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Home About The Race Course

From the iconic start off Nielsen Park on Sydney Harbour to the high-rise skyline of the Gold Coast, the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race covers 384 nautical miles of Australia's most spectacular coastline.

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The Start

The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race starts on the last Saturday of July each year at 1300hrs AEST, after a 10-minute countdown, off Nielsen Park in Sydney Harbour. This annual 384 nautical mile race attracts a large spectator fleet for the often spectacular start and dash down Sydney Harbour to the Heads, where the fleet turns left and heads out to sea.

384 Miles to Queensland

From Sydney Heads, the fleet makes its way up the NSW coast past some of the country's most iconic landmarks, the vast sand dunes of Newcastle, the rugged rocky terrain at Seal Rocks, the summit of Mount Dangar above the Goulburn River National Park, and the famous Byron Bay lighthouse standing tall on its headland. Tactical decision-making is everything on this course.

The Finish

Excitement builds as crews spot the seemingly endless line of high-rise buildings on Main Beach, Gold Coast, a sure sign the finish line is near.

The finish is directly in line with the Radio Room in the upper floors of the De Ville Apartments at Main Beach. Boats then make their way to Southport Yacht Club to celebrate completing the first major offshore race of the Australian sailing season.