Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Stunning sunset start for the 2023 Tollgate Islands Race

by CYCA 13 Oct 2023 03:39 PDT 13 October 2023
2023 Tollgate Islands Race © CYCA Media

A fleet of 22 boats were gathered near Point Piper for the 1900hrs start of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's 260 nautical mile Tollgate Islands Race - the third of six races in the prestigious 2023/2024 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore.

It was a beautiful and sunny Spring evening with a light but constant 6-8kt NE/NNE breeze - enough to guarantee a good and even start ahead of the lengthy trip south to round the Tollgate Islands off Batemans Bay before returning to Sydney.

Anthony Johnston's Reichel Pugh Maxi 72 URM Group continued its recent good form, having won the 2023 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Race back in July, to be first out the Heads. She had closely crossed last year's winner and race record holder John Winning Jr's VPLP/Verdier 100 Andoo Comanche four times up the Harbour before finally gaining their advantage when the larger boat lost some ground after heading deeper into Watsons Bay.

The pair were closely followed by the two TP52s, Seb Bohm's Smuggler and Mark Spring's Highly Sprung, ahead of Richard Harris' Cookson 50 Sticky, Alexander Flecknoe-Brown's Bakewell-White 40 Lightning and Daniel Edward's Matt1245 White Noise.

The J/99s led the two-handed fleet out to open water with Shane Connelly and Tony Sutton aboard Rum Rebellion and Paul Beath and Joe de Kock on Verite pushing out mid-channel, whilst the two Jeanneau Sunfast 3300s, Nigel Nattrass and Graham Biehl's Tumbleweed and the only interstate entry, Tasmanians Rob Gough and John Saul's Kracken III, made good ground up the eastern shore.

It could be a relatively slow night ahead if the forecast 8-15kt breeze - expected to swing into the west before midnight - fails to freshen early but should offer better conditions for competitors tomorrow morning than had been previously suggested.

It is possible that the crew of Andoo Comanche may better their race record time of 20 hours,16 minutes 49 seconds, set last year in the inaugural 2022 Tollgate Islands Race. Most of the fleet is expected to arrive back at the finish line near Watsons Bay on Sunday

The Club will be open for returning competitors throughout the night on Saturday and Sunday if needed to welcome and feed all competitors.

Related Articles

Newcastle fleet gears up for Sydney to GC Race
One of the most important events on Australia's ocean racing calendar Seven vessels representing Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC) will compete in the prestigious Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race this Saturday, 26 July, marking a significant milestone for the Club and its offshore racing cohort. Posted today at 7:21 am
Admiral's Cup 2025 | Post Channel Race Videos
Bow Caddy Media interviews Sean, Shane, and Gordon on the quay after racing Bow Caddy Media interviews Sean Langman, Shane Guanaria, and Gordon Ketelby on the quay after racing Posted on 20 Jul
Admiral's Cup 2025 | Channel Race Start Pics
Therre is quite a buzz here about the Admiral's Cup, and it's certainly attracted many big names. A week low pressure system heading east up the English Channel made for some challenging conditions for the 30 boats in the Admiral's Cup fleet (and amongst the other yachts participating) at the start of the 164nm Channel Race today (Saturday). Posted on 19 Jul
Admiral's Cup 2025 | Channel Race Videos
Bow Caddy Media bring us an interview with Sean Langman and the start of the Channel Race Bow Caddy Media bring us an interview with Sean Langman and the start of the Channel Race Posted on 19 Jul
Admiral's Cup 2025 | Welcome from Cowes
Bow Caddy Media provide an introduction and interview with Shane Guanaria from Zen Ahead of the first race, Crosbie Lorimer provides an introduction and interviews Shane Guanaria from Zen Posted on 18 Jul
J/99s the in Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race
There will be a race within a race taking place in the 63 yacht fleet When the fleet of 63 yachts set off in the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast (NSGCYR) on 26 July, there will be a race within a race taking place. Posted on 18 Jul
Meet the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Commentary Team
Olympian Lisa Darmanin and Rolex Sydney Hobart Winner Jack Macartney to lead live broadcast The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is pleased to confirm Olympian Darmanin and 2022 & 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner Macartney as the lead commentators for the live broadcast of the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. Posted on 16 Jul
Noakes Sydney GC Yacht Race: Don't stop me now
Corinthian sailor Elizabeth Tucker takes on the world Elizabeth Tucker had barely stepped on board a yacht before 2021. Fast forward four years to 2025 and the English-born, Sydney-based sailor has sailed her Class40 yacht, First Light, from Spain to Australia. Posted on 9 Jul
Meet the CYCA's Admiral's Cup Team
Meet the skippers and sailors, get to know their roles and discover what makes their programs unique Meet the skippers and sailors, get to know their roles and discover what makes their programs unique. Posted on 9 Jul
Admiral's Cup 2025 | Interview with the CYCA Team
A highly experienced team for the revived Admiral's Cup regatta from July 17 The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is fielding a highly experienced team for the revived Admiral's Cup regatta that will be run from Cowes on the Isle of Wight in the UK, from 17th July 2025. Posted on 1 Jul
Rooster 2025Selden 2020 - FOOTERC-Tech 2020 Battens 2 728x90 BOTTOM