New Safety Standards for GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race 2025

GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race 2025 © Southport Yacht Club

After the release of the findings into the tragic events of the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2024 by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), Southport Yacht Club has announced a safety revision to their Notice of Race (NOR) for the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race (GCMYR), which launches from Cavill Avenue at 1pm on the 1st of August.

Commodore of Southport Yacht Club Glenn Burrell said "the safety of crew members will always be paramount, and safety measures are constantly reviewed. As technology advances, we must utilise any significant improvements, particularly in the case of aiding rescue of stricken vessels and their crew."

A key change in the NOR Amendment is the now mandated use of AIS MOB personal locator beacons for all crew. This aligns the GCMYR with CYCA's revision to the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast and Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht races.

"AIS MOB personal locator beacons send a signal to all vessels within range that a man overboard has occurred and plots their location on all Chart plotters within range. This device has proven to speed up MOB recovery and therefore has resulted in lives saved" said Commodore Glenn Burrell.

In line with Southport Yacht Club's commitment to be a leading yacht club in Australia, the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race Committee decided to elevate the status of these items from "recommended", and compulsory for short-handed competitors, to compulsory for ALL competitors.

"We trust that all skippers and crew will see this as positive move forward and further peace of mind in case of a MOB" said Commodore Glenn Burrell.

To assist with the cost of acquiring this technology, local Gold Coast Chandlery Bosuns Locker is supporting the NOR Amendment by offering a $50 discount to all GCMYR race participants.

About the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race

Offering 520 nautical miles of spectacular coastal offshore racing from the iconic skyline of Australia's Gold Coast, the course sends the fleet around the outside of K'gari and weaves past many tropical islands of the Great Barrier Reef. In 2025, the race finishes during Mackay's highly popular Festival of Arts event and includes an inaugural Race Village Market.

At 29 current entries, the 2025 fleet has grown to almost twice the size of the inaugural 2024 race.

Grant Wharrington is back to defend their title in 2025 with a taller mast and a fresh wardrobe of larger sails, and he's thrown down the gauntlet to other big boats looking for a thrilling long-distance race in warm waters to contest their inaugural Line Honours record.

Organised by the Southport Yacht Club, the timing of the Gold Coast Mackay race helps feed boats into the northern race weeks, such as those hosted by Whitsunday Sailing Club in Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island Yacht Club.

Commencing after the Noakes Sydney-Gold Coast race, the GCCM GOLD COAST MACKAY YACHT RACE kicks off at 1pm on the 1st August, with an epic start line off the beachfront straight off Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise. Spectators on pleasure craft and along the esplanade are welcome.

Entries are now open to all Australian and international boats via the official race website, goldcoastmackay.com Entries close July 18.