What is the Tollgate Islands Race?

The Tollgate Islands Race is a 260-nautical-mile offshore race run by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. Starting on a Friday evening, the fleet heads south to round the Tollgate Islands, which lie about four nautical miles off Batemans Bay, before returning to finish off Watsons Bay in Sydney. It is the third-longest race in the club's blue-water pointscore.

How long is the Tollgate Islands Race?

The course is 260 nautical miles, making it the third-longest race in the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore. With an evening start and a long run south and back, it is a substantial multi-day-style offshore race and a serious test of crew and boat.

Where are the Tollgate Islands?

The Tollgate Islands are two small islands about four nautical miles off the coast at Batemans Bay, on the New South Wales south coast. The race rounds them before turning north for the return leg to the finish off Watsons Bay.

Why is the Tollgate Islands Race a good training run?

Its length and offshore nature make it, in the words of the organisers, a near-perfect offshore training run — long enough to demand watch systems, navigation and endurance, and timed within the lead-up to the Rolex Sydney Hobart. It replaced the former Newcastle Bass Island Race in the pointscore.

Is the Tollgate Islands Race a Sydney Hobart qualifier?

Yes. It is part of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Blue Water Pointscore, the offshore series that serves as qualification and preparation for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Its 260-nautical-mile length makes it one of the more demanding qualifiers in the series.

New South Wales

Tollgate Islands Race

The Tollgate Islands Race is a 260-nautical-mile CYCA blue-water classic — south from Sydney to round the Tollgate Islands off Batemans Bay and back. The third-longest race in the pointscore, it is a favoured offshore training run for the Sydney Hobart.

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The Tollgate Islands Race is one of the longer challenges in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's blue-water pointscore — a 260-nautical-mile offshore race south from Sydney to round the Tollgate Islands, off Batemans Bay, and back. Described by the organisers as a near-perfect offshore training run, it is a serious qualifier on the road to the Sydney Hobart.

What it is

Starting on a Friday evening, the fleet heads south down the New South Wales coast to round the Tollgate Islands — two small islands about four nautical miles off Batemans Bay — before turning north to finish off Watsons Bay in Sydney. At 260 nautical miles it is the third-longest race in the pointscore, long enough to demand watch systems, navigation and endurance — the full discipline of offshore racing and the crew roles that go with it.

The Blue Water Pointscore

The race is the third event in the CYCA's Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore, the season-long offshore series that qualifies and prepares crews for the Rolex Sydney Hobart. It replaced the former Newcastle Bass Island Race in the series, and its length and timing make it a favoured training run before the Hobart. It sits alongside the racing covered in our guide to sailing in Sydney and Sydney Harbour.

How to enter and follow

Entries and the Notice of Race are published by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. As a longer offshore race it carries the higher safety-category and crew-qualification requirements, so crews should prepare well ahead. The first boat home takes line honours, while the overall winner is decided on corrected time under handicap — see line honours versus handicap — and the sailing terms glossary covers the offshore vocabulary.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Tollgate Islands Race?: The Tollgate Islands Race is a 260-nautical-mile offshore race run by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. Starting on a Friday evening, the fleet heads south to round the Tollgate Islands, which lie about four nautical miles off Batemans Bay, before returning to finish off Watsons Bay in Sydney. It is the third-longest race in the club's blue-water pointscore.
How long is the Tollgate Islands Race?: The course is 260 nautical miles, making it the third-longest race in the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore. With an evening start and a long run south and back, it is a substantial multi-day-style offshore race and a serious test of crew and boat.
Where are the Tollgate Islands?: The Tollgate Islands are two small islands about four nautical miles off the coast at Batemans Bay, on the New South Wales south coast. The race rounds them before turning north for the return leg to the finish off Watsons Bay.
Why is the Tollgate Islands Race a good training run?: Its length and offshore nature make it, in the words of the organisers, a near-perfect offshore training run — long enough to demand watch systems, navigation and endurance, and timed within the lead-up to the Rolex Sydney Hobart. It replaced the former Newcastle Bass Island Race in the pointscore.
Is the Tollgate Islands Race a Sydney Hobart qualifier?: Yes. It is part of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Blue Water Pointscore, the offshore series that serves as qualification and preparation for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Its 260-nautical-mile length makes it one of the more demanding qualifiers in the series.

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