Please select your home edition
Edition
Pantaenius Sail 2025 ROW Leaderboard

Start of the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 27 Jul 2024 07:31 UTC From 27 July 2024
Whisper, KOA and URM Group start of the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race © Andrea Francolini

A gentle start was delivered to those competing in the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. Fifty-one yachts assembled on the start line before the yachts crawled across Sydney Harbour and north up the Tasman Sea.

It's the calm before the storm, as yachts are preparing to encounter a strong west south-westerly breeze starting in the early morning of Sunday 29 July. The anticipated conditions will make it a close race amongst the top competitors, with strong breezes building 24 hours in that might allow the mid-size competitors to catch up to the mini-maxis.

For more information on the anticipated conditions, watch the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Weather Briefing:

The fastest yachts made it out of the heads in just fifty-eight minutes, with URM Group being the first to reach the open water and the TP52 KOA just a few minutes behind. Rupert Henry's Mistral was the first double handed entry to sail out North Head, only twenty minutes behind URM Group at 14:18 hours.

URM Group sailed strategically as the defending winner but were tested. Anthony Johnston's yacht claimed the Overall Victory in the 2023 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and took home the overall title for the 2023/2024 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore.

Once out the heads, URM Group picked up speed in clearer air with CYCA Director David Griffith AM's J/V62 Whisper close behind. Sebastian Bohm's TP52 Smuggler and Michael Smith's Kernan 44 Tempo were in pursuit alongside Peter Wrigley & Andrew Kearnan's KOA.

With thirteen double handed competitors, the double handed division guarantees another incredibly competitive fight amongst their division. Henry's Lombard 34 Mistral is poised to be a strong competitor once again. Henry claimed victory in the IRC Double Handed division and Double Handed Line Honours in the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, earning an impressive sixth place overall on IRC. Henry will be racing with co-skipper Greg O'Shea.

With varying conditions expected through the first 24 hours of the race and a highly competitive IRC fleet, it's sure to be a thrilling competition.

For more information, please visit the official race website at goldcoast.cycaracing.com.

Related Articles

Dedicated boat insurance
Dedicated boat insurance from Insuremy Summer is finally here and boat owners are putting the finishing touches to their boats ready for the season ahead. Posted today at 8:30 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control. Posted on 11 Jul
His Majesty The King visits the RNLI
Volunteers proudly welcomed King Charles III to Walmer RNLI Lifeboat Station Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers proudly welcomed King Charles III to Walmer RNLI Lifeboat Station on Thursday, marking His Majesty's first official engagement since becoming Patron of the lifesaving charity last year. Posted on 11 Jul
Jazz Turner Video Interview
How she Faced Everything And Rose during Project FEAR I travelled to Brighton Marina to catch up with Jazz, talking about her own sailing, the challenges she faced during the circumnavigation, how the money raised will be used, and a glimpse of her future projects! Posted on 10 Jul
Henri-Lloyd's Sailing Essentials for Women
Highly-technical sailing apparel, which is also well-fitting, stylish and comfortable Finding highly-technical sailing apparel for women, which is also well-fitting, stylish and comfortable is now even easier, thanks to the expanded women's sailing range available from Henri-Lloyd. Posted on 10 Jul
Understanding sMRT Alert with Jack Sharland
Man Overboard Devices have come a long way in the last few years Man Overboard Devices have come a long way in the last few years with more features packed into smaller devices, but with all these features it can sometimes be difficult to understand what they all do. Posted on 9 Jul
The first images of Fountaine Pajot's new FP41
Combining comfort and conviviality, it's all about connection with the outdoors On board the New FP41, every space has been designed to combine comfort and conviviality: generous volumes, smooth circulation, full-beam cockpit, and an open galley connected to the outdoors. Posted on 7 Jul
£6500 raised for Morvargh Sailing Project
Local fundraising dinner at Langston House in Devon Langston House, a beautifully restored Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse, opened its gates for the first time on 18th June to host a magical midsummer fundraising evening. The event brought together the local community. Posted on 6 Jul
Simena is born
Ares Yachts launches its first superyacht ARES Yachts has reached a major milestone. The Antalya-based shipyard has made a bold entry into the world of superyachts with the launch of SIMENA, its first vessel in the 60+ metre range Posted on 5 Jul
The value of insurance.
Fire and boats are never a good mix. It used to blamed on gas, now it is electricity... Fire and boats are never a good mix. In the old days much of it ended up being blamed on gas, whereas today, electricity is often the route cause. Posted on 3 Jul
Barton Marine Pipe GlandsSelden 2020 - FOOTERNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast