What is the Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race?

The Sydney to Mooloolaba is an offshore yacht race from Sydney up the coast to Mooloolaba on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. First run in 1964, it is regarded as one of Australia's significant offshore sailing classics, and is run by Middle Harbour Yacht Club in conjunction with the Mooloolaba Yacht Club.

When did the Sydney to Mooloolaba race start?

The inaugural race was run in 1964, when it was known as the Sydney to Brisbane race. The finish was moved to Mooloolaba in 1973 so the fleet did not have to negotiate the tides and sandbanks of Moreton Bay, and the Mooloolaba finish has been the standard ever since.

Who organises the Sydney to Mooloolaba race?

It is organised by Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney, in conjunction with the Mooloolaba Yacht Club at the finish. Middle Harbour Yacht Club led the 2014 revival of the race and continues to run it as one of the east coast's offshore events.

Where does the Sydney to Mooloolaba race finish?

It finishes at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, north of Brisbane. The finish moved there in 1973 from the original Brisbane destination to avoid the navigational hazards of Moreton Bay, and Mooloolaba has been the home of the race's finish ever since.

New South Wales

Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race

The Sydney to Mooloolaba is one of Australia's significant offshore classics — an ocean race from Sydney up to the Sunshine Coast, first run in 1964 and revived in 2014 by Middle Harbour Yacht Club with Mooloolaba Yacht Club.

2 min read

The Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race is one of Australia's significant offshore classics — an ocean race from Sydney up the coast to Mooloolaba on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. First run in 1964, lapsed for several years, and revived in 2014, it links the Sydney offshore scene with the Sunshine Coast and rounds out the east-coast calendar of blue-water races.

What it is

The Sydney to Mooloolaba is a point-to-point offshore passage race, sending the fleet north from Sydney into the open Tasman and up the coast to the Sunshine Coast. It is run by Middle Harbour Yacht Club in conjunction with the Mooloolaba Yacht Club, and since its revival it has welcomed both monohulls and multihulls. As an offshore race it asks for the seamanship, navigation and watch-keeping covered in our guides to offshore versus inshore racing and crew positions.

History

The inaugural race ran in 1964, when it was known as the Sydney to Brisbane race. In 1973 the finish was moved to Mooloolaba so the fleet did not have to negotiate the tides and sandbanks of Moreton Bay — and the Sunshine Coast town has been the home of the finish ever since.

The race ran continually until 2006, then was not held between 2007 and 2013. In 2014, Middle Harbour Yacht Club, working with Sean Langman, revived it and opened it to multihulls for the first time, restoring a classic to the east-coast offshore calendar.

How to enter and follow

Entries and event information are published by Middle Harbour Yacht Club. As a coastal offshore race, it carries safety-category requirements, so crews should read the Notice of Race carefully and prepare accordingly. The first boat to Mooloolaba takes line honours, but the overall result is decided on corrected time under handicap — see line honours versus handicap — and the sailing terms glossary covers the offshore vocabulary. For the wider circuit, see our guide to east-coast yacht racing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race?: The Sydney to Mooloolaba is an offshore yacht race from Sydney up the coast to Mooloolaba on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. First run in 1964, it is regarded as one of Australia's significant offshore sailing classics, and is run by Middle Harbour Yacht Club in conjunction with the Mooloolaba Yacht Club.
When did the Sydney to Mooloolaba race start?: The inaugural race was run in 1964, when it was known as the Sydney to Brisbane race. The finish was moved to Mooloolaba in 1973 so the fleet did not have to negotiate the tides and sandbanks of Moreton Bay, and the Mooloolaba finish has been the standard ever since.
Was the Sydney to Mooloolaba race ever discontinued?: Yes. The race ran continually until 2006 and was then not conducted between 2007 and 2013. It was revived in 2014 by Middle Harbour Yacht Club, working with Sean Langman, and now welcomes both monohull and multihull entries — the first time multihulls had been offered a place in the race.
Who organises the Sydney to Mooloolaba race?: It is organised by Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney, in conjunction with the Mooloolaba Yacht Club at the finish. Middle Harbour Yacht Club led the 2014 revival of the race and continues to run it as one of the east coast's offshore events.
Where does the Sydney to Mooloolaba race finish?: It finishes at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, north of Brisbane. The finish moved there in 1973 from the original Brisbane destination to avoid the navigational hazards of Moreton Bay, and Mooloolaba has been the home of the race's finish ever since.

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