Sydney Harbour sets the stage for LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup

TP's squeezing in a final race in the Pallas Capital Gold Cup earlier this year © Nic Douglass @SailorGirlHQ / Sunset Media

Sixteen boats across the TP52 and Super 40 divisions will line up on Sydney Harbour for the LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup, with five days of racing from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November.

Organised by the Australian TP52 Sailing Association and conducted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, the regatta brings weekday twilight racing together with a weekend of windward-leeward competition. The fleet features five boats in the TP52 division and 11 Super 40s. There are no discards in either division, so every race score counts.

David Doherty's Matador brings strong form into the event after winning the 2026 Pallas Capital Gold Cup on both TPR and IRC. The TP52 has raced under several names through its international career, including Bribon, Beau Geste and Secret Men's Business.

For Peter White's First Light, the focus is on making a new lineup work. Tactician Gordon Maguire reports eight crew changes since Hamilton Island Race Week, more than half the team, with Clare Costanzo navigating alongside him.

Super 40 start - all on - photo © Nic Douglass @SailorGirlHQ / Sunset Media

"So fundamentally, we are starting again with a new lineup," said First Light tactician Gordon Maguire.

"How will we do? That's anyone's guess; I'm hoping that we will build a solid crew for the future."

First Light's new roster adds another dimension to a regatta that brings emerging sailors together with experienced grand prix competitors. For TPR and SFPR handicap calculations, the chief judge's published notice defines a youth sailor as someone who has not turned 26 on the first day of scheduled competition, 28 October.

That mix of emerging and experienced sailors is evident aboard Mark Spring's Highly Sprung. Congressional Cup-winning skipper Cole Tapper calls tactics, with Kairos Racing teammate Max Brennan on main. Fellow winner George Richardson will step in for Max on Wednesday 28 October, while skiff veteran Dean Williams joins the afterguard.

After the twilight race on Friday 30 October, members of the Congressional Cup-winning Kairos Racing team will head across the harbour by boat to the Australian Sailing Awards, where they are finalists for Team of the Year.

Serious line up of TP's on Sydney Harbour - photo © Nic Douglass @SailorGirlHQ / Sunset Media

Lee Hawksley's Gusto, previously known as First Light, Fifty Two Hundred and Cougar II, adds another experienced campaigner to the TP52 division. The team's Thursday lineup includes four youth sailors and three women. Completing the fleet is Virago, a Reichel/Pugh 52 one-off that has had a small refurbishment with a new engine and instruments.

The Super 40 fleet brings a mix of designs and campaigns, headed by Karl Kwok's Beau Ideal. The 2025-launched Botin design, built by Carrington Boats, has Gavin Brady listed at the helm and Dean Barker on tactics for this event. Beau Ideal won the 2026 Super 40 Gold Cup standings on SFR, IRC and ORC.

Chris Dare's Ambition, formerly Enterprise Next Generation, will use the Cup to test boat setup ideas, with no major changes to the boat since last year. The mixed inshore and offshore lineup includes two sailors under 23, with Jack Abbott calling tactics, Chris and son Lockie aboard, and father-and-son Carl and Ben Crafoord adding another family combination.

"We are using the Aus Cup to try out a few boat set up ideas," said Ambition owner-skipper Chris Dare.

"Certainly a more Corinthian focus for us but we still are a competitive bunch."

Super40 start line was epic - photo © Nic Douglass @SailorGirlHQ / Sunset Media

Anarchy's ten-person lineup has Grant Pocklington driving, Mark Dorling calling tactics and three crew identified by the team as youth.

There are strong rumours that the team will step up to Matador for the next event. Across the circuit, new campaigns and boat upgrades point to continued growth. David Doherty has purchased Caro, now entered in the Rolex Sydney Hobart as Islero. Class president Craig Neil's incoming Quest, formerly Mockingbird, is coming from the USA.

Bushranger, Peter Farrugia's Bullwinkle 400, Ross Hennessy's Condor, Edge (with Craig Neil at the helm for the event), Little Nico (with newcomer Christopher Mapp on the helm and Tom Spithill on tactics), Edward Cox's Minerva and Scott Lawson's Mittere also join the Super 40 fleet.

Mike Ritchie's Revolver has always been a family affair. Designed by his father Bruce, the Ritchie 38 is a wooden build with carbon sheathing, sailed by what Mike describes as his young amateur team.

"She was designed by my dad, Bruce Ritchie. We love her like family," said Revolver owner and skipper Mike Ritchie.

Sydney Harbour sets the stage for LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup - photo © Nic Douglass @SailorGirlHQ / Sunset Media

Fresh from racing together at the New York Yacht Club Women's International with Shaw and Partners Women Racing, Juliet Costanzo and Sarah Parker will line up on Revolver, with Juliet on tactics and Sarah on main. Juliet's sister Clare Costanzo, who called tactics in Newport, is new to navigation on First Light.

The wider Women Racing squad is also represented across the fleet: Katherine Dawson also joins Revolver, Lisa Denvir and Bayley Taylor sail on Anarchy, and Alice Tarnawski is aboard Edge. Women Racing co-founder Katie Spithill, who skippered the team in Newport, will join the commentary team alongside Peter Shipway and Sailor Girl, Nic Douglass.

Live coverage on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November will be available on YouTube.

How to watch, event information, notices and results: www.australiacup.org

Event schedule

All times are Sydney local time (AEDT). Times shown are first warning signals.
Schedule subject to change; refer to the official notice board for updates.