Four Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club yachts will join the fleet for Saturday’s Flinders Islet Race, the second event in the 2026/27 CYCA Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore.
Candence & Co Odin (Matt Hanning), Luna Blue (John Turnbull, David Watson, Steve Kellaway), Pretty Woman (Richard Hudson) and Sticky (Richard Harris) will represent RPAYC on the 88 nautical mile course. The fleet starts near Point Piper at 1000hrs on 26 September, heads out through Sydney Heads and sails south to round Flinders Islet, about one nautical mile east of Port Kembla, before returning to Sydney Harbour. The race also counts towards the Coastal Pointscore.
The distance may be modest by offshore standards, but the weather could make this a demanding race to get right. In its race preview, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia reports that a northerly is expected to build during the southbound leg, while forecast models differ on when a southerly change will reach Flinders Islet. A crew that rounds near the change could find favourable downwind sailing in both directions; an earlier or later arrival may mean time spent beating into the breeze. The forecast remains subject to change.
For RPAYC’s yachts and the many club crew members racing across the fleet, Saturday is another opportunity to sharpen their offshore teamwork as preparations build towards the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Sail choices, navigation and the timing of the return leg will all matter when the fleet turns for home.
We wish Candence & Co Odin, Luna Blue, Pretty Woman and Sticky, along with every RPAYC crew member competing, a safe and successful race.