There was no missing one of the spectators at The Yacht Sales Co. Sail Paradise 2026 on Saturday, with the spectacular 144-foot sailing superyacht SY Encore taking to Gold Coast waters to watch the opening day of racing.
The striking superyacht joined the action offshore as Sail Paradise 2026 and the Australian Yachting Championships officially got underway, providing an impressive addition to a day already filled with high-performance yacht racing against the Gold Coast skyline.
One of the final superyachts launched by iconic New Zealand builder Alloy Yachts, Encore is a high-performance, world-cruising contemporary sloop stretching approximately 44 metres.
Built for performance and long-range cruising, Encore features an optimised aluminium hull and superstructure, complemented by a high-performance carbon-fibre mast and boom.
Racing Gets Underway on the Gold Coast
With Encore watching on, competitors were treated to excellent opening-day conditions, with a 10–15 knot northerly breeze providing a strong start to three days of racing.
The Rating Division, incorporating the 2026 Australian Yachting Championships, completed three windward-leeward races, delivering an afternoon of close, tactical racing with Australian Championship titles on the line.
Meanwhile, the Performance Division and Sports Boats headed south on a passage race towards Mermaid, making the most of the northerly breeze as the fleet raced along the Gold Coast coastline.
The combination of a 144-foot superyacht, championship racing and the iconic Gold Coast backdrop created a spectacular scene on the water as Sail Paradise returned for its opening day.
Two More Days of Racing Ahead
Racing continues on Sunday 4 October, with the Australian Yachting Championships and Sail Paradise fleets returning to the water for Day Two of competition.
With two days of racing remaining, the battle for Australian Championship honours and Sail Paradise divisional titles is only beginning.
