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Race Updates - 2026 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore - Tollgate Islands Race

Home 2026 Race Updates - 2026 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore - Tollgate Islands Race

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Read on for chronological updates about the fleet

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Saturday 17 October - 0800 hours (15 hours after the start)

The breeze eased through the night and slowed the fleet and while the north-easterly is expected to build through today, it is forecast to ease again tonight.

Rob Appleyard’s R/P69 Moneypenny has rounded the Tollgate Islands and is heading back to Sydney with 112nm to go. The WA crew averaged around 8 knots overnight, down from 13 in the first six hours. She has found pressure again and was making 12.3 knots 16nm south of Ulladulla.

Smuggler remains second on the water, 10nm astern the Line Honours leader, just east of Batemans Bay. Behind her, Porco Rosso, Back 2 Black and Caol Ila rounded the islands within 0.3nm of each other.

On handicap, the night brought a shake-up. Back 2 Black, which led IRC Overall at 2300hrs (the last race update), has dropped out of the top places. At the time of writing, Jon Linton’s Dehler 46 Llama II now leads both IRC and PHS Overall. She was still heading south at 8.8 knots, 13nm east of Batemans Bay. The J/99 Verite, sailed double-handed by Paul Beath, is second in both, and Kanreki is third.

Michael Rowe and Ben Martin’s Kanreki has been one of the overnight standouts. She leads both IRC Corinthian and Wild Rose IRC, ahead of Vixen Racing and Ragtime. In the morning she was making 9.3 knots, among the fastest boats still heading for the turning point back north.

In the Double Handed divisions, Verite has taken the lead from Toucan on both IRC and PHS. Pointscore leader Disko Trooper is third, still recovering ground after her individual recall at the start.

Rohan Kerr’s double-handed Magic has retired after a crew illness. Twenty-four boats are still racing.

Friday 16 October - 2300 hours (6 hours after the start)

Six hours into the Tollgate Islands Race, Rob Appleyard’s WA crew continues to lead the fleet down the coast, averaging 13.1 knots with 180 nautical miles remaining, just off Jervis Bay.

Ten nautical miles behind the leader, former Blue Water Pointscore champion Smuggler heads the next pack. Just two nautical miles further astern, Sean Langman’s G/P42 Back 2 Black is holding her own among the larger yachts. Despite being 10 feet shorter in length overall, Back 2 Black currently leads IRC Overall.

In IRC Division 2, David Tregier's Sunfast 3300 Origami makes her BWPS debut, leading the division. Close behind, Edward Curry-Hyde’s double-handed Toucan, also a Sun Fast 3300, is less than half a nautical mile away in the battle for second. Felicity Nelson and Alex Seja’s Sydney 36 Supernova rounds out the top three, sailing further offshore.

Toucan leds the IRC Double Handed fleet with current Pointscore leader Disko Trooper close behind. The J/99 has made up significant ground following an individual recall at the start earlier this evening.

On PHS, the Dehler 46 Llama II remains firmly in contention, sitting second overall and leading PHS Division 2.

Friday 16 October - 1900 hours (2 hours after the start)

Race 3 of the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore kicked off this evening at 1700 hours on Sydney Harbour in a building easterly breeze.

The yachts lined up on the start line off Point Piper, with a 10-12 knot easterly on Sydney Harbour setting the scene for a competitive race. The 25-strong fleet was eager to get off the line, with current pointscore leader Disko Trooper (DH) and Wot's Next both over the line at the start signal.

The R/P69 Moneypenny Sailing was first out the heads at 1715 hours, leading the charge into open water, shortly followed by the TP52 Smuggler Racing Team and Caol Ila from Middle Harbour Yacht Club. The J/99 Verite was the first Double Hander out the heads.

All yachts exited and were heading south to Bateman's Bay by 1730 hours.

Vixen Racing.    Image: CYCA | Ashley Dart