Winner of the 2024 and 2025 Australian Sailing Club of the Year for Queensland, and established in 1946, Southport Yacht Club on Australia’s Gold Coast is known worldwide for its exceptional offshore and inshore sailing opportunities, Sailing Academy, powerboat fraternities, lake house watersports centre and award-winning and exclusive waterfront dining. Southport Yacht Club’s Sailing Squadron located on the inshore Broadwater at Hollywell offers excellent facilities and a supportive learning environment for all levels of sailing expertise with sailing camps and courses offered. Southport Yacht Club also boasts a fourth venue, an exclusive private retreat, Dux, located on South Stradbroke Island which proves to be a very popular weekend destination for many members. In 2024, Southport Yacht Club launched Australia’s Newest Ocean Race, a Flagship Ocean Racing event, the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race
Proudly supported by Experience Gold Coast and now in it’s 17th year, The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise 2026 is Southport Yacht Club’s Flagship Regatta event, incorporating the Australian Yachting Championships in partnership with Australian Sailing.
KEY PERSONNEL
| RACE COMMITTEE
Race Director Race Committee Race Committee |
Denis Thompson (IRO) Kayla Boothby (RRO) Greg Sinclair (NRO) |
| FLAG OFFICERS
Commodore Vice Commodore Sail |
Justin Sinnamon Wayne Kirby |
| MANAGEMENT TEAM
General Manager Operations Manager Yachting Manager Racing Coordinator Yachting Marketing Waterfront Manager |
Brett James Katie Lister Matthew Dickinson Kayla Boothby Ashlea Kernahan Mark Riddell |
|
HANDICAP COMMITTEE
PROTEST COMMITTEE CHAIR COMMITTEE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE SAIL PARADISE COMMITTEE PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY |
Russell Birse, Colin Metcher
Ian Humphries Steve Hatch, Lauren Twig, Matthew Johnson Chris Zonca Wayne Kirby, Glenn Burrell, Barry Schoonenberg, Michael Spies Down Under Sail, Salty Dingo, One Two Shoot Media |