This Friday, ten of Australia’s finest Maxi and Mini Maxi racing yachts will battle it out in the One Circular Quay (OCQ) Australian Maxi Championship, culminating in the thrilling SOLAS Big Boat Challenge.
Over four days of spectacular racing, the fleet will vie for the coveted title of 2024 One Circular Quay Australian Maxi Champion.
Cabbage Tree Island Race
The action kicks off on Friday 6 December at 1900hrs with the Cabbage Tree Island Race. This is the penultimate race in the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore. This 172-nautical-mile offshore challenge takes the fleet to Cabbage Tree, just north of Port Stephens and back to Sydney Harbour. As on of the CYCA’s most popular blue water races, it’s a crucial test for competitors, offering a valuable chance to prepare crews to race at night, ahead of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race later in the month.
Following the offshore race, the fleet will shift gears for two days of intense passage racing off Sydney’s coastline.
The regatta concludes with the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Tuesday 10 December, with racing kicking off at 1230hrs. A highlight of the Sydney sailing calendar, it is one of the most spectacular days of racing on the Harbour, second only to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Boxing Day start.
URM Group
This epic Championship draws crowds of spectators, delivering thrilling close-quarters racing and dramatic match racing scenarios. For the past two years, the Australian Maxi Championship crown has gone to URM Group, who were also the runner-up in the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
In the lead-up to the Championship, URM Group‘s owner Anthony Johnston shared: “We’ve won this great event two years in a row and we are eager to defend our Championship. The competition is always strong but our boat is well prepared, the crew is ready and we are excited for the racing ahead. The match racing in the Harbour in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge is a highlight of the season and we are looking forward to some good competition.”
As the final major showdown before the Rolex Sydney Hobart, the OCQ Australian Maxi Championship (incorporating the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge), offers teams the ultimate platform to prove their readiness while showcasing their talent to take on the best of the best in the Hobart.
This year’s fleet features many familiar faces, with many past competitors returning to the regatta. Some yachts have undergone modifications or a change of ownership.
About the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is Australia’s premier yacht club and home to what is considered yachting’s ‘Everest’ – the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Members, guests and visitors to the CYCA enjoy being part of an active sailing club. It is in a superb location on Rushcutters Bay, only minutes from Sydney’s CBD. The CYCA boasts state-of-the-art facilities, bars and cafe/restaurant, food and beverage operations. It has an international reputation that attracts yachts, crews and visitors from all over the world.
CYCA was established in 1944 and over the years, has become Australia’s leading exponent of ocean racing and sea safety. Its race management expertise is often called upon for international sailing events such as the Olympics and round-the-world races.
https://cyca.com.au/
Facebook: @CruisingYachtClubOfAustralia
Instagram: @cruising_yacht_club_australia
Interested in seeing more Racing News?
