Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron to launch new offshore yacht race commemorating historic 1864 event

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron © Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron

In 1864, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (RSYS) conducted the earliest recorded offshore yacht race in Sydney, a challenging course from Fort Denison to Newcastle and back.

The race was effectively a match race between two of the most prominent racing yachts of the era — the 80-tonne Chance and the eventual winner, the 37-tonne Xarifa. The event captured widespread public attention, drawing thousands to the foreshore to witness the spectacle and spurring significant wagering on the outcome.

To honour this historic occasion and to revitalise the Squadron's offshore racing program, RSYS, in partnership with the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC), will inaugurate a new offshore race on Saturday, 8 November, from Sydney to Newcastle.

The race is open to yachts with a LOA of 15m or more that hold an IRC certificate in the Super Racer Cruiser division. PHS results will also be included. The winner will be awarded one of the Squadron's prestigious historic trophies — the Xarifa Tray, which was last raced for in 1995.

• Race documents and noticeboard
• Race entry here