Smuggler fights for Line Honours in the Noakes Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race 2026

In the southern hemisphere winter, whales migrate north to the warmer waters of Queensland and northern Australia. Sailors from the southern states follow a similar route, heading north for the races and regattas staged along the east coast.

The Noakes Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race is a classic Bluewater event, offering everything an ocean race can deliver. The 2026 edition proved no exception.

This year, RGYC member Tim Davis and I were preparing to defend our overall victory from the previous year. Tim again took on skipper duties, as Smuggler owner Seb Bohm was unable to attend. Preparation began weeks and months before the race, with the mast removed, the carbon rigging scanned, and any suspect parts replaced. Weather modelling also intensified as we monitored coastal currents and trends in frontal activity. By race day, all you can do is hope the winning formula is in place and the plan is sound.

A picture-perfect race day on Sydney harbour had Smuggler’s 12 strong crew fired up and a clear start would be critical for a fast transit out Sydney heads. Clear start – tick. First out the heads – tick. Then came the hard part.

The opening afternoon did not go according to plan. In an effort to stay in touch with the little remaining breeze, we wanted to push offshore, only to be lifted back towards Manly and left drifting for nearly three hours. Meanwhile, the other TP52s sailed away, opening a five-mile advantage.

The forecast indicated that the breeze would steadily ease over the following 24 hours, with the strongest conditions expected during the first night. To stay competitive, we needed to maximise the stronger winds early, claw back our deficit to the other TP52s, and build a buffer over the Fast 40s.

As the sun set, the breeze filled in and every usable sail was hoisted. A long night followed, with the entire crew stacked on the rail and only the drivers managing brief periods of sleep. Reaching speeds of more than 20 knots and sailing angles around 30 degrees lower than our competitors allowed Smuggler to stretch offshore and establish a commanding 15-mile lead.

As one of the fastest boats in the fleet, Smuggler was likely to lead from the front, leaving us with little information about conditions further up the course. Combined with our position on the edge of a high-pressure ridge, this made for a frustrating 24 hours. The proverbial rubber band between us and the chasing boats stretched and contracted repeatedly as conditions evolved all the way to the finish.

When the pressures and frustrations of offshore racing begin to mount, there is always something spectacular to take your mind off them. Huge pods of dolphins raced alongside us for hours, whales breached within a few boat lengths, and the sound of waves breaking on nearby islands echoed across the water as we ghosted past under the light of a full moon. Moments like these are a powerful reminder of why offshore racing is so special.

Smuggler secured Line Honours, crossing the finish line at the Gold Coast Seaway at 8:00 am, only an hour slower than our winning time the previous year. Over the 384-nautical-mile course, we recorded an elapsed time of 1 day, 19 hours and averaged 8.9 knots. On corrected time, we finished fourth overall and claimed first place in Division 1.

While the results were immensely satisfying, it was another reminder that success in offshore racing comes from meticulous preparation, teamwork, and a willingness to adapt when conditions refuse to cooperate. The Noakes Sydney to Gold Coast Race once again delivered its full mix of challenges, frustrations, excitement, and unforgettable moments, making it a race we’ll happily return to race again.

Written by Tony McRae