The Australian Yachting Championships are set to run alongside some of Australia’s biggest keelboat regattas after Australian Sailing today locked in host clubs for the event for the next four years.
Australian Sailing intentionally schedules this important event well in advance based on feedback from keelboat owners. The event will be shared by clubs in four states after strong bids were filed across the country in response to an expression of interest to host the event.
Port Lincoln Yacht Club in South Australia (2023), Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club in New South Wales (2024), Derwent Sailing Squadron in Tasmania (2025) and Southport Yacht Club in Queensland (2026) were the selected clubs, with the Yachting Championships to be held in conjunction with or alongside existing key events.
These include the Adelaide to Port Lincoln Race from Port Lincoln and Port Lincoln Race Week, SailFest from Newcastle, the River Derwent to the arrival of the ROLEX Sydney Hobart and the conclusion from Southport at the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast race.
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“We are delighted to be able to share the Australian Yachting Championships with a diverse selection of clubs that will bring together sailors in a wide range of sailing conditions,” commented Australian Sailing CEO Ben Houston.
“We thank all the clubs who have provided expressions of interest to host the event and look forward to working with the successful clubs over the next four years. It is especially pleasing to see the event go to three hosts. deserving for the first time.
Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club hosted successful championships in 2014, while the other three clubs are all hosting the Australian National Championships for IRC racing for the first time.
The event returns to South Australia for the first time since 2002, when Stephen Ainsworth’s Swan 48 Loki won a hotly contested event hosted by the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron and the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia.
Steve Kemp, Chairman of the Port Lincoln Yacht Club Organizing Committee, said: “Port Lincoln Yacht Club is honored and delighted to be announced as host of the 2023 Australian Yachting Championships and looks forward to hosting an incredible regatta of yachting in some of the best sailing waters in South Australia.
The event is set to return this year after the 2021 Championships were canceled due to border restrictions imposed by COVID. They are set to be hosted by the Hamilton Island Yacht Club during Hamilton Island Race Week August 21-27.
You can visit the Hamilton Island Race Week event website here.
Visit the Australian Yachting Championships website here for more information.
