The Sydney to Gold Coast Race sets sail this Saturday, and RPAYC is proudly represented by an outstanding fleet: Antipodes, Bushranger, Odin, Cadence & Co, Odin, Luna Blue, Pretty Woman, Sticky, and Veloce (DH). Wishing all crews fair winds and fast sailing as they take on the offshore challenge from Sydney to the Gold Coast. Watch the race start as the fleet departs Sydney Harbour at 1300hrs on Saturday 25 July. 

Richard Hudson, who will be competing aboard Pretty Woman, is no stranger to the race. This year’s event will mark his 37th time on the start line, bringing with him decades of experience and a competitive mindset. When asked what he hopes to achieve, Hudson’s answer was simple: “We want to win it”.

Reflecting on his crew, he said, “We have a good team of young people, and we have a great mix of youth and experience aboard.” The team will also benefit from continuity, with the same core crew returning from their Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. As for the biggest challenge ahead, Hudson believes the key will be maintaining performance throughout the race.

For Belle Holdsworth, this year’s Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race is another exciting milestone in an already busy offshore sailing campaign. “The Sydney to Gold Coast Race is one of the few iconic offshore races in Australia that I haven’t done yet, so it is one I am looking forward to competing in,” Holdsworth said.

“It’s a great offshore race, notorious for its cold conditions, and its length sits nicely between the shorter coastal races and the longer Sydney to Hobart, making it a solid challenge in its own right. It’s also a valuable opportunity to continue building as a crew, and fine-tune the boat ahead of the rest of the offshore season.

Once Pretty Woman reaches the Gold Coast, Holdsworth says there will be one tradition that can’t be missed. “After we cross the finish line, the Pretty Woman Crew will enjoy a non-negotiable chicken schnitzel and a drink in celebration! Following that, I am heading straight back to Sydney for the start of the University Semester. From a sailing perspective, however, the season is far from over. The Sydney to Gold Coast Race is just one part of the CYCA Blue Water Pointscore Series, which leads into the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. I’ll continue racing with the Pretty Woman crew as we build towards Hobart, where I’ll be taking on the iconic race for the second year in a row.

RPAYC wishes all RPAYC sailors the best of luck on the water.
And follow the fleet at: https://ow.ly/ZqLN50Zrc99