The Start

The Start

The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race starts on the last Saturday of July each year at 1pm AEST off Nielsen Park in Sydney Harbour.

  • The 2012 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race fleet of 63 gets underway The 2012 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race fleet of 63 gets underway
  • Brindabella relishing the strong breeze and heading offshore to find more, 2012 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Brindabella relishing the strong breeze and heading offshore to find more, 2012 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race
  • AFR Midnight Rambler, the Ker 40 owned by Ed Psaltis, Bob Thomas and Michael Bencsik AFR Midnight Rambler, the Ker 40 owned by Ed Psaltis, Bob Thomas and Michael Bencsik

This annual 384 nautical mile race to the finish line at Main Beach on the Gold Coast attracts a large spectator fleet for the often spectacular start and dash down Sydney Harbour to the Heads, where the fleet turns left and out to sea.

The starting sequence is as follows:

12.50pm: 10 minute Warning Signal - the class flag will be displayed and sound signal made.

12.55pm: 5 minute Preparatory Signal - Code flag P will be displayed and sound signal made.

12:59pm: 1 minute signal - code flag I will be displayed and a sound signal made

1.00pm - Starting Signal - Class flag, Code flag P and I will be lowered and sound signal made.

A further signal (Code flag X) and a single horn sounded may indicate premature (OCS - On Course Side) starts by individual yachts which must return and re-start. Yachts which have broken the start will also be advised by radio approximately 5 minutes after the start. There will be no general recall.