2 min read · Updated 5 July 2026
Pittwater is one of Australia's finest sailing estuaries — a large, sheltered waterway on Sydney's northern beaches, with historic clubs, protected water and a route straight out to the ocean. Led by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, it is both a welcoming place to learn and the launch point for serious offshore racing.
The venue
Pittwater is a drowned river valley running north from the northern beaches to Broken Bay and Barrenjoey, west of the Palm Beach peninsula. Its deep, sheltered water, reliable breezes and beautiful bushland setting make it a superb sailing and cruising ground — safe and accessible close to shore, yet open to the sea for offshore racing. It grew into a major venue partly as an alternative to the increasingly congested Sydney Harbour.
The clubs
The best-known club is the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club — the "Alfreds" — at Green Point, Newport, one of Australia's leading clubs and famous for its elite racing and youth academy. Pittwater is also home to the Royal Motor Yacht Club Broken Bay and a number of smaller sailing clubs around Newport, Bayview and Avalon, giving the estuary a strong, active community across keelboats and dinghies.
The racing
Pittwater's signature offshore event is the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race, organised by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, which sends the fleet north up the coast each new year. Alongside it runs a full program of club, twilight and one-design racing through the season, and the estuary is a favourite base for cruising to Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury.
Getting involved
Pittwater is a welcoming place to start. Its clubs run learn-to-sail courses, youth programs and crewing opportunities, and the sheltered water makes it forgiving for beginners. See our guides to getting into sailing in Australia and joining a yacht racing crew, and the sailing terms glossary for the vocabulary of the sport. To the south, our guide to sailing in Sydney and Sydney Harbour covers the harbour scene.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Pittwater and why is it good for sailing?
- Pittwater is a large, sheltered estuary on Sydney's northern beaches, a drowned river valley running north to Broken Bay and Barrenjoey. Its protected, deep water, reliable breezes and scenic setting make it one of the best sailing and cruising grounds in the Sydney region — safe and accessible for club racing and learning, yet open to the ocean for offshore racing. It became a major sailing venue in part as an alternative to the increasingly congested Sydney Harbour.
- What sailing clubs are on Pittwater?
- The best-known is the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (the Alfreds) at Green Point, Newport, one of Australia's leading clubs, known for its elite racing and youth academy. Pittwater is also home to the Royal Motor Yacht Club Broken Bay and a number of smaller sailing clubs around Newport, Bayview and Avalon, giving the estuary a strong, active sailing community across keelboats and dinghies.
- What yacht races are held on Pittwater?
- Pittwater's signature offshore event is the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race, organised by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, which sends the fleet north up the New South Wales coast in the new-year period. The estuary also hosts a full program of club, twilight and one-design racing through the season, and is a popular base for cruising north to Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury.
- Is Pittwater good for beginners?
- Yes. Pittwater's sheltered, protected waters make it a forgiving place to learn, and its clubs — led by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club — run learn-to-sail courses, youth programs and crewing opportunities. The combination of safe water close to shore and a strong club scene makes it one of the most welcoming places to start sailing in the Sydney region.
- How do you get onto the water at Pittwater?
- Joining one of the Pittwater clubs and putting your name down as crew is the easiest way in. The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and the other local clubs run learn-to-sail and introduction sessions, and there are often crew spots available for twilight and weekend racing. No experience or boat of your own is needed to start.