CYCA partners with Virtual Regatta for Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

CYCA partners with Virtual Regatta for Noakes Sydney Gold Coast © Cruising Yacht Club of Australia

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) has today announced a new partnership with Virtual Regatta, the world's leading online sailing game, to create a dedicated digital race for the 2026 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

It is the first time the 384-nautical-mile offshore classic - the second-most prestigious race on the CYCA's calendar behind the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - will feature in the Virtual Regatta game, extending a relationship between the two organisations that has run successfully for the Sydney Hobart for the past decade.

From the start on 25 July 2026, Virtual Regatta's global community of more than three million registered players will be able to download the race course and compete alongside the real fleet as it heads north from Sydney to the Gold Coast, navigating the same waters in real time and real conditions.

Virtual Regatta hosts more than 50 official events each year, allowing its e-sailors to race shoulder to shoulder with professional fleets in some of the sport's biggest contests, including the Vendée Globe, the Route du Rhum and the Transat Jacques Vabre.

Tom Gauthier, Deputy CEO of Virtual Regatta, said the addition of the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast strengthened the company's offering to Australian and international sailing fans.

"We are proud to bring two of the world's great offshore races, the Rolex Sydney Hobart and the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast, to our global community of eSailors," Gauthier said.

"Our players line up on the same start line as the real fleet and race the same course in real time, which is the closest thing to being on board. We can't wait to see them take on the run up the coast this July."

CYCA Chief Executive Officer Justine Kirkjian said the new partnership built on a proven relationship and gave fans of the race another way to follow the action, wherever they are in the world.

"The CYCA and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race have been partnering with Virtual Regatta successfully for a decade and the opportunity to add the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race to the partnership is exciting," Kirkjian said.

"Alongside the live stream of the race start on CYCA TV via YouTube, the game will give our community all around the world another way to engage with this great event."

Find the Virtual Regatta page here.

The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race starts at 1300hrs (AEST) on 25 July 2026 and is organised by the CYCA with the co-operation of the Finish Partner, Southport Yacht Club.