Wild Joe leads the fleet out of Sydney Harbour Photo: Andrea Francolini

Official website - Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

The Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race will start at 1pm from Sydney Harbour on Saturday 31 July and is the first race of the CYCA's 2010/11 Blue Water Pointscore Series. 

After trialling an altered sailing calendar in 2006, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia reverted its second largest offshore event behind the Rolex Sydney Hobart, the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, back to its traditional winter timeslot.

The Audi Sydney Gold Coast, which began in 1986, has traditionally been the curtain opener for the winter northern racing circuit at Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island.

The 2010 race will mark the third of the four event championship series sponsored by Audi Australia.

The four events that constitute the Audi IRC National Championship are Audi Victoria Week ,
 followed by the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta,
the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, and finally,
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

The Audi Sydney Gold Coast annually attracts top quality fleets of up to 80 including some of Australia's best known ocean racing yachts - Skandia, Wild Oats X, Wild Joe, Yendys, Secret Mens Business 3.5, Ragamuffin and Evolution Racing - as well as the stalwarts of the event - Impeccable, Phillip's Foote Witchdoctor and More Witchcraft.

After the start in Sydney Harbor the fleet turns left at North Head then passes the major ports of Newcastle, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Cape Byron and on to Queensland's beautiful Gold Coast.  

Click here for more information on Southport Yacht Club, the finish club of the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - Race Facts