Jun
One thing. One big, very fast boat
One thing that opened the door, another made us enquire some more - 50 knots! Yes. It was one thing that opened the door, as it were. One thing that piqued the curiosity enough to go, ‘I'll take a look at that!' One thing that when you're trying to crack in excess of 50 knots... Posted on 30 Jun
NYYC International Women's Championship update
The first group of invited skippers have been announced Elite-level international women's keelboat competition will return to Newport, R.I., in late summer of 2026 when the New York Yacht Club hosts the inaugural International Women's Championship. Posted on 30 Jun
Luna shines bright in 2025 Morgan Cup Race
This was a truly international fleet with the majority of the teams from the UK and France The start of the Morgan Cup Race was a spectacular sight with over 100 boats beating to windward into the Western Solent for the fourth race of the Cowes Offshore Racing Series and the 11th race of the 2025 RORC Season's Points Championship. Posted on 30 Jun
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros day 1
Kicking off with a nuclear single elim The opening day of the Freestyle Pro Tour (FPT) Paros kicked off exactly as forecasted - nuclear winds from morning till late afternoon, accompanied by nonstop freestyle action. Posted on 30 Jun
Maritimo M600Armstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOMMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOM