Lord Howe unleashed
RPAYC has confirmed it’s expanding its offshore racing calendar with the launch of a new trans-Tasman challenge to Lord Howe Island starting this October.
Written by By Di Pearson/RPAYC media
Photography by Andrea Francolini/RPAYC
27 May 2026
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Following the success of its Sydney to Auckland Race, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club has launched the inaugural Lord Howe Ocean Race, a new offshore event set to run in alternate years, with its debut in October 2026.
The Club is keeping the momentum going by establishing a second serious ocean race to complement the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race, last held in October 2025.
The new 890 nautical mile race, starting from Broken Bay in Pittwater on the long weekend, Friday 2 October, will take the fleet around Balls Pyramid off Lord Howe Island and return to the finish back at Pittwater – one long race.
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A perpetual trophy is being created to mark the inaugural race, with the first overall winner set to become the first name engraved on the honour board, securing a place in the event’s history books; while crews will also have the opportunity to establish the race record.
Following the legacy of the Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race, a 414-nautical-mile Category 1 race that ran from 1974 until 2014 when it was discontinued, this new race will be sailed as a continuous offshore passage, therefore removing the need for post-race delivery and associated logistics, making it a viable proposition for owners and crews across the board.
A significant celebration is also planned back at ‘The Alfreds’ after all have finished and come up for air, with further details to be released on the party later.
Balls Pyramid, which the fleet will round, is the world’s tallest sea stack – a steep rocky basalt outcrop formed 6.4 million years ago.
It is an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 11 nautical miles south-east of Lord Howe. Forming part of Australia’s Lord Howe Island Marine Park, this will be a rare opportunity for crews to round one of Australia’s most dramatic offshore landmarks and circle a World Heritage listed island.
“RPAYC is very excited to launch the inaugural Lord Howe Ocean Race,” RPAYC Commodore, Rob McClelland said.
“Expressions of Interest have been released and the positive response so far has been extremely encouraging.”
The Commodore continued, “This race combines serious offshore sailing with one of the most spectacular ocean courses anywhere in Australia, taking competitors through the waters of extraordinary Lord Howe Island and Balls Pyramid.
“It is also logistically very attractive for owners and crews because it is a true Pittwater to Pittwater event. It delivers a genuine Category 1 challenge and there are relatively few opportunities in Australia to undertake a Category 1 race. We believe this event will quickly establish itself as an exciting and important addition to the offshore racing calendar.”
The race is open to fully crewed monohulls, double-handed monohulls and fully crewed multihulls, subject to compliance.
Entries for the race are now open, with more information online.
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