AUSTRALIA’S SPECTACULAR OFFSHORE GRAND PRIX SAILING REGATTA RETURNS TO THE GOLD COAST
Southport Yacht Club’s flagship regatta SAIL PARADISE returns next weekend, Friday 3rd to Monday 6th, over the Queensland King’s Birthday Long Weekend in October!
With final close of entries by this Sunday, 2025 has attracted 40 crews so far, representing a larger fleet than last year. Incorporating the Australian Sailing Queensland Yachting Championships, The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise 2025, will feature more visiting boats and crews, from clubs ranging between Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast, as well as New Zealand.
City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has welcomed the event’s return in 2025. “Expanding our annual events calendar is key to attracting new events and visitors to the Gold Coast,’’ said Mayor Tom Tate.
“This regatta is now the premier sailing event for our city with huge growth in the number of entrants over the past 16 years. I applaud Southport Yacht Club and everyone behind the Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise Regatta for their commitment to the sport.’’
Reigning champion and Southport Yacht Club Commodore Glenn Burrell said this year will see arguably the hottest grand prix sailing competition ever seen in Queensland. The numerous new and competitive boat acquisitions arriving on the Gold Coast leading up to this year’s event is unprecedented – Especially in the IRC Division 1 and 40+ foot class in which his boat Black Diamond claimed the crown last year.
With an eye on the prize, the perpetual trophies are well within reach of many seasoned skippers and crews who have been busy acquiring new boats, such as Greg Watson’s upgrade to Touche42 and Steve Curtis’s new Aramex Shining Sea, a Botin & Carkeek 42. Recent weeks have seen these boats hit our GC waters preparing for the Sail Paradise Regatta. Robert (Bob) Engwirda has entered his Brand New Cape 31, Trex, hot off his podium success in the Class 40 division at Hamilton Island Race Week. And there’s an armada of competitive crews arriving from Brisbane, such as James O’Hare’s Stratacare Racing Flyaway team, John Whitbread’s Kerb and Bruce Tardrew’s 55 footer Yendys all arriving from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS). From Auckland, Brian Petersen’s TP52 V5 is on a mission to clean up as many accolades before their Sydney-Hobart attempt later this year, and representing Melbourne are the crew aboard Peter Hollis’s M49.
The Yacht Sales Co Regatta caters for all types of boats that love the thrill of close racing on the pristine waters of the Gold Coast in both the Monohull Performance Racing Division and the Monohull Cruising Division. Entries in these divisions while competing for a podium finish, also have the Michael Daly Memorial Trophy, The Sail Paradise Overall Champion Perpetual Trophy as well as the The Sail Paradise Series Winning Club Champion perpetual trophy, which will be awarded to the best overall performance of an SYC boat in any division.
Naming Rights CEO of The Yacht Sales Co Mark Elkington said, “We are thrilled to be the new naming rights sponsor of Sail Paradise and look forward to partnering in a larger capacity with Southport Yacht Club over the coming three-year period. Our company has a long history on the Gold Coast and as we continue to grow, we wholeheartedly embrace supporting local key industry events like this popular regatta.”
This year’s sponsors also include Club Marine, XXXX, Dufour Yachts, TRYP by Wyndham Southport hotel and Dreamworld Australia, contributing to some fantastic prizes.
Both on-water and onshore, 2025 offers a jam-packed schedule kicking off with a Welcome Party on Friday evening. The popular ‘Parade in Paradise’ event, which sees the competing yachts all dressed up in hilarious make-overs and costumes, returns on Day One to delight the breakfast crowd at the Southport Yacht Club’s Main Beach clubhouse.
The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise 2025 Regatta is proudly supported by Experience Gold Coast and will be held offshore between Main Beach and Coolangatta from Saturday 4th to Monday 6th October 2025.
Entries remain open to all Australian and international boats till this Sunday 28th September via The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise website, www.sailparadise.com.au
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