Wild weather forecast forces cancellation of 2026 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race

Start of a previous Pittwater to Coffs race - © Andrea Francolini / RPAYC

What was to be the 40th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race and starting tomorrow, 27 March, has been cancelled by the organiser, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Race's (RPAYC), due to the wild weather that is set to hit the NSW coast tomorrow.

The 40th race will now not be held until March 2027, at a date to be announced closer to the time.

Weather guru, Roger Badham, is providing the RPAYC with weather updates and has forecast the following:

RPAYC Commodore, Rob McClelland said, "Over the past few days the Race Committee, the Sailing Office, and the Club leadership have been reviewing the weather forecasts in detail, including advice from professional weather routers and the Bureau of Meteorology.

"We have also looked carefully at the safety category of the 226 nautical mile race, the experience level across the fleet - and the likely sea conditions along the NSW coast over the race period.

"The consistent forecast has been for a rapidly developing low pressure system off the coast, with very strong winds up to 45 knots on Friday and very large seas continuing into Saturday. While the wind was expected to ease later, the sea state was likely to remain severe for much of the race, particularly in the first 24 hours.

"This race is conducted as a Category 3 Plus event. That category is designed to keep offshore racing accessible, but it also means that not every boat and crew is equipped to handle conditions that approach full Category 1 offshore survival weather.

"Based on the forecasts we were seeing, there was a real possibility that parts of the fleet would be exposed to conditions more consistent with Category 1 racing," the Commodore said.

"We also considered the make-up of this year's fleet. We have a wide range of boats, including double-handed entries and crews with varying levels of offshore experience. In these circumstances, we have a responsibility to make a decision that protects everyone, not just the most capable boats.

"In addition to the weather itself, we also need to consider the practical logistics of running a race of this size. Getting the fleet safely to the start, up the coast, and then back to their home ports involves a lot of planning for owners, crews and support people.

"One of the reasons we have made this decision early, is not only because of the forecast conditions, but also to allow boats to return to their home ports in safe weather, rather than being committed to travel during what is expected to be a very unsettled period along the coast.

"We looked at options to delay the start, including a Saturday start, but even in that scenario the forecasts indicate very large residual seas along the coast, potential difficulty entering Coffs Harbour and significant practical issues for crews and boats completing the race safely.

"After a long and careful discussion, the decision was unanimous that the risks were too high to justify starting the race this year.

"This is never an easy decision. We know how much preparation goes into this race and how disappointing it is for everyone involved. But our first responsibility is the safety of our competitors, our volunteers and the reputation of the Club as a responsible offshore racing organiser," the Commodore said.

"Paid entry fees will be rolled forward to next year and we fully intend to come back with a strong fleet for the 40th running of the race.

"Thank you to everyone for your understanding and for the effort you have put into preparing for the event," the Commodore ended.

All information on the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race can be found at www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au