2 min read · Updated 18 June 2026
Gold Coast sailing centres on the Broadwater, the sheltered waterway behind the Southport Spit, and on the Southport Yacht Club — the city's premier sailing club — with offshore racing heading out through the Seaway into the Pacific. It is an accessible, welcoming place to sail, combining protected inshore water with quick access to the open ocean.
The venue
The Broadwater is the heart of Gold Coast sailing: a sheltered, protected body of water behind the Southport Spit, ideal for club racing, learning and twilight events in safe conditions close to shore. Just beyond it, the Gold Coast Seaway opens onto the Pacific, giving offshore and coastal racing a fast route to open water. That combination — calm water inside, ocean racing outside — defines the local scene.
The club
The Southport Yacht Club (SYC), established in 1946, is the Gold Coast's premier sailing club and the centre of racing in the region. It operates from its Main Beach clubhouse and from its sailing squadron on the Broadwater at Hollywell, and was named Australian Sailing's Queensland Club of the Year for 2025. The club runs inshore racing for trailer yachts, sports boats, one-designs such as Etchells and small keelboats, alongside its offshore programme.
The racing
The Gold Coast's signature regatta is Sail Paradise, an inshore and offshore event held early in the year out of the Southport Yacht Club. The city is also the finish of the Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race, which arrives at the Broadwater after its run up the coast, and it sits on the route of the Queensland offshore classic, the Brisbane to Gladstone. Weekly club, twilight and off-the-beach racing fills out the calendar.
Getting involved
The Southport Yacht Club is an easy, welcoming place to start. It runs introduction-to-keelboat sessions, learn-to-sail courses and crew opportunities on the Broadwater at Hollywell, with no experience required. 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. Just up the coast, our guide to sailing in Brisbane and Moreton Bay covers the rest of south-east Queensland.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do people sail on the Gold Coast?
- Gold Coast sailing centres on the Broadwater, the sheltered waterway behind the Southport Spit, with offshore racing heading out through the Gold Coast Seaway into the Pacific. The Broadwater offers protected, accessible racing, while the ocean outside hosts coastal and offshore events.
- What is the main yacht club on the Gold Coast?
- The Southport Yacht Club, established in 1946, is the Gold Coast's premier sailing club. It runs racing from its Main Beach clubhouse and its sailing squadron on the Broadwater at Hollywell, and was named Australian Sailing's Queensland Club of the Year for 2025. It organises the Sail Paradise regatta.
- What yacht races are held on the Gold Coast?
- The Gold Coast hosts Sail Paradise, an inshore and offshore regatta held early in the year out of the Southport Yacht Club. It is also the finish of the Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race, which arrives at the Broadwater after its run up the coast, and lies on the route of the Brisbane to Gladstone race.
- Is the Broadwater good for sailing?
- Yes, especially for learning and club racing. The Broadwater is a sheltered, protected body of water behind the Southport Spit, giving safe, accessible conditions close to shore, while the Gold Coast Seaway provides quick access to the open ocean for offshore racing. It suits beginners and competitive sailors alike.
- How do I get into sailing on the Gold Coast?
- The Southport Yacht Club runs introduction-to-keelboat sessions, learn-to-sail courses and crew opportunities on the Broadwater at Hollywell, with no experience required. Joining the club and putting your name down as crew is the easiest way to start racing on the Gold Coast.