The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron are partners in a new 1,250nm Sydney to Auckland Yacht Race, scheduled to start on Sydney Harbour on 30 January 2021 and finish in Auckland.

The Category 1 race will coincide with and help the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron celebrate its 150th Anniversary and enjoy the 36th Americas Cup. The race is open to offshore cruising and racing yachts, superyachts, ocean racing multihulls, as well as incorporating a rally for cruisers.

“A race between these two sailing meccas is exciting, and the historic rivalry between us will only add to draw sailors from both sides of the Tasman Sea, as well as internationally, to compete,” says RPAYC commodore Michael Lockley.

“Having recently been at the helm for the 150th Anniversary of the RPAYC, the opportunity to join our great friends at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron to celebrate theirs is going to be fabulous. The two clubs have a great history of friendship, there is an enormous synergy in our ethos as well as our sailing programmes.”

The Cruising Rally is for those who don’t enjoy eating freeze-dried food on the rail of a yacht at 25 degrees. There will also be a two-handed division – sure to garner many entrants, as shown by the popularity of the recent two-handed round New Zealand and round North Island races.

RPAYC will be organising seminars in aspects of boat and crew readiness in the build-up to the race and has plenty of experienced skippers on hand to assist and advise anyone looking for help.

Auckland’s 2021 programme will be diverse. Yachts from around the world will gather, including a fleet of J Class yachts, superyachts, international classics fleet, as well as the Prada Cup series and America’s Cup Match.