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]]>MEDIA RELEASE – April 27, 2026
With the final Act of the Pallas Capital Gold Cup set to be held at RPAYC, this report from Sail Port Stephens offers a look at the competition and momentum building across the fleet ahead of the series decider.
With the TP52s and Super 40s sharing the racetrack once again, the regatta produced close, competitive racing throughout, with positions changing quickly and little margin for error.
In the Super 40s, Chris Dare’s Ambition and John Bacon’s Edge were locked in a tight battle for the minor placings, trading positions across all three handicaps and finishing level on points in IRC, with countbacks separating them. Further back, the fleet showcased its depth and diversity, with boats like Bushranger, Bullwinkle 400 and Little Nico all posting standout individual race results, highlighting the “snakes and ladders” nature of the racing and rewarding teams able to minimise mistakes as much as maximise pace.
With the final act to be held at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club on 16–17 May, the 2026 Pallas Capital Gold Cup will be decided in a closely contested finale, with the combined TP52 and Super 40 format continuing to prove its value in driving both performance at the top end and pathways into Grand Prix keelboat sailing in Australia.
For more information: www.GoldCupRegatta.com or www.sailportstephens.com.au
Full results: https://www.sailportstephens.com.au/results
The Pallas Capital Gold Cup brings together some of Australia’s leading offshore and inshore racing teams across a multi-act series designed to challenge performance, consistency and teamwork across a range of conditions and venues.
Supported by Pallas Capital, a leading Australian real estate debt investment manager, the series reflects a shared focus on performance, precision and long-term commitment to excellence.
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]]>The post Three Decades of Women’s Sailing at RPAYC appeared first on RPAYC.
]]>A message from the Commodore:
I would like to thank you all for the excellent evening last night celebrating the 30th Women’s Twilight Series. It was a very special occasion and a wonderful reflection on what has become one of the most important and enduring initiatives in the life of the Club.
Sue Walters’ speech was a highlight of the evening. As one of the sailors who competed in the inaugural race 30 years ago, her recollections gave a genuine sense of the history of the event and the spirit in which it began. It was particularly powerful to hear how the series started at a time when opportunities for women in club racing were far more limited than they are today, and it is a credit to the Club that the pathway created then has continued to grow and flourish over three decades.
Sue’s speech provides a wonderful record of the history of the Women’s Twilight Series and is an important part of the Club’s story.
Rob McClelland
Commodore
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
Susan Walter’s Speech from the 30th Women’s Twilight Celebration:
I’m not sure everyone in this room is fully aware of the achievement tonight marks, 30 years of the Ladies Twilight Series at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Even using the word Ladies rather than Women’s indicates the different status quo of Women’s Sailing in the 1990s. So, let’s go back there.
I moved to Australia in 1989 after spending 4 years racing for my university team and the next 3 years campaigning a 470 towards the first ever women’s event in the Olympics in 1988. That’s 7 years of high-level racing and training available to me as a woman in the USA. I met my husband Murray of 35 years at the J24 worlds in Canada. There were about 15 women at the event and roughly 400 men, this was typical at big international events at that time. For Murray and I, our relationship escalated rapidly, and I moved here 6 weeks later.
The time zone change on the flight to Australia seemed to wind back decades as to the availability of women’s sailing events, attitudes towards women’s sailing and coaching opportunities compared to the USA at that time. I connected with other terrific women sailors here easily through the sailing community and carried on racing at any opportunity. The CYC put on a regatta called the Asia Pacific Women’s Championship and Rob Brewer rang me to offer a boat and his wife Jo as crew to participate. Kerrie Shimeld, Kerrie Waterhouse and Sally Darmanin raced with me in the first event though you might know Kerrie and Sally better as Jason and Lisa’s mothers.
The regatta was a huge success and continued the following 7 years at Royal Sydney yacht squadron. I was interviewed by a reporter about the event, and I happened to mention that my husband teased me at our club the Royal Prince Alfred that I had to go park in the associate’s car park a distance from the club house while he as a full member could park conveniently next to the club house. I mentioned that women were not allowed to be full members of the club. I didn’t know what newspaper the Australian was at the time but when those comments were printed nationally it had a profound impact as you can imagine. Excluding women from membership was illegal and clubs scrambled to remedy the situation. Kay Cottee had recently completed her First Lady sail around the world and a lot of us thought she would become the first female full member of RPA. Instead, Elaine Fowler who was very deserving of the honour was asked to and accepted to become the first female full member and Kay was given an honorary lifetime membership. The men opened the door to women joining and welcomed us.
A very vocal minority was not so fond of women’s sailing at the club and in the following months I was out racing our J24 in a local event on Pittwater when I had an incident with another boat and protested them. They proceeded to unleash what was a shocking verbal attack swearing at me red in the face screaming profanities. Crews on boats all around were shocked. We went to the protest room not only for the incident but for rule 69 Sportsmanship infringement which is a very serious allegation.
The crew of the boat I was protesting preloaded at the bar and came into the protest hearing full of indignation. They actually shouted at me in the hearing that “women shouldn’t be on the water sailing, that I should be barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen” and if I didn’t like that I should go back to the USA. It was not a successful hearing for them and Steve Merrington, Ken Moxham and the other Jurors threw them out and escalated the rule 69 breach. It went through the board, up to Sailing NSW and then on to Australian Sailing where they were given a 2-year yachting ban. They lost their club membership, and they threatened to sue me for libel as well as other threats. The men at the club rang me and said don’t worry about this, we’ve got you, that isn’t the sort of behaviour we want here at this club. That was not the kind of club that RPA wanted to be and a profound change was about to happen.
The 1990s were a fabulous decade for Royal Prince Alfred and women’s sailing too. The club made some bold decisions to push training for youth sailors and implemented the Youth Development Squad in 1993 and bought the first fleet of small keelboats. More sailing lessons were added for adults, specifically women. Many women from the club participated in the Women’s Asia Pacific regattas at the Squadron and we added a training symposium for all crews to raise the level of competition and skills for women sailors. Kerry Goudge who did the WOW Sydney Hobart races got funding added for these symposiums and I organised and ran the coaching with some high-level coaches both male and female.
Match racing was taking off and we jumped into that discipline and to learn and prepare, we organised some of the very best men in Australia to help. We set up a mini regatta with a couple of boats full of amazingly talented sailors and match racers such as Iain Murray, Peter Gilmour, Gary Geitz, Jan Scholten and Nev Whittey. We also lined up on water judges like Steve Merrington and Ken Moxham to umpire and others in support roles setting up racing. It was amazing. In 1995 Kerrie Shimeld, Karyn Gojnich, Mel Scott and I won the Women’s Nations Cup World Match Racing Championship. We qualified through a series of events and at the event finals I was pregnant with my second daughter.
A couple of months later the Royal Prince Alfred Ladies Twilight Series kicked off. I don’t remember all the names of who instigated and organised it though Woody, Elaine, Alex, Rosemary and Alice were involved. Alex helped us put a team together and boats to race on. By the final race of the1996 series, I was 8 ½ months pregnant and Alex and Iain Murray organised us to race that final race on the old Australian Americas Cup yacht Spirit. Standing behind that big wheel barefoot and pregnant but still out there sailing.
For the next 12 or so years whenever we raced any event, we always had a lucky totem on board because someone seemed to need one. That was the LBP or the Lucky Breast Pump. Who knew the freedom that thing could give you?
here are a few of us still racing from the early days of the ladies’ twilights. We remember that there was no kitchen open for meals and we had to have takeaway delivered. As soon as that changed, Tuesdays became one of the biggest nights of the week for the kitchen and how much do we all love the fabulous meals they put on for us? The sound across the water during races differs significantly from any other racing I have done. The sounds that dominate are talking and laughter, how wonderful is that?
The diversity of the experience of participants in this series is notable. Some have an incredible amount of sailing and racing experience and success. We’ve had everyone from children to grandmothers, beginners to Olympians, Ocean and even Round the World Racers, dingy sailors, match racers, wind surfers, foiling catamaran sailors, amateur and professional and of course the occasional token bloke whether contributing crew skills, wearing a G-string, or in utero. Despite all the experience on board, we showed a couple of weeks ago that we are still capable of setting the kite sideways or doing a calamari set as Lindy calls it. We also refer to Long Nose as Cape Fear on our boat from a memorable night when we nearly mounted the rocks on the point only preventing disaster by turning on the motor and throwing it in reverse. We’ve had our share of people overboard and Evelyn even tossed her son over a few weeks ago in 2 knots of breeze. I remember another night when we played a joke on Alex’s team on Bellisimo by setting our phones up so we rang every one of their crew at 30 seconds to the starting gun. This year has been another top season, and we all had a good refresher and learned things at the fabulous rules nights so thank you again to Nicole and Richard for running that and Emily for organising. No doubt you all have had numerous memorable evenings on the water.
Thirty years is a long time. Let’s fast forward to 2026 and look at some changes that occurred. There is equality at the Olympic Games for women sailors in events and participation numbers, there are coaching events for women and girls in many clubs and classes of boats to support them and keep them engaged in the sport. There was a women’s Americas cup event, Lisa Blair set records sailing around the Antarctic and Jessica Watson around the world. There is State and National recognition of special achievements specifically for women sailors. Women at all stages of their lives have had barriers removed and been made to feel included and supported in the sailing community. We’ve had significant achievers at RPA such as Nina, Katie, Alice, Nicky, Tash, Juliette, Claire, Sienna, Bayley and so many more who have come up through programs at the club and taken their sailing to outstanding levels. We’re proud of the accomplishments of the women sailors at RPA and around Australia. So, the question is, are ladies twilights still relevant and still needed? I say they absolutely are. Its part competition, part social, part learning, part fun and a significant foundation for women sailors at our club. The success of current and future sailing stars had their start by standing on our shoulders as we did on the women who sailed in this male dominated sport before we did.
This club RPA and in particular the men at this club chose to build programs and support for women and youth sailors. The men in our club joined the women sailors and made the choice to include and support us. It was the male members, who had led the club for over a century, who chose to make changes alongside women—resulting in over 30 years of women becoming co-members and active participants. Our partners and families, the boat owners who hand over their yachts, our race committee out there for hours to support us in all weather, our race organisers, the team in the sailing office and the participants have made this series a cornerstone at RPA. So, sincerely, thank you to all of you.
I’d like to thank my patient husband of 35 years Murray who joined our crew for about 5 races with us in the ladies’ twilights in the last 30 years but held the fort at home so I could compete. When he convinced me to move to Australia, he truly had no idea what he was taking on. I’d also like to thank my crew Girls zig zag through sailing course
for this season and many others Lindy, Sarah, Kerrie, Kathryn, Ros, Patti, Sue, Simone, Evelyn and Nicole. Thanks for another fun year together. And thank you to all of the other women sailors I’ve had the pleasure to sail with over the years.
What is next for the future of women’s sailing and specifically at RPA? More women members (Julia will get the application forms ready), more women in leadership roles and more women owning their own boats (consider forming or joining an ownership syndicate as an easier way to do this). As a group we are creating an atmosphere where the possibilities for women sailors are inclusive for women at any stage of their lives, are unlimited and exceptional.
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The Old Timers Race Luncheon was a wonderful celebration of sailing, experience, and community at RPAYC.
“Old Timers” is a term used at RPAYC with affection and respect. It isn’t about age; it’s about the wealth of experience gained through years of sailing, racing, and contributing to the Club and the wider sailing community. This year’s event showcased that experience in full.
The Old Timers Race was first sailed in 1994 in honour of Bill Hedley Wiseman, who spent an extraordinary 54 years at RPAYC. That spirit of continuity and participation was clearly alive during this year’s race, with 27 boats taking to the water. When the skippers’ experience was added up, it came to nearly 2,000 years , an incredible testament to the depth of knowledge and passion in the fleet.
Experience came in many forms. Several women were sailing this year, including Annie Taylor on Bullwinkle and Elaine Fowler, co-skippering Baragoola with Ted Anderson. Elaine, elected a full member in 1992 and now a Life Member, was a welcome sight back on the water. Typically seen running races for others, she and Ted were out there showing everyone how it’s done.
Special recognition also went to Max Tunbridge sailing The Bolter. Max, the founder of the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race (celebrating its 40th edition next year), brought his own wealth of experience to the day.
Events like this are important because they keep people sailing, preserve stories, and remind everyone what makes a yacht club more than just a marina and clubhouse. The Old Timers Race is about showing up, enjoying the water, and sharing the experience with people who understand why it matters.
Congratulations to every skipper and crew who took part. Their participation added another chapter to a race that continues to mean so much to RPAYC.
The day ended ashore with good company, great stories, and a shared love of sailing.
Rob McClelland
Commodore
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
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]]>What a beautiful day on the water!The Pantaenius Women’s Tuesday Ladies Twilight Racing at RPAYCs brought cheer and holiday spirit to the course as crews raced in style.
We can’t wait to announce who takes home the Best Dressed Boat and Crew prizes! 🎄✨
Thank you to all the sailors for making it such a joyful evening and a great way to celebrate the 30th year of Women’s twilight sailing. ⛵️
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]]>Thailand – Kings Cup, December 2025
Report from RPAYC Rear Commodore Yachting, Peter Farrugia
A few members made the recent trip to Phuket, Thailand, for the Kings Cup. The Kings Cup, as the name suggests, involves the Royal Family of Thailand. Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana is a regular and competitive sailor on Vayu, a TP52 representing Thailand. There was enormous interest surrounding the Queen’s participation, adding to the energy and national pride of the event. Security was at a very high level with strong military and police presence, but ironically the likes of Griff and Michael Lockley who would turn up each day in sailing gear and simply stroll straight through the doors. Griff would say, “We are with the Queen.” The security staff, much like the rest of us, had no idea what he meant, but they smiled and waved him in regardless.
Travelling members Mark Griffith (owner), Peter Farrugia, Michael Lockley, Russell Murphy, Cliff Burke and Gene Clewett added to the Aftershock crew of 15. Steve McConaghy and Mark Bayles are also co-owners of the spectacular 60-foot yacht. A number of other guests filled the remaining spots and gelled well together for a great week of sailing. As the list of names suggests, there was certainly no shortage of humour. A favourite moment came at the start line:
Pete: “Griff, do you want me to ping the line with my watch?”
Griff: “No mate, feel the boat… be the boat.”
The regatta began with the quirks of our sport on full display. Day one produced very light wind with only one race completed, The following day was much the same with a single race sailed, then no racing the next. Each afternoon, however, featured a presentation at a beautiful hotel with food and drinks included in a well-organised hospitality package.
It was at one of these presentation evenings that the 11-metre fleet invited our crew to their bar for a pool challenge. We turned up — but they were nowhere to be seen. All in bed by 9:30pm. Not quite the typical regatta hospitality of inviting guests to a party and then not attending! Michael responded, “That’s the way we roll.” They texted us saying, “Tell them you’re a friend of Cliff’s.” The bar staff stared back and said, “Who’s Cliff?” The pool table itself had more curves than the greens at Augusta.
The racing highlight came mid-week when the breeze filled to 7–9 knots. We hit our numbers perfectly and Macca placed us exactly where we needed to be, leading the TP52s at the top mark. We beat Vayu in both races and Hollywood once, taking a first and a second — the first time Aftershock has ever posted a race win against the TP52s.
As the week went on, the wind built steadily, with the final day producing 20+ knots. The TP52s were simply too fast downwind to hold off, but the racing throughout the week was excellent, a combination of windward-leeward and around-the-island courses. The team work grew stronger each day, especially with a mix of new sailors to the boat and even some new to the sport. Aftershock continues to offer a fantastic pathway for sailors to experience high-level regatta racing on a truly spectacular yacht.
A notable RPAYC connection beyond Aftershock came from Peter Byford and Tim Byford, who were competing in the IRC division aboard Red Panda. Red Panda sailed a solid regatta and finished fourth overall in its class. It was great to see the Byfords flying the RPAYC flag in another division and catching up with them regularly throughout the week.
The final presentation was one to remember, with both His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida present to award the prizes. I was fortunate to be selected to accept our prize and had a brief conversation with the Royal couple during the group photo. It was also terrific to see so many Australians involved across the whole event, many of whom we race with regularly back home.
Robert McClelland
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]]>The post Australia’s Largest Yachting Boat Show Returns: Pittwater Sail Expo appeared first on RPAYC.
]]>MEDIA RELEASE
24–26 October 2025 | Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Newport (Pittwater, NSW)
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) is proud to present the Pittwater Sail Expo 2025, Australia’s premier yacht and sailing showcase, running from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October, proudly supported by Pantaenius. This free, public, family-friendly event celebrates the spirit of sailing, marine innovation, and the boating lifestyle.
Over three days, the Pittwater Sail Expo invites sailing enthusiasts, prospective boat-owners, marine industry professionals, and curious newcomers to explore the latest in yacht design, marine technology, sailing education, and cruising culture. With complimentary parking, tender services to wharves around Pittwater, and a packed schedule of exhibitor displays, inspections, demonstrations, and lifestyle activations, there’s something for everyone. www.pittwatersailexpo.com.au
Highlights & Activities
- Yacht inspections & onboard tours — step aboard new and innovative models
- Shore displays & marine marketplace — explore gear, electronics, safety, rigging, covers and more
- Talks & expert panels — engage with designers, brokers, insurers, and seasoned sailors
- Learn-to-sail information hub — for beginners, youth, families, adult courses
- Live entertainment, food & beverage — relax and soak in the atmosphere
- Club engagement & membership info — meet the RPAYC community
- Tender transport services to/from local Pittwater wharves, making it easy to reach the event via water (RPAYC)
Opening hours
• Friday 24 October: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Saturday & Sunday (25–26 October): 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (RPAYC)
Meet the Exhibitors
Pittwater Sail Expo 2025 will feature an extensive lineup of leading marine and sailing businesses. Exhibitors include:
- Pantaenius — Sail and Motor Yacht insurance
- Performance Boating — Open for inspection Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380, 350 and Sun Fast 3300
- Learn to Sail at RPAYC — community sailing and training programs
- TMG Lagoon — Open for inspection Lagoon 43
- Carbon Yachts — Open for inspection Saffier Day Sailors and AST Tender
- AllSail Sailing Club — boat-share, charters, skippered sail training
- Performance Cruising — Open for inspection Italia 12.98 and Catalina 426
- X-Yachts (Denmark) — Open for inspection X Yachts XC 45. X4.6 and X4.3 II
- Flagstaff Marine — Open for inspection Beneteau Oceanis 40.1, 37.1, 36, Amel 50, and Excess 14
- Windcraft Yachts — Open for inspection Solaris 50, Dehler 46, Hanse 460 and Moody 41DS
- The Yacht Sales Co. (TYS Co.) — Open for inspection, New and Pre-Owned yacht sales, representing world-class brands
- Contender Sailcloth & Selden for Sailing masts, rig systems, aftermarket products
- Sydney Marine Brokerage — Open for inspection Grand Soleil 34, LC46 and 40
- Scandinavian Marine Supplies — rigging, deck gear, electrical & accessories
- Andersen Marine — marine electronics, power systems
- Schenker Watermakers – Sustainable water systems and solar water solutions
- Shoreside Clothing — marine apparel, crew uniforms
- Harken Australia — sailboat hardware, control systems
- Ocean Covers — custom covers, upholstery solutions
- Oceanco — Open for inspection Viko S21
- Elvström Sails — high performance sails & membrane technologies
- Quality Marine Clothing — technical sailing wear
- Nanni Marine Australia — diesel engines and generators
- Smart Boating — fractional ownership Hanse 415 and Beneteau Oceanis 37.1
- Multihull Central — Open for inspection Seawind 1370
- Any Port Marine — specialist gear including Karver, Ewincher, Colligo and Nodus
- SailTime — Open for inspection shared-ownership Beneteau Oceanis 35.1
- Ensign Yachts — Open for inspection Bavaria C46, Tofinou 9.7 and J99
- Leopard Catamarans — Open for inspection Leopard 46
- OneSails Sydney — sailmaking, sail services, textile solutions
- Wichard Pacific & Ronstan — marine hardware, fittings & systems
- Marine Rescue – Broken Bay, keeping boaters safe on water
- Bluewater Cruising Yachts — Open for inspection Cygnet 20 trailer Sailer
- W & K Sports — sailing equipment, dinghies, dinghy brands & apparel
- Douglas Marine –Installation and servicing Yanmar, Volvo Penta, Cathodic & Vetus
- Department Primary Industries & Regional Development – Marine Pests
- Dragon Force 65 Racing Class – remote control yacht class
This robust exhibitor mix ensures visitors can see the full spectrum of yacht types (monohulls, multihulls, trailer sailors), marine systems, rigging, hardware, sail technology, brokerage, training and lifestyle offerings.
About RPAYC & Pittwater Sail Expo
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, based in Newport, NSW, is committed to advancing sailing and marine excellence across all levels — from youth and community sailing to cruising and competitive racing. The Pittwater Sail Expo is the club’s flagship showcase, bringing together industry, community, and the public to explore and celebrate the world of yachts, sailing, and marine innovation.
Join us 24–26 October 2025 — whether you’re a seasoned sailor or simply curious about life on the water, the Pittwater Sail Expo offers a full weekend of discovery, inspiration, and community.
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