The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club has announced a new race from its home port of Pittwater, north of Sydney, out around Lord Howe Island, Balls Pyramid and return. Scheduled to start on October 2nd, 2026, the course covers a straight-line distance of 890 nautical miles.
The RPAYC Notice of Race states: “The course shall be: Start Pittwater (Broken Bay), leaving Lord Howe Island and Balls Pyramid to starboard, finishing in Pittwater (Broken Bay).” Entry fees range from $1,500 to $4,250, depending on boat size.
Officially named “The Lord Howe Island Ocean Race” it is proposed that it be conducted every second year. It is open to fully crewed monohulls, double-handed monohulls and fully crewed multihulls.
The RPAYC is promoting the event as “The Race of Heroes” but so far only one entry has been received. The club has indicated that if fewer than 15 yachts have entered by September 1st then the race might be postponed.
Further information is available from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at http://www.rpayc.com.au or email at sailing@rpayc.com.au.
This article appeared in The Lord Howe Island Signal, 30 June 2026.
