History, Innovation and Outstanding Competition Combine for a Spectacular Weekend Ahead.
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club is preparing to welcome one of the highlights of its sailing calendar as the 2026 Mick Hole Winter Regatta returns to the waters of Pittwater. More than a race weekend, the regatta celebrates the legacy of Mick Hole, whose passion for sailing, unwavering volunteer spirit and dedication to the Club helped shape the culture that continues to define RPAYC today.
Over the years, the Mick Hole Winter Regatta has evolved into one of Australia’s premier winter keelboat one design regattas, attracting some of the country’s finest sailors while remaining true to the friendly, competitive spirit that Mick championed. The event brings together accomplished campaigners, emerging talent and Corinthian sailors, creating a fleet that reflects the strength and diversity of Australian club racing.
This year’s Etchells fleet features an outstanding line-up of skippers. Returning to the start line are Dave Taylor aboard 2107 Racing, whose crew has continued to perform at the highest level throughout the season. Fellow RPAYC competitors Pete Farrugia (Bullwinkle on Grand V), Justin Connell (DOT), Garry Gudmunson (Flirting with Chaos), Jason Antill (Northern Havoc), Adam Law (Phoenix) and Bruce Dey (Wimmera) are joined by an equally impressive group of visiting skippers including JC Strong (Flying High), Martin Hickling (GEN X), David Dunn (Great White Hunter), Malcolm Bradford (Greybeard), Sam King (Jindivik), Steve Robson (Lisa), Peter Merrington (Magpie), Peter “Brush” Bellingham (Ripping Yarns) and Matthew & Ryan Fisk (Surprise).
The Sportsboat and VX One divisions continue to showcase the future of high-performance one-design sailing, with Theresa Hamilton’s (Antares) and Warwick Rooklyn’s (Bolt) adding further quality to an already impressive fleet.
Also hitting the water will be the RPAYC’s Intermediate and Youth Development Squad athletes in the Elliotts, which will be one of their first matchups with the junior and senior squads competing against each other on home ground.
Many of this year’s competitors arrive in excellent form following standout performances throughout the 2025–2026 season, who have claimed podium finishes and championship honours at numerous state and national championships. Their continued success highlights both the depth of sailing talent at RPAYC and the Club’s reputation as one of Australia’s leading centres for competitive yacht racing.
Powered by Vakaros RaceSense
Adding another exciting dimension to this year’s regatta is the support of Vakaros https://www.vakaros.com/ , with the event utilising the Vakaros RaceSense system throughout the weekend.
RaceSense is transforming race management worldwide by delivering highly accurate start-line technology, automated over-the-line (OCS) notifications and comprehensive live race tracking. Using networked Atlas instruments aboard every competing yacht, the system broadcasts the exact position of the start line in real time while providing race officials and competitors with unprecedented positional accuracy.
For spectators, members and supporters, the biggest advantage is the live race viewer. Every race will be streamed through the RaceSense platform, allowing viewers ashore to follow each yacht’s progress around the course in real time. Boat positions, fleet movements and race developments will be visible live, providing an engaging experience for families, supporters and sailing enthusiasts who can follow the action from anywhere. Following racing, every start and every leg can also be replayed, giving competitors valuable opportunities to review their performances. Follow the action via https://rpayc.com.au/sailing/mick-hole-one-design-and-sports-boat-regatta/
The inclusion of Vakaros RaceSense places the Mick Hole Winter Regatta alongside many of the world’s leading sailing events that have adopted the technology to enhance fairness, improve race management and make competitive sailing more accessible for spectators.
As the fleet gathers on the start line, the 2026 Mick Hole Winter Regatta promises another memorable chapter in the event’s proud history, celebrating outstanding sailors, recognising the volunteers who make the regatta possible, embracing world-class race technology through Vakaros, and honouring the enduring legacy of Mick Hole at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.