Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Archives - RPAYC

Wild weather forecast forces cancellation of 2026 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race

Media RPAYC — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:19:33 +0000

What was to be the 40th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race and starting tomorrow, 27 March, has been cancelled by the organiser, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Race’s (RPAYC), due to the wild weather that is set to hit the NSW coast tomorrow.

The 40^th race will now not be held until March 2027, at a date to be announced closer to the time.

Weather guru, Roger Badham, is providing the RPAYC with weather updates and has forecast the following:

RPAYC Commodore, Rob McClelland said, “Over the past few days the Race Committee, the Sailing Office, and the Club leadership have been reviewing the weather forecasts in detail, including advice from professional weather routers and the Bureau of Meteorology.

“We have also looked carefully at the safety category of the 226 nautical mile race, the experience level across the fleet – and the likely sea conditions along the NSW coast over the race period.

“The consistent forecast has been for a rapidly developing low pressure system off the coast, with very strong winds up to 45 knots on Friday and very large seas continuing into Saturday. While the wind was expected to ease later, the sea state was likely to remain severe for much of the race, particularly in the first 24 hours.

“This race is conducted as a Category 3 Plus event. That category is designed to keep offshore racing accessible, but it also means that not every boat and crew is equipped to handle conditions that approach full Category 1 offshore survival weather.

“Based on the forecasts we were seeing, there was a real possibility that parts of the fleet would be exposed to conditions more consistent with Category 1 racing,” the Commodore said.

“We also considered the make-up of this year’s fleet. We have a wide range of boats, including double-handed entries and crews with varying levels of offshore experience. In these circumstances, we have a responsibility to make a decision that protects everyone, not just the most capable boats.

“In addition to the weather itself, we also need to consider the practical logistics of running a race of this size. Getting the fleet safely to the start, up the coast, and then back to their home ports involves a lot of planning for owners, crews and support people.

“One of the reasons we have made this decision early, is not only because of the forecast conditions, but also to allow boats to return to their home ports in safe weather, rather than being committed to travel during what is expected to be a very unsettled period along the coast.

“We looked at options to delay the start, including a Saturday start, but even in that scenario the forecasts indicate very large residual seas along the coast, potential difficulty entering Coffs Harbour and significant practical issues for crews and boats completing the race safely.

“After a long and careful discussion, the decision was unanimous that the risks were too high to justify starting the race this year.

“This is never an easy decision. We know how much preparation goes into this race and how disappointing it is for everyone involved. But our first responsibility is the safety of our competitors, our volunteers and the reputation of the Club as a responsible offshore racing organiser,” the Commodore said.

“Paid entry fees will be rolled forward to next year and we fully intend to come back with a strong fleet for the 40^th running of the race.

“Thank you to everyone for your understanding and for the effort you have put into preparing for the event,” the Commodore ended.

All information on the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race can be found at: www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au

Di Pearson/RPAYC media

**Ends**

Please credit photos as attached

@rpayc

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Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race – Weather Forecast – Thurs

Media RPAYC — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 22:32:46 +0000

THU 26. 7.15am – COFFS RACE 2026

SITUATION THU 26
Latest model runs continue with a low pressure system to develop off the south coast later today. The rapidly intensifying low pressure will likely be complex tomorrow; complex indicating a multi centred area of low pressure with transient low pressure system(s) rotating around the main developing centre and area of cold air aloft. The trough line and probable transient area of low pressure will tighten the W-SW gradient wind along the coast between Jervis Bay and Hunter coast areas. The low pressure will become single centred on Saturday and move further away from the NSW coast.
Max wind between Broken Bay and Seal Rocks is forecast to occur later Friday afternoon and night with SW/40-45 kts and gusts of 50-55 kts. Max waves (SWH) of 7-9 metres from SSW in the same region from Friday night to Saturday midday before waves slowly abate.

Most global models have the strongest wind of SW/50-55 kts (sustained wind) just south of Sydney; this band of strong wind from Batemans Bay to Sydney will generate the largest 8-9m waves to propagate further north to the Central NSW coastal areas peaking early Saturday morning.

The BOM axsC model has a small low centre 70 miles east of Broken Bay at 6pm on Friday night with W/40-45 kts in the north off the Hunter Coast and SSW/50-55 kts wind off the Sydney and Illawarra coast at that time.

MODELS
A table of the wind and the waves for the waters between Broken Bay and Seal Rocks from Friday midday to Saturday midday: (local times) GFS (NOAA); axs (BOM/UK); EC (ECMWF)

AVERAGE TWS, not gusts. GFS; axsG/axsC; EC WAVES (swh) ww3; EC; axs
FRI 27
1200. WSW/20-30; W/25-30; W/25-30; 2.3m/11sec; 2.7m/7sec/S; 2.5m
1500. WSW/25-30; WSW/30-35; WSW/30-35; 2.5m/10sec; 2.9m/7sec/SSW; 2.7m
1800. WSW/30-35; WSW/45-50; WSW/30-35; 3m/9.5sec; 3.3m/7sec/SSW; 3.5m
2100 SW/40-50; WSW/40-45; WSW/30-35; 4.5m/9sec; 4m/8sec/S; 4m
0000 SW/40-45; SW/35-45; WSW/30-35; 5m/10.5sec; 5m/9sec/SSW; 6m
0300 SW/30-40; SW/35-40; SW/30-40; 6m/12sec; 6m/11sec/S; 7m
0600 SW/30-35; SW/30-40; SW/30-35; 6.5m/12sec; 7m/12sec/S; 8m
0900 SW/25-30; SW/30-35; SW/25-30; 6m/12sec; 7m/12sec/S; 7.5m
1200 SW/20-30; SSW/30-35; SW/25-30; 5.5m/12sec; 6m/11sec/SSE; 7m

FORECAST (average TWS, not gust) for Hunter and lower Macquarie coasts.
FRI 27 W-WSW-SW/35-45; showers, particularly offshore
SAT 28 SW-SSW/25-35; few showers – mostly offshore
SUN 29 SW-S/20-25; few showers
MON 30 S then SE/10-15; shower or 2

End

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Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race – Weather Forecast

Media RPAYC — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:57:53 +0000

WED 25. 7.30am COFFS RACE 2026

SITUATION WED 25

Yesterday’s 00z run of models all had a single centred low pressure system developing off the south coast during Friday.

This morning (12z runs) all the major models have a complex low developing (ie not single centred) with one centre in close to the coast and rotating around the main low centre off the south coast. The result of a transient low centre to come north on Friday afternoon/night is to generate stronger gale strength SW wind and large waves for the Sydney and Hunter coasts. The situation slowly easing during Saturday as the main low pressure system moves to the central Tasman Sea.

The GFS has the transient low closest to the coast, then axsG with EC furthest offshore and thus with not as strong gale force wind on Sunday evening.

Tomorrow will be 24 hrs closer and the first time the high res axsC model will look at the development along the coast. Should then be able to forecast with good accuracy the wind and seas on Friday afternoon and night south of Sea Rocks where the conditions will be most severe.

MODELS

A short table of the wind and the waves for the waters between Broken Bay and Seal Rocks from Friday midday to Saturday 6am: (local times)

AVERAGE TWS, not gusts. For GFS; axsG; EC; waves ww3; axsG; EC

FRI 27

1200. W/20-25; WNW-W/25-30; W/25-30; 2m/10sec; 2m; 2.6m

1500. WSW/24-28; WNW-W/25-30; WSW/25-30; 2m/10sec; 2m; 2.7m

1800. WSW/30-35; W/30-35; WSW/30-35; 2.5m/9.5sec; 2.5m; 3.1m

2100 SW/35-40; W/35-45; WSW/30-35; 3.5m/9sec; 5m; 3.7m

0000 SW/35-40; SW/40-45; WSW/30-35; 5m/10.5sec; 6m; 4.4m

0300 SW/30-35 SW/35-40; SW/30-40; 6m/12sec; 7m; 5m

0600 SW/25-30 SW/35-40; SW/30-35; 6m/12sec; 6m; 6m

FORECAST (average TWS, not gust)

FRI 27 W-WSW-SW/35-45; showers, particularly offshore

SAT 28 SW-SSW/25-35; few showers – mostly offshore

SUN 29 SW-S-SE/15-20; few showers

HOUSEKEEPING

A few short notes this week leading to the start 1pm on Friday 27.

A dropbox folder has been generated and will have some regular grib files – daily for the next few days, then more frequent during the race.

axsG for the next few days and then axsC for the NSW coast; a small wind file for the race area and a bigger file with extra variables; cloud, rain and msl pressure.

Global models of EC and GFS models, current and waves grib files.

The dropbox link is:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ec7njm02be6ztlagruxs8/AKoLYSv7EmrRA_i-NXUztMc?rlkey=16omcaeam3k5wxhfg4a875v3r&st=4ioe5tey&dl=0

Not necessary to Sign in. Right click or hover over the file you want and there should be an option to download. A ‘log in or Sign up’ box may appear – at the bottom of this dialogue box is a link says: ‘continue with download only’.

The Race Committee have asked me to provide some notes and a forecast for the briefing on Thursday evening. Those notes will also be posted on dropbox.

End

Roger Badham

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Kiwi entry among Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race greenhorns

Media RPAYC — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 23:30:27 +0000

Kiwi Brian Petersen has entered V5, his TP52, for the 40th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race, joining other first timers who will contest the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Race’s (RPAYC) annual coastal classic.

“Yes, it’s a first for me,” confirms Petersen who is continuing on from his busy 2025 sailing itinerary. “It looks like a nice little slide up the coast. I’ll be happy to finally get the boat to Pittwater, after dipping out on the Club’s (RPAYC) Sydney to Auckland Race last year.

“We were doing the CYCA’s Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race but it got cancelled. Because the boat is sitting ready in Newcastle, I decided to run a similar program to last year. We’ll start with the Pittwater Coffs race,” says Petersen, who has a mix of Kiwi and Aussie crew.

A bluewater sailor through, Petersen says, “Next we’ll do the Brisbane Gladstone, Sydney Gold Coast and Brisbane to Mackay races, then Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island, then go back to Southport for Sail Paradise.”

That is the joy of the Pittwater Coffs placement in the sailing calendar – it allows competitors a choice of other races to do afterwards and Annie Stevenson is another taking advantage.

The Pittwater Coffs will mark Stevenson’s debut as skipper. In another first, she will sail double-handed on Employment Hero Alliance, a Dehler 30 One-Design with co-skipper, Peter Winter.

A lead platform engineer, 26-year-old Stevenson is among a growing number of converts to shorthanded sailing. “I want to focus on the race as a perfect first offshore race for two-handing,” she says.

“This race is a great leveller with small boats having every opportunity to win – and it has relatively benign conditions in March. It’s also the perfect length and a beautiful course,” said the Kirribilli sailor who has chartered the yacht with a full season in mind.

Sailing as 2IC/navigator on First Light’s all-women crew in the 80th Sydney Hobart last year fired Stevenson up for a double-handed campaign.

“Offshore sailing for women is an emerging space. I hope to help change the sport and make a difference. I really like the ownership of all activities too. When you sail fully crewed, you normally do one job. When you sail double-handed, you get a sense of it’s your win – or your loss. And you learn to understand the boat and how it works.

“I like sailing north. It’s a good size race for a first. It’ll be good to see what the boat is capable of – work out what’s right and wrong – sort it out. This is the start of our campaign and perfect for the bigger races ahead. It will be a test,” Stevenson says.

Saltwater Wine’s owner, Tom Woods, is also a race greenhorn and is double-handing with his JPK 10.80.

“I’m going with David O’Dowd, a mate from our 505 days,” says Woods of the pair from Newcastle. “It’s the first time for both of us in the race. I’ve double-handed with my son Jamie, but work got in the way last couple of years, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Woods says his boat is ideally set up for double-handed racing. “It’s identical to Leon,” he says of the yacht that initially won the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart sailing double-handed until a protest knocked it back to second to another double-handed boat, Min River.

“We only decided to do the Pittwater Coffs race a few weeks back, because we saw there’s all these Sydney two-handers doing it. There’s not as many restrictions in place as in other races, so it suits us.”

To prepare, the duo did the Newcastle to Bird Island Race double-handed. “We bashed all the way up to Bird Island in 30 knots – then nothing on the way back,” says Woods, the 1984 505 Worlds winner with Dean Blatchford.

This Way Up’s owner, James Macken, candidly says, “I haven’t done the race before. When my kids were young, I used to take them surfing and ended up at Coffs. I used to watch the boats coming in and thought it was the best sort of race – beautiful conditions and coast line.”

Macken races weekends, does twilights, Sail Port Stephens and did the RPAYCs Pittwater Regatta. Sailing his Sydney 36CR fully crewed, the Novocastrian says, “I’m most looking forward to getting to the start line – there is so much to do before to get there!”

Jeffery Payne owns Carpe Diem X, an Elan Impression 434 and is going double-handed with Paul Van Denburg. “This will be our first time in the race. We did the Hunter 100 at the end of last year out of Newcastle in very heavy weather, which was just fabulous.

“Double-handed is easier on crew management. You get organised and get set up for short handed sailing and mine is set up for it. It’s a comfortable boat to do it on and easy to sail.”

Payne’s rationale for doing the Pittwater Coffs: “I’m only 73 and one decent ocean race was on my bucket list. I’ve had a few goes at getting to Lord Howe and succeeded twice. The last time we had four crew and two were seasick. It was like sailing two-handed, so I thought it we could do that, we could do the Pittwater to Coffs two-handed.”

Payne ended, “We’ve done two-handed man overboard (MOB) trials and we can recover a person from MOB and back on the wind in just 5 minutes. We have a process that actually works. We’ve made a shepherd’s crook we can hook with and have a long halyard,” Watch Payne’s demonstration: https://youtube.com/@jeffpayne-carpediemx?si=RiN_RMSXaaEcXcMy

Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race entries have closed, but late entries are being accepted. So far, 36 have signed up in IRC, ORC, OMR and Short Handed categories.

Being the 40th race, RPAYC Commodore, Rob McClelland, will present the 40th entry received with a nice bottle of bubbly, so get your entry in quickly at: www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au

Di Pearson/RPAYC media

**Ends**

Please credit photos as attached

@rpayc
#rpayc
#p2c

Further information:

Di Pearson
Nautical Promotions
Email: nautical3@bigpond.com
Phone: 0410 792 131

The post Kiwi entry among Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race greenhorns appeared first on RPAYC.

Newly redeveloped Coffs Harbour Marina welcomes race participants and cruisers this season

Media RPAYC — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:13:26 +0000

With the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race heading to Coffs this March (27-29 March, 2026), Coffs Harbour International Marina will be the main hub for visiting yachts and a natural meeting point for members, crews and spectators! The marina’s recent upgrades mean a better berthing experience, modern customer facilities and convenient access to the waterfront marina village.

Coffs Harbour International Marina now offers 143 berths for monohulls and multihulls from 10 to 30+ metres, each with reliable power and water service pedestals

Improved marina layout, swipe-card access to docks and upgraded marina monitoring allow boats and gear to remain secure while crews are ashore for briefings, functions or presentations.

Suitable berth depths, nearby fuel, pump-out and marine trade services make it a practical base, with easy access between the marina, village F&B options, Yacht Club and Jetty foreshore precinct.

Not racing? The marina foreshore and village offer one of the easiest vantage points to see the fleet arrive, depart and move through the harbour. It’s a comfortable spot to follow the action from shore, grab a coffee, some fresh seafood or pull up a view from Latitude 30 restaurant overlooking the Ocean and stay close to the boats and crews throughout the day.

With Coffs Harbour International Marina acting as the central marina during the event, berths will be in high demand. Skippers are encouraged to arrange bookings directly with the marina as early as possible. It is also recommended that all racing boats check in with the marina team on vessel drafts and any potential tide restrictions to the marine entry before arrival.

Heading North Cruising this Season?

For cruisers making their way north, Coffs Harbour offers the ideal midway stop, and now, more reason than ever to linger. The marina’s new facilities, secure berthing and vibrant waterfront village create a comfortable base to rest, reprovision and reconnect before the next leg. Beyond the docks, the Coffs Coast delivers beautiful beaches, coastal walks, hinterland drives and an easy going regional atmosphere that rewards those who stay a little longer. Whether you’re pausing for a night or planning an extended stop, Coffs Harbour International Marina is ready to welcome you this cruising season.

BOOK YOUR BERTH TODAY

JOIN the 40th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race!
To enter, view the Notice of Race and race information, go to: www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au

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Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race: Return of the two-handers

Media RPAYC — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:46:38 +0000

Some notable two-handers are set to return for the 40th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race – the 2023 overall winner and runner-up along with the 2024 runner-up are keen to have a another go at claiming the overall trophy, knowing it will take weather to suit them.

The 226 nautical mile classic, starting at 1pm on 27 March, appeals to a broad cross section of monohull, two-handed and multihull entries – and this year is no different.

Arguably the best two-handed yachtsman in Australia, Rupert Henry won the race in 2023 on his Lombard 34, Mistral, with co-skipper, Greg O’Shea. It was the same year Henry, sailing Mistral two-handed, went on to place sixth overall in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, only beaten by fully crewed yachts from 66 to 100 feet and then he placed ninth in 2024.

Henry and O’Shea are looking forward to returning to the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s (RPAYC) race: “It’s in the right part of the calendar and it’s a nice destination. It’ll be good to see Coffs again,” Henry said.

“I was talking to Greg about doing more sailing together – because we haven’t for a while – so we thought we might give the race another go and have some fun.

“We just like going racing and especially after the disappointment of the Hobart,” said Henry, who because of the 2025 race forecast, was a favourite to win. However, an injury caused his retirement from the race. Jiang Lin and Alexis Loison ultimately won, the first two-handed crew to do so.

To hone his skills, Henry has been racing an ILCA 7 (ex-Laser) and intends competing at the ILCA Masters Worlds in Greece in June, before sailing single-handed events in Europe in hopes of gaining entry to the next Route du Rhum.

In the 2023 Pittwater Coffs, sailed in mainly light and fickle conditions, Mistral beat Disko Trooper Contender Sailcloth to the punch. The J/99, owned by Jules Hall and co-skippered by Jan Scholten, had kept Mistral company throughout the race and topped the ORC board.

“If I recall correctly, we beat them by a whisker in a cloud burst,” Henry said.

This year, Hall has Alex Knight co-skippering: “He’s a Royal Prince Alfred member who sailed the CYCA Double-Handed Series with me,“ said the Sydney sailor of the series they just won. “Clogs (his usual crew, Jan Scholten) is away, so can’t do the race with me.

“I’m looking forward to a re-match with Mistral,” said Hall of his CYCA clubmate. “And I’ve been revving up the double-handed community, hoping for an excellent turnout for the Pittwater-Coffs, especially from the J/99 boats, with at least five.”

Apart from Hall’s J/99, one other has already entered, Garry Essex’s Veloce, to be co-skippered by Peter Wesley.

Hall is a Pittwater Coffs enthusiast, “It’s a great race track, half the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast race, which is always useful in advance of doing that race in July. It’s a great time of year. The weather’s good and so is the social atmosphere in Coffs.”

“Now we’ve finished the double-handed series, we’ll do a bit of training before the race,” Hall ended.

In the 2024 Pittwater Coffs, the RPAYC father and son combo of Martin and John Cross finished second overall in one of the lightest and fickle races, where total dedication and self-belief was key. Only three boats stayed the course and Cross’ Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300, Transcendence Rudy Project was one of them and placed second overall.

So far, a mix of 24 fully crewed and two-handed monohulls and multihulls have signed up for the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race in IRC, ORC, OMR and Short Handed categories.

Entries close at 1700 hours 14 March, but may be received after that time with a late entry fee attached.

Di Pearson/RPAYC media

**Ends**

Please credit the photos as attached.

@rpayc
#rpayc
#p2c

Further information:

Di Pearson
Nautical Promotions
Email: nautical3@bigpond.com
Phone: 0410 792 131

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