Please select your home edition
Edition
Crewsaver 2021 Safetyline LEADERBOARD

VIP 'Race Within A Race' to kick off new yacht race

by Adrian Bold 29 Jul 10:15 BST 1 August 2024

With just 3 days to go, entries into Australia's newest ocean race, the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race has attracted 29 boats from South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, including the 72-foot Antipodes which is registered to the Royal Yacht Club of Hong Kong.

To mark the start of this new entry to Australia's racing calendar, a special 'Race within a Race' will be held for three VIP's, hosted by three of the competing boats.

From the Start Cannon firing at 10am this Thursday morning August 1, the

  • Mayor of Mackay Regional Council Greg Williamson, onboard GCCM Arctic Blonde,
  • City of Gold Coast Councilor Shelley Curtis, onboard Ocean Crusaders J-Bird,
  • COO of the Race naming sponsor Gold Coast City Marina (GCCM) Andrew Chapman, onboard super maxi Wild Thing 100, will be live streaming their racing experience from the start line at Cavill Avenue to the Gold Coast Seaway in a three-way friendly race, marking the growing sporting relationship between the two host cities.
Each VIP will take the famous 'step off the stern' into the Gold Coast waters and swiftly collected by one of the Southport Yacht Club high-speed patrol boats.

All this action will be captured from the air with professional camera crew onboard Gold Coast Helitours, with on-water live commentary by Sydney-based Bow Caddy Media, which will also be streamed directly to the Sydney International Boat Show.

The GCCM GOLD COAST MACKAY YACHT RACE kicks off not before 10am on the 1st August, with an epic offshore start line straight off the beach in front of Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise. The Race Village at Mackay Marina opens Saturday 3rd August through to Tuesday August 6th.

A flotilla of spectator boats is encouraged to help send off the fleet on Thursday.

Live tracker, spectator opportunities and all further information is available on the official race website, www.goldcoastmackay.com

Related Articles

The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise Regatta day 3
Skippers and crew made the most of the delay waiting for the wind Day Three presented very light conditions for our final day of racing, with starts postponed till 12:45pm covered Course 11 using the Surfers Mark for PHS & Cruising Divisions, and a final Windward/Leeward RTC for the IRC competitors off Broadbeach. Posted today at 5:51 am
The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise Regatta day 2
Surfer's Paradise becomes Sailor's Paradise Day Two has presented perfect sailing conditions for all divisions and competitors of the The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise 2024 Regatta on Australia's Gold Coast. Posted on 6 Oct
The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise Regatta day 1
Kicking off with a splash of fun, colour and questionable fashion choices Day One of the the Gold Coast's offshore sailing regatta kicked off with a splash of fun, colour and questionable fashion choices, with 40 competitor boats dressed up for the 'Parade in Paradise', set in front of the Southport YC's Main Beach restaurant. Posted on 5 Oct
Sail Paradise 2024 entries close September 29th
Test your crew against 40 competitors You're invited to test your crew against 40 competitors in Australia's real offshore sailing regatta, The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise 2024! Posted on 20 Sep
GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race overall
The final boat to finish the race and dock, 'She' crossed the line at 1409 hrs on Day 4 The final boat to finish the race and dock, 'She' crossed the line at 1409 hrs on Day 4, some 76 hours and 9 minutes after the start line off Cavill Avenue. Posted on 5 Aug
GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race update
Line Honours arrival tonight and presentation with Mayor Greg Williamson Inaugural Line Honours Presentation will be given approximately 1 hour after arrival, with Mayor of Mackay Regional Council Greg Williamson given the honours to present the Perpetual Trophy. Posted on 3 Aug
GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race kicks off
Grant Wharington's 100 footer Wild Thing 100 led the fleet downwind under spinnakers Against the dramatic beachfront skyline of Surfer's Paradise, a fleet of 20 yachts competing in the inaugural GCCM Gold Coast to Mackay Yacht Race got off to a spectacular start. Posted on 1 Aug
Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race overall
Twin brothers Louis and Marc Ryckmans' Voltstar Yeah Baby is the Overall Winner Twin brothers Louis and Marc Ryckmans' Voltstar Yeah Baby is the Overall Winner of the Peter Rysdyk Memorial Trophy for the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. URM Group has claimed Line Honours. Posted on 30 Jul
Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Finish
URM Group claims Line Honours in the Gold Coast Anthony Johnston's Maxi 72 URM Group claimed Line Honours of the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race at 20:14 hours, finishing with an elapsed time of 1 day, 7 hours, 14 minutes, and 56 seconds. Posted on 28 Jul
Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Day 2 update
The breeze has shifted west southwest and begun to build overnight A fleet of fifty yachts are running up the Australian coast towards Main Beach as the breeze has shifted west southwest and begun to build overnight. Posted on 28 Jul