Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Race Start 2026 as seen by Bow Caddy Media
by Bow Caddy Media 26 Jul 22:22 UTC
Bright sunshine and a slowly dying westerly breeze accompanied the 49 yachts that gybed their way down Sydney Harbour for the start of the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Race.
Seb Bohm's JV 52 Smuggler - with Timothy Davis as skipper - led the fleet past North Head and out to sea as the westerly turned nor'west over a rolling swell.
As the afternoon wore on the breeze dropped below 5 knots, but returned in the evening, backing to the west again and rising to 10-15 knots.
Lee Hawksley's TP52 Gusto and Peter Wrigley and Andrew Kearnan's TP 52 Koa both headed offshore immediately from Sydney Heads and gained an early advantage over Smuggler and Geoff Hill's Antipodes.
Light airs - mostly from south and westerly quarters - are predicted for the entire race to the Main Beach finish on the Gold Coast.
As the last of the fleet left Sydney Harbour two whales rolled slowly past North Head and out to sea.
Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Race Start 2026 | Experience the vibrant colour and excitement at the start of the iconic Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Race as the competitors set off north, all from a spectacular aerial view above the action.