southport yacht club race results

• Sailing Program Registration
• Foundation Awards
• Foundation Board and Instructors
• Photo Archives
• Welcome to Jr. Sailing
• Rock the Boat 5K
• Turnabout Races Sailing Instructions
• Seguin Island Trophy Race
• Round Southport Race
• 2023 Race Results
• 2022 Race Results
• 2021 Race Results
• 2020 Race Results
• 2019 Race Results
• 2018 Race Results
• Maine State Optis
• Photo Gallery

SOUTHPORT YACHT CLUB

  July 1, 2023 Hendricks Head Open Race 1:00 

 This is a handicap race for yachts 13 feet and over.

Notice of Race  HERE

Register   HERE

Sailing Instructions HERE

    July 2, 2023   Firecracker Turnabout Races   1:00

The first start is outside Cozy Harbor at 1pm.

Sailing Instructions

July 8, 2023  Norma Smith Turnabout Races  1:00

July 9, 2023   Round Southport Race    

Registration at Regattaman

2023 Round Southport NOR.docx

2023 Round Southport SI.pdf

Race Start Times are Here:

RTI.2023.Scratch-final-0800.pdf

July 15, 2023 Seguin Island Trophy Race  

See the Seguin Island Race Page

July 16, 2023 Five Islands Ice Cream Race for Turnabouts  

 I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream! For at least 100 years one of the classic SYC afternoon turnabout sails has been to cross the Sheepscot to Five Islands, buy some ice cream, and then return. Sunday, July 16 at 1:00 is when the first annual SYC Five Islands Ice Cream Turnabout Race/Sail will happen. It’s a “Race/Sail” because not only are racers welcome, but those who just want to participate in a supervised turnabout sail to Five Islands are also welcome. Don’t worry about the wind disappearing and leaving you stranded on the other side of the Sheepscot because we will have SYC patrol boats on hand to tow you back to Cozy Harbor if the wind should disappear (or become too strong). Two special rules for this event: 1) Each boat must have two people on board. The reason for this is that frequently the Five Island docks get crowded. So for this event, when turnabouts get to Five Islands they will drop off one person to be the ice cream buyer while the other person sails around in the harbor waiting for the ice cream buyer to return to the dock. Boats picking up a returning ice cream buyer will have priority over boats dropping off an ice cream buyer. 2) No running on the Five Islands docks. Participants are responsible for paying for their own ice cream. Current ice cream prices run from $3 for a small cone/cup to $7 for a pint. The official starting time and location is 1:00 at the Cedarbush red nun outside Cozy Harbor. If you don’t have your own turnabout and wish to participate, please talk to Shannon Killian to borrow a boat. 

July 29, 2023 Pratt's Island Turnabout Races 1:00

August 5, 2023 - Cedarbush Triangle Turnabout Races 1:00

August 12, 2023 - Mark Island Open Race 2:00

  This is a handicap race for yachts 13 feet and over.

REGISTER HERE

August 13, 2023  David's Island Turnabout Races 1:00

  The first start is outside Cozy Harbor at 1pm.

• Sailing Program Registration
• Foundation Awards
• Foundation Board and Instructors
• Photo Archives
• Welcome to Jr. Sailing
• Rock the Boat 5K
• Turnabout Races Sailing Instructions
• Seguin Island Trophy Race
• Round Southport Race
• 2023 Race Results
• 2022 Race Results
• 2021 Race Results
• 2020 Race Results
• 2019 Race Results
• 2018 Race Results
• Maine State Optis
• Photo Gallery

SOUTHPORT YACHT CLUB

Seguin Island Trophy Race - July 20, 2019

Here is the link to the complete results:  https://regattaman.com/results.php?race_id=208&yr=2019&cancel_dest=calendar.php&rnum=99&eid=208&ssort=5&sdir=1&ssdir=1  

RHODES FLEET

1. Charlie Phippen / OPEN RHODES

1. Chris Jacobs / RHODES RUNNER

3. Keith Turley / WINGNUT

4. Bryce Jacobs / ALEGRIA

5. Christopher Uhrich / BLUE JEAN

6. Laura & Jason Harrington / GOOD TO GO

PHRF RACING

1. Matt Parker / HOUND DOG

2. Chip Baker / WIRED

3. Madeline & Craig Preston / SKY ROCKET

4. James Mega / DEUCES WILD

5. Martha Rand / RAZZLE

PHRF CRUISING

1. Timothy Allen / GREYHAWK

2. Michael Gaffney / SUNFISH

3. Bob Scribner / CALIENTE

Hendrick's Head Open Race  - July 6, 2019

2. Bryce Jacobs / ALEGRIA

3. Charlie Phippen / OPEN RHODES

4. Chip Baker / WIRED

5. Graydon Smith / GRIBBLE

'Round Southport Race  - July 7, 2019

1.            WIRED – Chip Baker for SYC

2.            RAINIER – Rob Hawley SYC

3.            RAZZLE – Martha Rand SYC

4.            SUNFISH – Michael Gaffney

5.            JOYRIDE – Geoff Chatterton SYC

6.            DEUCES WILD – Jame Mega - Jubilee YC

7.            RHODES RUNNER – Chris Jacobs SYC

8.            CALIENTE – Bob Scribner BHYC

9.            STEP LIVELY – Chris Malliet BHYC

10.          OPEN RHODES – Charlie Phippen SYC

11.          BLUE JEAN – Julie Brogan SYC

12.          SAPPHIRE – Jon Dunsford BHYC

13.          RUBICON – Gordon Skowcroft BHYC

14.          ZEPHYR - Ken Culbert

Firecracker Turnabout Race  - June 29, 2019

1. Chester Jacobs / GERONIMO

2. Nathan Phippen / OSPREY

3. John Walsh / LAUGHING STRAWBERRY

4. Charlie Apolinsky / TROPIC THUNDER

5. Will Moen / ARES

6. Charlie Phippen / MOUSE

7. Kinsey Sullivan / TIN CAN

8. Chris Jacobs / WIND JOY

9. Parker Baker / YOU TWO

10. Sarah Helming / CALVIN

11. Trevor Britton / HI HO

12. Taylor Smith / BANDITO

13. Sage Wickline / FIRE CRACKER

Norma Smith Turnabout Race - July 13, 2019

1. Martha Rand / DAZZLE

2. Kelly Phippen / OSPREY

3. Pete Smith / MOUSE

4. Corey Simonson / IRISH LASS

5. Charlie Phippen /  SEA BELLE

6. Cal Groton / GERONIMO

7. Oliver Tineo / ARES

8. Nathan Phippen / LIL SAL

9. Rachel Phippen / LAUGHING STRAWBERRY

10. Hal Ostram / MULI

11. Sophie Moen / BLUE FALCON

Pratt's Island Turnabout Race - July 27, 2019

1. Chester Jacobs / TROPIC THUNDER

2. Dane Phippen / DAZZLE

3. Chris Jacobs / GERONIMO

4. Kelley Phippen / LAUGHING STRAWBERRY

5. Oliver Tineo, Eleanor Marshall, Sage Wickline / ARES

6. Jason Harrington / BLUE FALCON

7. Rachel Phippen / SEA GLASS

8. Alec Fairfield / SEA BELLE

9. Skye Harrington / HUZZAH

10. Jamie Lloyd / TIN CAN

11. Chace Brinegar / PINK RACER

12. Nathan Phippen / OSPREY

13. Mary Wallace / RUBBER DUCKIE

14. Hal Ostrom / MULI

Cedarbush Triangle Turnabout Race - August 3, 2019

1. John Walsh / LAUGHING STRAWBERRY

2. Andrew Turley & Rob O'Neill / IRISH LASS

3. Oliver & Jennifer Phippen / FIRECRACKER

4. Xavier Tineo & Will + Diane Jacobs / TROPIC THUNDER

5. Jason & Ily Harrington / BLUE FALCON

6. Alex Goldsmith & Nathan Phippen / TIN CAN

7. Charlie Phippen / CHILI PEPPER

8. Eleanor Marshall & Skye Harrington / MOUSE

9. Jenny Bennett & Laura Harrington / LIL SAL

10. Sally Apolinsky & Tessa Houston / GERONIMO

11. Oliver Tineo & Gabriella / ARES

12. Mason O'Neill & Keith Turley / BANDITO

13. Parker & Chip Baker / YOU TWO

14. Rachel Phippen & Emma Hendricks / FANTASTICO

15. Alec Fairfield & Sean Morrison / SEA BELLE

16. Sage Wickline & Mia Dupee / PINK RACER

17. Dane Phippen / OSPREY - Retired

Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2023

• About the race
• The Weather
• Race Reports
• Results from 1986 to 1989
• Historical Facts
• Official Programmes

Opening the bar has more connotations than quenching sailors’ thirsts when it comes to recalling the history of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s annual Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. The introduction of this new ocean race was an event of great significance to the Gold Coast region of south-east Queensland, to ocean racing along the East Coast of Australia and, indeed, for the expansion of the CYCA.

Promoted as 'the great winter escape', the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is second only in status to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race among long ocean races conducted by the CYCA. 

The race, which starts from Sydney Harbour and finishes off Main Beach on the Queensland Gold Coast, was first conducted in 1986 following the opening up of the Southport "bar" (entrance) to deep keeled yachts, pleasure cruisers and large fishing boats, the result of extensive harbour works by the Queensland Government. Officially, it is called the Gold Coast Seaway.

The driving force behind the CYCA involvement was the late Peter Rysdyk, supported by Peter Campbell on the promotional side.  Obtaining a sponsor was a vital part of getting the race underway and Rysdyk and Campbell spent many days in negotiations with potential Gold Coast backers, with Jupiters Casino becoming the sponsor for the first seven years. 

Appropriately, the Official Starter of the inaugural Jupiters Gold Coast Race Yacht Race in 1986 was the then Premier of Queensland,  Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who fired the starting cannon to send a fleet of 83 yachts heading north - with the promise of much warmer weather!  An equally colourful character in the late Jack Rooklyn sailed his famous maxi yacht Apollo to a double victory, taking line honours and first on corrected time, a rare achievement for a maxi yacht.

Since then the 384 nautical mile race has attracted fleets of between 70 and 80 yachts each year, with entries mainly coming from New South Wales and Queensland, but also from Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and New Zealand, with the occasional other overseas entrant. In 1997, a record fleet of 86 boats took part.

The Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is a prestigious race in its own right, but adding to its status is that is the opening event of the CYCA's ocean racing season for the Blue Water Pointscore and is a feeder race to the popular northern Queensland regattas.

The CYCA has always conducted the Gold Coast Race, with club sailing office staff flying north to join a dedicated team who finish the fleet off Main Beach, Southport.  Since the race's inception the host club has been Southport Yacht Club , a large club with excellent marina facilities for members' yachts and motor cruisers. SYC provides escort vessels and berths for the visiting yachts, mostly on a floating marina in front of the clubhouse.

The Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race has become an important test bed for the CYCA's changes to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, including handicap rating systems, safety rules, and multiple entries (eg IRC and ORCi), one design and other divisions.

Apollo set the pace with a time of 49 hours 19 minutes 41 seconds in the inaugural race in 1986 and the following year another Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours winner, Bernard Lewis' Sovereign , got the gun.

That year the Overall IOR winner of rugged 1984 Sydney Hobart Race, John Eyles' Indian Pacific , won the Gold Coast Race on corrected time.  

Taking third place on corrected time in 1986 and 1987 races was Bruce Staples in his Farr-designed 40-footer, Witchcraft II .  Staples,  later to become Commodore of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, has been the most successful competitor in the history to date of the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.  With Witchcraft II , between 1986 and 1994,  he recorded a first, a second and three thirds Overall under the old IOR rating. Then rated under IMS, Witchcraft II  scored a third Overall and a first and a second in Division B. 

Back again in 2001 with Dark and Stormy , Staples placed first in IRC Division B.

The 1991 race saw the emergence of joint owners Roger Hickman, Bruce Foye and Lance Peckman,  as a formidable team with their Farr 43,  Wild Oats . They won IOR that year, placed second in 1992 and 1993 and won IMS Overall in 1994. In 1993 they also won the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on IOR corrected time.  

The 1994 event was a qualifying race for the 50th Sydney Hobart and among the winners (IMS Division C) was the veteran Southerly, skippered by Don Mickleborough and his equally veteran crew.  Southerly went on to win the 30 Year Veteran Division of the 50th Hobart.

George Snow emulated Jack Rooklyn's inaugural race feat in 1995 when he sailed Brindabella to a line honours win and first place in IMS Class A. (At that stage there was no Overall winner of the race).  Brindabella repeated her line honours win the following year and again in the 1999 race when the Jutson-designed maxi set the existing race record of 27 hours 35 minutes 03 seconds.

The 1999 race also saw the introduction of the Peter Rysdyk Memorial Trophy for first place Overall under the IMS handicap category. The first winner was the Victorian maxi Wild Thing , skippered by Grant Wharington, while IMS Division B went to another Victorian boat, Chutzpah , skippered by Bruce Taylor,  then Commodore of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria.

Wild Thing reversed the line honours order in 2000, with the many times CYCA Blue Water Champion Syd Fischer achieving his first success in the  Gold Coast Race, sailing his Farr 50, Ragamuffin , to IMS Overall and winning the Peter Rysdyk Memorial Trophy. 

Despite being beaten across the line in 2001 by Grundig Xena , George Snow received some compensation by winning IMS Overall with Brindabella .  Grundig Xena completed a double, also placing first in the IRC Division A.

In 2002 Sean Langman secured his second line honours win in a row with Grundig , after Wild Thing was disqualified, with IMS Overall going to Terry Mullens' Farr 50, Sting (ex Yendys), another yacht to achieve the Sydney Hobart and Sydney Gold Coast handicap double. 

The 2003 Sydney Gold Coast Race was a very significant race with the introduction of a number of new initiatives. It was the first CYCA race to score using the International Rule Club handicap (IRC) and IMS with the subsequent demise of IMS scoring altogether for the 2004 race. The 2003 Sydney Gold Coast was also the first Australian offshore race to incorporate the International Technical Committee's recommendation that water ballast be included in the IMS handicap system and for the first time, the Sydney 38s raced in their own one design division, a sign of the growing popularity of this class of racing.

Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin scored its second Overall IMS win in 2003, the other was in 2000, while Sean Langman's Grundig also scored its third line honours win in this race, the others in 2001 and 2002, as well as claiming first overall on IRC handicap.

In the 2004 Sydney Gold Coast, the order of the top handicap results were reversed when Bob Steel's Quest pipped Ragamuffin in the IRC Division A results while the Stewart 34 Pendragon (Andrew Cochrane) sailed into second place Overall on IRC handicap, the handicap system now adopted by the CYCA to establish the outright winner of this race and its premier ocean race, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

In the race for line honours, Stewart Thwaites' first time entry Konica Minolta , the 30 metre New Zealand maxi, took lines honours somewhat controversially after Skandia , which was leading the fleet, retired from racing so owner Grant Wharington and some of his crew could dash to Mooloolaba for the Etchells World Championship.

In the 2005 Sydney Gold Coast, Andrew Cochrane's Pendragon , a previous multiple divisional winner in this race finally scored an Overall win while Bob Oatley's 66 foot canting keel Wild Oats X , which should have been competing at the Admiral's Cup at the time of the Gold Coast Race (the Admiral's Cup was subsequently cancelled) instead raced north to take line honours. In the 2006 race, Steven David's Wild Joe took top honours in IRC Division 1 while line honours went to Grant Wharington's Skandia .

In the 2007 race, Steven David's Wild Joe won IRC Overall, with Rob Hanna's Shogun second and Bob Oatley's Wild Oats X third, after she won line honours.

In 2008, Ray Roberts' Quantum Racing took the line honours and IRC Overall double, with Bob Steel's Quest second IRC Overall and Cockatoo Ridge - The Goat (Foye Syndicate) third.

One of the longest and light air races is what the 2009 Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race will be remembered for. The fleet of 80 started in a 3-5 knot ESE on Sydney Harbour and battled head winds all the way up the coast, with some of the fleet going over 90 nautical miles offshore to find some breeze. After 49 hours, 29 minutes and 23 seconds, the Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats X took the line honours win from Stephen Ainsworth's RP63 Loki , who finished second across the line, just over one hour behind Wild Oats X . 

Ed Psaltis & Bob Thomas' modified Farr 40 AFR Midnight Rambler claimed the overall win for the only east coast offshore yacht race that the duo had not won! Henk Wellman's Sydney 36CR Aileron finished second overall and Rod Jones' Archambault 40 Alegria , the eventual Audi Australian IRC Champion, placed third

2010 Race Wrap: 25 Years on... For the silver jubilee Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, a high calibre 75 strong fleet representing New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia lined up in Sydney Harbour in a sou'westerly breeze for the colourful spinnaker start.

The largest were itching to have yet another crack at the elusive race record set back in 1999 by George Snow's mighty Jutson 79, Brindabella , and were at times on record pace, but mishap and the weather transition near the border once again worked in Snow's favour. 

First over the line in the 384 nautical mile coastal race with an elapsed time of 1 day 6 hours 25 minutes 37 seconds was the Bob Oatley owned and Mark Richards skippered supermaxi Wild Oats XI , as bad luck would have it missing the longstanding record by the same number of hours it cost them detouring to Newcastle to drop off their injured bowman. 

The only major incident of the race was bowman Tim Wiseman's fingers accidently finding their way into the mainsheet block on the whopping carbon fibre boom, forcing the 100 footer to offload the crewman for medical treatment. Weeks later he was back on the bow of Wild Oats XI at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week with his finger still strapped after surgery having made a near complete recovery.

Stephen Ainsworth's RP63 Loki continued its march onwards from the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, claiming the outright IRC win from a top field and then backing up for the trifecta at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, the only boat to have ever taken the top prize at all three events in the same year.

Harvey Milne's Archambault 31 Aroona as still hanging onto the yellow leader's jersey in the Audi IRC Australian Championship after the Audi Sydney Gold Coast results were tallied, but that too went to Loki once the final event of the four-part national series wrapped up a month later at Hamilton Island.

With the last boat, the Swanson 36 Mister Christian , safely home by Tuesday afternoon, it was regarded a quick and straightforward dash north to Southport. The breeze peaked at a manageable 30 knots and from the starting line-up there were only four retirements and an equally low rate of gear failure and sail damage - a great result for organisers and competitors.

Over 25 years the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race has cemented its place as the Australian offshore racing calendar's season opener and in terms of stature and fleet size is regarded one of the country's key blue water events.

By Lisa Ratcliff

Click here to read full wrap

2011 Race Wrap: Race gift wrapped for birthday Doll

At the end of the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, which according to participants went on for an eternity, Wild Oats XI took line honours from Investec Loyal after a protracted battle and Michael Hiatt received a great present when Living Doll was declared the IRC overall winner from Loki andRagamuffin on his 59th birthday.

Michael Logan from the Bureau of Meteorology warned everyone in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's annual 384 nautical mile race that the weather would be light and changeable, but the direction of wind and pressure was a little different than anticipated.  

Contested by 69 boats, of which eight retired (mostly due to time constraints), the race was characterised by its light to medium winds and the sundry wind holes that trapped even the smartest players. It was agreed the race was tactically and navigationally challenging, but nevertheless enjoyable.

Swords were drawn between the two 100 footers from the outset. Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI with Mark Richards in his usual role of skipper, and Investec Loyal , now solely owned by Anthony Bell, boasted some of the biggest yachting names in Australia and New Zealand.

Richards' crew contained 32nd America's Cup winner Grant Simmer ( Alinghi ) calling the shots and Adrienne Cahalan navigating. Bell beefed up his crew with helmsman Billy Merrington, tactician Michael Coxon, 32nd America's Cup winner Will McCarthy, Tommy Braidwood, and New Zealander Mike Quilter, who along with Cahalan, is among the world's top navigators.

Wild Oats XI won the day, finishing the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in one day 18hr 11min 27sec, but it was only by a nine minute 22sec gap after Bell and crew pulled to within two miles of the winner in the closing stages. Never more than 8 or 9 miles ever separated the two.

After taking line honours, Richards conceded Investec Loyal had kept them honest throughout the race. "It was good stuff - really close the whole way - it reminds us we're not infallible," he admitted.

"It was very close towards the end. The most important thing was getting to the finish first. We made it so that they ( Investec Loyal ) had to sail around us to beat us."

Richards said they were very happy with the modifications made to the boat, "The new daggerboard worked well," he said.

Of course Bell was just as happy with his yacht's result. "We're in stage one of some modifications and this was our first big race since Hobart. We've altered the keel and got a new rig, so we didn't want to press the rig too hard in our first race, so we've got more to give," he said.

Closing the gap on Wild Oats XI at around 3.00am in the morning, Bell said: "Tactically we pushed a bit harder in the early hours and took a bit out of them. We made a couple of tactical errors in the race, but who didn't?"

Despite being one of many who had to return to the start after crossing early, Michael Hiatt's Farr 55, Living Doll , featured at the top of the standings from early on, so her win was no accident, nor was it controlled by the whim of the weather.

The Victorian yachtsman who owns the funky Living Doll clothing label, put together a winning crew, and his yacht was race-ready. Malfunctions and breakages have been setbacks for Hiatt in the past, but not this time.

However, it took all of Will Oxley's considerable navigating skills to keep the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria entry out of the wind holes and in the right place, mostly on the rhumbline for the ever-transitioning wind it swung from land to sea breezes and back again, from nothing to 12 knots or so.

Grey hulled Living Doll was leading the race overall on the first afternoon and Oxley, who is in big demand on the international scene, said at the time: "We're working hard to try to get the sea breeze timing right with closing on the coast, and then thinking about how best to deal with tonight.

"Looks like a few parking lots ahead and behind us. Trying hard to avoid this fate, but we'll have to go through this all again tomorrow morning/afternoon."

Throughout, they warded off challenges, especially from those who finished second, third and fourth behind them: 2010 winner and reigning Audi IRC Australian champion, Loki , a Reichel/Pugh 63 owned by Stephen Ainsworth; Syd Fischer's TP52 Ragamuffin ; Harvey Milne's Archambault 31 Aroona (the smallest boat in the fleet at 31ft), skippered by Anthony Paterson and Victoire , Darryl Hodgkinson's Beneteau 45, all from NSW.

Picking up a nice southerly to finish off the race, Living Doll stormed home under spinnaker to claim the IRC overall trophy after the smaller boats did not get enough puff to bring them into contention.   

Hiatt said their premature start had no bearing on the outcome and did not disrupt their game plan. "Will (Oxley) looked at the weather pre-race and all went as planned. Our timing was good; we knew it would be a tactical race and that navigating would be tedious, but Will and Steve Cotton (a top Kiwi sailor) worked really well to make it happen," he said.

Oxley and Cotton were assisted by prominent long standing afterguard, Ross Lloyd calling tactics. "I had a lot of confidence in the three of them, and all of my crew, which includes seven from New Zealand," Hiatt remarked.

"It was refreshing having Will aboard; this is his first ocean race with us,"  Hiatt said. "It's a great feeling to win; it's a nice birthday present."

When light winds were forecast for the race, Living Doll was proposed as a top prospect by others. "We really enjoy light air - if we get eight hours or more of reaching in light winds we do very well and can take time away from opponents - and we were keeping our eye on Loki, Hooligan (Marcus Blackmore's TP52) and others," Hiatt said. 

Hiatt said the best part of their race came just after Living Doll was trapped in her only park-up, two miles north of Point Byron (40 odd miles from the finish). "We were three-sail reaching with a Code Zero up. We were on fire and it felt very comfortable," he said. "Then we put the kite up and flew home."

Living Doll charted a course close to the coast. "We couldn't see the value in heading out to sea," he said. Hooligan and others spent time further out and it did not pay off.

As to how slow the going was, at 800am on Day 4 at sea (two days 19 hours into the race), only 14 yachts had finished the 26th edition of the race. In stark contrast, Brindabella's race record, set in 1999, is 27 hours 35min 03sec. Wild Oats XI finished this race nearly 12 hours behind it.

Jonathan Stone's Davidson 34, Illusion , finished on the afternoon of August 3, bringing the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's 26th Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race to its conclusion

By Di Pearson

Click here to read full race wrap

2012 Fast downhill slide nets records for Wild Oats XI and Loki

It was third time lucky for Mark Richards and crew on Bob Oatley's 100ft super maxi, Wild Oats XI , which smashed Brindabella's 13 year-old Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race record, slicing 5 hours 31min 57sec of the 27 hours 35min 43sec set in 1999.

In ideal downwind conditions, Wild Oats XI crossed the Main Beach finish line at 11.03.46, in the time of 22 hours 3min 46sec. Peter Harburg's RP66, Black Jack , with Mark Bradford at the helm, was second on line and first Queensland boat home.

Black Jack also finished inside the record, in 26hrs 24mins 2sec, as did the race's overall winner, Loki, which claimed third on line some 28 minutes later. The three Reichel/Pugh designs also finished top three overall, in the reverse order: Loki, Black Jack , Wild Oats XI.

Wild Oats XI took line honours in 2010 and 2011; the latter well outside the record in one day 18hr 11min 27sec, when the fleet coped with light to moderate breezes.        

This time, conditions played into the hands of Wild Oats XI , which was on record pace from the outset. South and south-westerly winds, mainly in the 15-25 knot range and gusting in the 30's, relentlessly drove the yacht to her third line honours victory and the record.

"We got amazing conditions. We hit 34 knots boat speed. It got light and funny towards the end, but we were expecting that," Richards said.

"To take the boat out of the shed after it's been sitting there since the Hobart race, is a great tribute to the crew and to the Oatley family. It was a ride from heaven," Richards declared.

Brindabella's original owner, George Snow, was early to call and congratulate Richards on the new record. He was pragmatic, commenting: "I watch every year; it had to go sooner or later." Snow also enquired how Brindabella (now owned by Jim Cooney) was fairing - she finished fifth on line in the time of 33 hours, 37min and 5 sec.  

As the last five yachts headed to the finish, just over two days after the start, the CYCA confirmed Loki's overall win. Her elapsed time was 26hrs 52mins 39sec, 43 minutes insideBrindabella's record.

"We're off to a good start," said Ainsworth, referring to the opening race of the CYCA's Blue Water Pointscore Series, unaware Loki was the new owner of the conventionally ballasted yacht record. His grin widened when told.

"It was a very satisfying win. Conditions were harsh; we drove the boat hard and didn't back off. The boat and crew handled the race very well. We got the best weather you could ask for. 

"It was a wild race; I remember seeing 33 knots on speed dial. Then there was so much spray I couldn't see the dial anymore. It was like being on a sub - the full fire hose treatment," Ainsworth said.

Loki has broken many records, won the 2010 Audi IRC Australian Championship and the CYCA's Blue Water Pointscore Series and then the 2011 Hobart. She won the 2010 Audi Sydney Gold Coast, was second in 2011 and won this 2012 edition.

Every yachtie had tales to tell of the race dubbed 'The Big Downhill Slide', which also included a couple of light patch south-east and northerly breezes. Only six boats retired from what some initially thought would be "boat breaking conditions."

All enjoyed the fast ride and the odd spot of whale watching. Some could not believe the boat speed their yachts attained. CYCA Commodore, Howard Piggott, said of his Beneteau F40, Flying Cloud : "It was like launching off Cape Canaveral a lot of the time - it was white knuckle sailing. We did 16-18 knots - on a Beneteau!"

Black Jack claimed ORCi overall honours from two TP52's; Ragamuffin and Jason Van der Slot's Calm (Vic). The Inglis/Jones 39, She's the Culprit, owned by "The Culprit Syndicate' from Lake Macquarie, won PHS overall from Andrew Wenham's V60, Southern Excellence and the Kerry Burke/Robert Carr owned Northshore 370, Mortgage Choice Rumba . Last yacht to cross the line was Biddy Hu II from Victoria. The Beneteau 50 finished in 2 days 7hr 30min 32sec. Owner, Paul Lindemann, who kept up a text dialogue throughout the race, signed off with humour: "The eagle has landed!"

2013: Wild Thing finds pot of gold at end of rainbow; Brannew wins first major title in Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race   

One of the slowest races on record, the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race was challenging and exciting, with both line and overall honours going down to the wire.

Neither the open race record holder, Wild Oats XI, or the conventional yacht record holder, Loki, were on the start line, and the fleet was a smallish one at 47, but it did not detract from a diverse grand prix fleet representing NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania.

Grant Wharington’s 100ft Wild Thing, taking part in only its second ocean race, led the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s annual 384 nautical mile race from its midline start on Sydney Harbour. It was only headed once, in the last hours of the race, by John Honan and Peter Millard’s 98 foot Lahana (NSW). But a short time later, the Queensland super maxi regained control and sailed to line honours victory at 14:21:14 on July 29, in 2 days, 1 hour, 21 minutes, 14 seconds.

Around the time Wild Thing finished, Chris Bran made a final push for overall honours with his one year-old Beneteau First 40 CR, Brannew.   

Bran was victorious, but not without some angst. Late in the race, he still had to contend with various yachts, keeping the Brannew crew working overtime all the way to the finish line for their first major offshore win. After the CYCA skipper finished, he had to wait it out for several others to do the same.

Contenders knew the forecast ahead of the 28 th edition of the race, so were under no illusion that it would be a quick simple one.  Roger Hickman described it as: “Classic Sydney Gold Coast,” while from 2008 Hobart winner Quest’s owner, Bob Steel’s point of view, “It was a race you want to forget.”  

Michael Logan from the Bureau of Meteorology prepared competitors for light and variable winds, forecasting a light westerly for the race start on July 27 (It was 3 knots, but increased to around 8 within the hour). He said the wind would tend northerly up to 10 knots in the southern part of the course and then light easterlies as the fleet sailed into the northern section, with a westerly or two mid-race.  

A southerly was due on the fourth day, too late.

The variable weather was reflected in the changes of overall leaders throughout, from super maxi Lahana, to Rod Jones 50 footer, Audi Sunshine Coast, to Bob Cox’s Nine Dragons at 46 feet and Flying Cloud, owned by CYCA commodore Howard Piggott and Phil Molony’s Papillon, both 40 feet, among others.

Kim Jaggar, co-owner of the 25 year-old Davidson 34, Illusion (one of the smaller yachts in the fleet), was not so sure. ”Only if we don’t get too far behind in the first couple of days can we capitalise on the southerly,” he said.

“The big boats will get the stronger northerlies (up to 10 knots) and the westerly of up to 16 knots, which will push the bigger yachts quickly up the coast, and they should get away from us there. It will all come down to the transition in breeze and whether we can be in the right place at the right time. It’ll be tricky and there’ll be a bit of luck involved,” Jaggar summed up.

The decision makers at the back of each boat had to work out whether to go offshore or hug the coast – some did a bit of both – but most stuck with the coastal route.

Click here to read the full race wrap

2014: Celestial wins Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Wild Oats XI takes line honours - again

Wild Oats XI and Celestial emphatically took line and overall honours respectively in the 384 nautical mile Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in July, but the race record stayed intact.

The 29 th running of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s race was a far cry from last year, when a number of yachts retired, citing time constraints as the race climaxed on the fifth day.

And although the tricky weather at the start left a lot to be desired, it was one of the most pleasant races in recent history for those who managed to stay ahead, or up with, the storm fronts and weather changes.

Enjoyable 15-20 knot north-westerly and south-westerly winds, aided by flat seas, were tailor made for a fast reaching race. There was also the added benefit of sea life spotting, anything from seals to penguins, dolphins, whales and sharks.   

Conditions prompted America’s Cup and Olympic sailor Iain Murray (Wild Oats XI) to comment afterwards: “An enjoyable reaching race on flat seas – it doesn’t get much better.”

Fifty-five yachts piled up at the boat end of the Nielsen Park start line on Sydney Harbour. A wet, miserable grey morning transformed to sunny blue skies by the 1.00pm start, but the predicted breeze was nowhere to be seen.  

Instead, light shifty 5 knot to nothing airs, fanning from all points of the compass, turned to parking lots on the Harbour. The pop of spinnakers at least provided extra colour.

Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, appeared the only one to be free of the windless shackles. Richards would later say, “We had a plan, we stuck to it, and it paid off big time. The crew were fantastic and kept the boat going up the Harbour.”

He steered the super maxi straight down the eastern side of the Harbour, and although slowing down at times, it didn’t stop. Steven Proud’s Swish was the only one to get within cooee of Oats. The Kernan 44 trailed the 100 footer to Lady Bay, but then lost touch with the breeze before finally setting off again.

As Wild Oats XI reached the Heads, Paul Clitheroe’s Balance Bruce Foye’s The Goat and Darryl Hodgkinson’s Victoire started to make good ground near North Head.

Able to see the funny side, Clitheroe, who recently purchased the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner Quest and renamed her Balance, reported: “Must buy a new boat more often. After much drifting between the Heads and enjoying watching sunbaking seals and penguins, Balance is arguably the first boat to Manly.

“A fair point is that Wild Oats is halfway to the horizon and made more distance, but if it was Sydney Harbour to Manly, we've got that covered. Problem is, we’ve got no idea what will happen next, but lovely afternoon....so far!”

Left in this group’s wake was Perpetual LOYAL, owned by Anthony Bell who had friend and Australian cricket captain, Michael Clarke, along for the ride. Up alongside was Black Jack, the Queensland V70 owned by Peter Harburg.

Harburg’s skipper, Mark Bradford, commented pre-race: “The predicted reaching winds will suit us and LOYAL down to the ground, although the breeze won’t be strong enough. These boats (both designed by Argentinean Juan Kouyoumdjian) need 20-25 knots.”

His prophecy proved accurate, as the closest Perpetual LOYAL got to Wild Oats XI, was 4 nautical miles on the first evening. “At one point, Black Jack “came barreling at us, but when she gybed back in to the coast, that was it,” Richards said.

From there, Wild Oats XI kept up a steady pace all the way to Southport, averaging speeds of 18 knots. It reached the finish line in 15.27.46 hours, taking 26 hours 27 minutes and 47 seconds, more than four hours short of its 22 hour 3 minute and 46 second record set in 2012.

Over two hours later, Perpetual LOYAL finished second on line for eighth overall, while Black Jack repeated its third on line of last year, but this time was well up the overall board in second place.

The only blip on Oats’ radar was her year-old carbon fibre hydrofoil wing snapping off while surfing down waves at speeds averaging 18 knots, but surging into the 20’s, at around 1.30am on the morning after the start. Installed to improve speed, a crew member said it did affect their performance.

By Di Pearson 2015:David and Goliath battle waged for 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

The Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race threw its usual curveballs at competitors, combining nice reaching and running with wind holes, then Black Jack was announced overall winner before her Queensland owner and skipper declared an error in their finish time and Quikpoint Azzurro took the winner’s seat, surprising her crew.

At the pointy end, after taking control of the race from North Head, Anthony Bell’s Perpetual Loyal took line honours from Peter Harburg’s 70 foot Black Jack in the 30 th edition of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s 384 nautical mile race.

The 100 footer sailed the distance unimpeded, but conditions were not conducive to breaking Wild Oats XI’s time of 22 hours 03 minutes 43 seconds, set in 2012. Perpetual Loyal covered the course in one day nine hours 57 minutes 49 seconds, with her smaller adversary two hours behind.

Both yachts have undergone further modifications to increase speed since competing in the 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Bell said after the race: “This is the fastest the boat’s ever been. We spent ages trying to work out what to do to make it faster. We modified the bulb and keel and it’s all looking very positive. We are very confident in the boat.”

He said they were happy with their race after sailing through a minefield of fluky light air to Sydney Heads.

“We took off after that. We were averaging 24-25 knots til midnight in a north-westerly, which suited us. Then it all went flat on Sunday. Lots of boats got trapped in Coffs Harbour and we parked a lot in the afternoon,” commented Bell, who was “disappointed” that Wild Oats XI was not in the race.

“Given our modifications, I would have been delighted to race them, just to see how we went against each other in these conditions,” the Sydney yachtsman said.

Harburg and his skipper Mark Bradford worked on making Black Jack more slippery in lighter winds and are happy with their findings too.

“Our boat’s never been better suited to a race that this one. We’ve just modified it pretty heavily for lighter air, so the forecast is right for us,” Bradford said beforehand.

Their point was proven when Black Jack took over 20 miles out of her larger rival when moderate reaching conditions returned late on the second evening as they headed to the finish line.

Back at the July 25 start off Nielsen Park, there were shades of déjà vu as weak fluky winds, similar to last year’s start, took hold. The Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast 10 knot westerly arrived as the bulk of the 62-boat fleet was approaching Sydney Heads, with a little south thrown in on the eastern side of the Harbour.

Many of the smaller yachts took advantage of the situation in the Harbour, leading their larger contemporaries. Most opted for the eastern side of the Harbour. Tony Kirby’s Patrice slipped through the two big boats off Watsons Bay and made a beeline for the Heads under spinnaker, until the breeze kicked in and Perpetual Loyal overhauled the Ker 46, with Black Jack still giving chase.

As the boats headed north, the weather was variable, with parking lots offsetting lovely reaching and running conditions. Warm and sunny, seas were relatively flat, making it a pleasant race and creating opportunities for everyone, even though the holes caused frustration.  

A few boats enjoyed their time at the top of the overall standings, including Perpetual Loyal, Black Jack, Chinese Whisper, Wild Rose, Quikpoint Azzurro, Black Sheep and Local Hero, which with Stampede, took a big dive offshore to briefly lead IRC and PHS standings respectively.

Initially, Black Jack was declared overall winner, with Quikpoint Azzurro second and Chinee Whisper third, before Peter Harburg and Mark Bradford pointed out the error in their finish time and were relegated to third.

Harburg was philosophical. “Mistakes happen. I like to win trophies, but I like to win them fairly and honestly. Bradford reiterated Harburg’s sentiments, before calling Kearns to congratulate him.

Kearns’ Quikpoint Azzurro and Rupert Henry’s Chinese Whisper kept popping up in the top three. Dissimilar in nearly every way, the two finished first and second respectively. They were also the top two in ORCi, with Derek and Martin Sheppard’s Beneteau 45, Black Sheep, third.

© Peter Campbell, Lisa Ratcliff, Jennifer Crooks and Di Pearson

• Line Honours

Full Standings available approximately three hours after the start.

OFFICIAL CYCA - Helly Hansen MERCHANDISE

Shop the official CYCA - Helly Hansen clothing range in person at the Club in New South Head Road, Darling Point or online below.  

From casual to technical clothing, there is something for all occasions. Be quick as stock is limited.

Surf to City Yacht Race

About the Race

The Surf to City Yacht Race commences at the fabulous Gold Coast, off Southport in the vicinity of the Seaway, and finishes within Brisbane waters just off Shorncliffe. This truly makes the event a Race from “Surf to City.” In 2024, we celebrate the 31st anniversary of this sailing event with the race scheduled for 10th February 2024.

The race is organised and hosted by Queensland Cruising Yacht Club (QCYC) and run with the assistance of Southport Yacht Club. In 2024, the Offshore Race is one of six events making up the Southport Yacht Club’s inaugural Summer of Sailing Series Australia 2023-2024.

No other race in Australia consists of two fleets, an offshore and inshore fleet. The Surf to City Yacht Race is also one of a handful of races that see both monohull and multihull yachts compete in their respective divisions over the same course.

The Inshore Fleet is usually a day race. The course follows the main channel from Southport to Brisbane past the islands in the southern part of Moreton Bay. The Offshore Fleet is a day/night race. Starting off the Southport Seaway, the yachts head north around Cape Moreton to enter Moreton Bay and then to the finish off Shorncliffe.

Inshore Fleet

• SMS monohull
• PHS monohull
• PHS multihulls
• ORCi monohulls
• OMR multihulls
• One design / Class – Skippers of any class e.g. RL24, Blazer can apply for a special category to be included in the Race. Skippers should ensure there will be at least five boats within the category prior to application to the Organising Authority.

Offshore Fleet

• IRC monohull
• ORCi monohull
• AMS monohull
• OMR multihull
• PHS multihull
• Shorthanded PHS monohulls
• Vintage PHS monohull

Our Valued Sponsors and Race Supporters

Organised and Hosted by

Southport, NC

Syc marine flea market: saturday, may 11th: click here.

Southport Yacht Club

A vibrant boating focused community enjoying everything the cape fear region has to offer..

Founded in 2014, Southport Yacht Club (SYC) is focused on boating! Our goal is to spend time off the dock and on the water in the North Carolina Cape Fear Region.  Our club is a great place to learn about the regional waters, acquire additional boating skills, develop friendships, and feel part of a community.  The club is 100% percent volunteer based and our members organize sailboat races/regattas, cruises, educational seminars, and super fun events throughout the year.

Our goal for this website is to provide you a snapshot of everything SYC has to offer.  For our members this site has a Member’s Only section where you can learn about upcoming events and shop our  “Ship’s Store”.   If you are a prospective member or just interested in the club, we hope you spend time on our website to see what we are all about!

Interested in Joining?

The Southport Yacht Club is interested in prospective members of solid character that share a common interest in boating, sailing, fishing, and all things social, both on and off the water. 

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Motorsport prime

Marussia f1 team return to russia for moscow city racing, andy webb, marussia ceo: we have seen the strength of that support again in the last few days following the very pleasing announcement of our new powertrain partnership with scuderia ferrari..

Despite the three-week gap between Rounds 9 and 10 of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship® the Marussia F1 Team has had little time to draw breath, embarking on a series of promotional events to reward the loyal support of its fans.

This week, while the race team conduct the Young Driver Test at Silverstone, the demonstration team are heading ‘home’ to Russia for their second year of participation in ‘Moscow City Racing’.

The event takes place on 20 and 21 July, with the demonstration runs scheduled for Sunday 21 July on the streets surrounding the Kremlin and the ‘paddock’ located close to Red Square.

Photo by: XPB Images

Visitors will also be given the opportunity to enter the inner-sanctum - the Paddock - to soak up the atmosphere and see for themselves the intricacies of Formula 1 design and engineering.

Aside from his on-track duties, Max will participate in a range of promotional activities, taking time out to mingle with the Russian fans during autograph sessions and photo opportunities.

Supporting the Marussia F1 Team over the weekend are main event partner Liga Stavok along with additional partners Instaforex, QNet and RBC.

Max Chilton: “There have been quite a few ‘firsts’ for me in my debut season in Formula One - new racetracks, new cities, meeting new fans - and Moscow City Racing will be my very first visit to Russia. I can’t wait. From what I hear from previous events, the demonstration runs are a fantastic spectacle and the crowd is huge and very supportive.

That’s nice, because we are the only Anglo-Russian team and it is good to keep building on their love of Formula 1 before Russia gets its very own race next year in Sochi. I’m really excited about making the trip and I hope to meet as many of the Russian fans as possible, when I’m not driving through their streets!”

Andy Webb, CEO: “The Marussia F1 Team are very excited to be returning to Russia to participate in the Moscow City Racing event for a second successive year. As the only Anglo-Russian team in Formula One, this event has become a very important date in our Team calendar, as we continue our determined efforts to bring more of F1 to Russia and more of Russia to F1.

This is our opportunity to get closer to the fans and for them to see our car and drivers right on their doorstep, not just on the TV. Our drivers Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton are enjoying a flying start to their exciting debut seasons and the Marussia F1 Team really is going from strength to strength now, making good progress towards its long-term ambitions.

We look forward to a fantastic crowd in Moscow and to expressing our thanks for all the incredible support we receive ‘back home’ in Russia. We have seen the strength of that support again in the last few days following the very pleasing announcement of our new powertrain partnership with Scuderia Ferrari. It seems the fans share our optimism for the future of the Marussia F1 Team.”

Marussia F1 Team

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Restaurant-Yacht Chaika

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

Pleasantly surprised, service is good so is the food. Great selection of Fusion food, a mixture of Italian, Japanese, European, Asian etc. A pleasantly nice dining experience, highly recommended, a must try!

Thank you for your feedback and invite you to have lunch or dinner again aboard the ship in an atmosphere of high standards of yacht hospitality.

everything was perfect - the food, the service, the desserts were the best, nice atmosphere and the location - magical

Best food, best view in Moscow. absolutely faultless from arrival to finish. Best risotto i had for many years absolutely perfectly cooked. The view on Ukrainian hotel and the white house by night is amazing

Had to wait for the food for 1.5 hours and then another 20 minutes for the check. Finally called for the manager and he offered... a 10% discount as a compensation. Simply pathetic! The food is mediocre at best. Not bad per se, but one... would expect something better considering the prices. There are many places to eat in area that are much better. Avoid this one at all costs. More

Hello, Alexander Your comment is extremely important for us, thank you a lot for it. We are terribly sorry for your time that you`ve spent waiting your order and we have already taken actions to improve quality of our service and it would be realy... More

Food is very expensive,very pretentious, doesn't worth that money. Portions are very small. We ordered ravioli and there were 4! Four raviolis! For almost 15 euros. Then we asked to bring us dessert menu but nothing, they didn't even bothered, so we payed and left... without dessert. Very poor service for that price. More

This is a very good restaurant. The food is really good, maybe the best in Moscow. The service is also good. The view from the restaurant is great. The prices are very high.

I often visit this restaurant and must say it’s one of the best in Moscow in terms of quality and service. Staff really try hard to make sure that you are happy and satisfied. Customer service is a huge problem in Moscow but Chaika sets... a great example for others in the industry! Food is delicious and the menu has lots of options for everyone! Atmosphere is great and view is beautiful on the embankment. Special thanks to German & Oleg! More

Thank you for your feedback! Again aboard the yacht restaurant "Chaika" in accordance with the high standards of yacht hospitality.

Highly recommended, great location in the city center of Moscow with a superb atmosphere. Too many menu choices, though all delicious!

Thx a lot for your review! We are looking forward to see you in our restaurants.

Visited this lovely restaurant with a friend of mine. It was relaxingly warm August evening - so the place on the river seemed like a good idea. We came quite early and the restaurant was not full. The hostesses kindly offered several places to sit... and we chose to sit on the sofas. We had some wine, which was good. We struggled a bit when deciding about the food as few options (scallops) were not available. Fish on ice on display did not look very fresh. To be honest it was an unusually hot August and it is probably understandable that some see food options were not available. However, we did manage to order something and sat waiting and looking onto the river. My long-legged friend struggled sitting at the low sofa and the manager noticed that, offering as a very good, proper table beside the open window. It was nice touch and I was very pleased by their polite observations and immediate reaction to solve the problem. Food was quite good and presentation was perfect. Perhaps I can something about the food, but 1 visit is not enough to criticize or make a definitive opinion. Overall, quality place, which of course, does not come cheap. I would recommend this restaurant without hesitation. More

Good afternoon! Thank you for your detailed feedback! We are looking forward to seeing you again, we are sure that you will be delighted with our dishes!

I've been here several times during two business trip in Moscow. The overall quality for both service and food is absolutely top-notch, plus the location is very unique.

Hello! Thank you for your feedback! We are looking forward to visiting again!

Located on a boat at Krasnopresenskaya River Bank this 5 Star Restaurant transforms into a party location due to multiple groups hosting events. Impressive wine selection, Asian and European kitchen...

Thx a lot! We are waiting for you!

It is a nice place to gather specially at the lounge The service and staff very good I like the river view The food is almost like all restaurants in Russia they serve different cuisine. Staring Russian appetizer till Asian dishes Presentation and taste amazing... I consider it overpriced little bit More

Good location. Nice views. Good choice of food and drinks. European and Asian menu. Nice service. Pricey enough.

Had a large group dinner here. Food was above average and service quite good. The real attraction is the view of Moscow from the river on a nice night. Great place for a larger group dinner. More

Hello, John We are really pleased by reading that you and your friends were satisfied by our service, client`s experience is the highest value for us. We will be happy to see you again, come and enjoy some new dishes from our chef and nice... More

The luxurious atmosphere of this place, the view and the location make it quite outstanding. We had dinner here with friends and the dishes were amazing, accompanied by a chilled bottle of Chablis, it really made me feel as if it was a part of... the classic Russian movie. More

RESTAURANT-YACHT CHAIKA, Moscow - Presnensky - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

• Service: 4.5
• Atmosphere: 4.5

Moscow Raceway

• 2012 to date

Circuit Overview

Moscow Raceway owes its existence to Russia's desire to host a Formula One race but seems destined to lose out to Sochi and the Igora Drive circuits for the foreseeable future.

Boasting a full FIA Grade 1 Grand Prix layout and and FIM Grade B circuit, the track was initially successful at attracting a range of high-profile championships, from the World Superbikes to World Touring Cars, the DTM and the Blancpain World Series.  One by one these have dropped off the schedule, however, leaving the circuit to host mainly national level events, albeit the most important on Russian racing scene.

Circuit History

Plans for a street race in the Russian capital were first mooted in the 1980s and a Grand Prix of the Soviet Union did in fact make it onto the draft F1 calendar for 1983. However, bureaucratic barriers prevented the Grand Prix from being held, and the race was dropped.

Two decades later, new plans were advanced for a permanent circuit on an island in the Molzhaninovsky area in the north of the city. These received backing from the Moscow mayor, and F1 circuit designer Hermann Tilke was engaged to design the facility. Construction was due to start on November 30th, 2001. However, the mayor rejected the commercial contract offered by Bernie Ecclestone and construction was delayed. It was eventually abandoned altogether in January 2003 and the land turned over to a hotel, yacht marina and golf course instead.

By 2008 momentum had built again for a new project, intended to host both F1 and MotoGP events and located around 90 minutes from the capital. Hermann Tilke was again employed to design the permanent facility. Unlike previous attempts, this project became a reality and on October 1, 2008 a delegation including F1 driver David Coulthard witnessed the ceremonial laying of the first stone.

Construction continued throughout the next few years, supervised by Tilke. After initially signing a deal with Bernie Ecclestone in 2008, the project was dropped from the 2010 Formula 1 calendar in early 2009, and construction stopped. Work resumed in June 2010, with the new contractor agreeing to complete the road section of the track. By September 2011, all asphalt laying had been completed, and construction of the associated pit, support and medical buildings was being undertaken.

When the full circuit and all of its infrastructure was completed in July 2012, it had cost a total of 4.5 billion rubles. Tilke had designed a technical circuit featuring a 873 metres long back straight – among the longest allowable under modern track design guidelines – which would see Formula One cars achieve a theoretical 193mph.

When presented for inspection, the circuit achieved FIA 1(T) status, allowing for Formula One testing and all categories of racing below this. However, the FIM only granted Grade B status, one below the expected level for motorcycle. This still allows for the raceway's inclusion on the World Superbike calendar, though further work will be required before MotoGP could visit.  Subsequently, the track has achieved FIA Grade 1 status, allowing for full Formula One races to take place.

A total of 18 variations of the circuit can be run, from the full Grand Prix course, to shorter 'sprint' variations and a small 'club' circuit utilising the western end only. World Superbikes have utilised the FIM GP course, as has the Renault World Series and WTCC from 2013 onwards (the Renault series' had previously used GP1),  while the DTM makes use of the shorter Sprint Circuit 4.

Tragedy struck the circuit during the first visit of the World Superbike Championships in 2013. During the first lap of the supporting World Supersport race, Italian rider Andrea Antonelli lost control on a slick track during torrential rain. He fell to the ground where he was struck by fellow Italian rider Lorenzo Zanetti, dying from his injuries later the same day. Criticism was levelled at race organisers for beginning the race in such conditions, while the circuit fell under scrutiny for what some felt was inadequate drainage – both claims strongly rejected by championship promoters, Dorna.

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Moscow Raceway is located within 90 minutes drive of central Moscow and 20 minutes drive from Volokolamsk.  Moscow's three international airports are within easy reach of the circuit - Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo are both around a 60 mile drive, while Domodedovo is around 90 miles away.

Travelling by car from Moscow, take Novorizhskoye highway (M9) or Volokolamskoye highway and drive for 60 miles/95 km, and then follow the turn sign for Moscow Raceway.   The journey usually takes 90 minutes.

You can also travel by train from Moscow. Take a train from Rizhsky train station to Chismena (2 hours 10 minutes). During international events free shuttle buses are available from the station to the track and back.

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