The 40th annual Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race has been cancelled due to dangerous weather conditions forecasted along the New South Wales coast. Organisers made the difficult decision on 26 March 2026, just one day before the 226-nautical-mile event was due to begin.
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, which runs the race, cited a rapidly developing low-pressure system as the primary reason for the cancellation. According to the club, the system was expected to bring very strong winds of up to 45 knots and severe sea states, creating hazardous conditions for the 36 boats entered in the race.
RPAYC Commodore Rob McClelland stated that the decision was unanimous after the club leadership, the sailing office, and the race committee reviewed detailed forecasts. The club consulted with the Bureau of Meteorology and professional weather routers, including expert Roger Badham, to assess the risks. Because the race is conducted as a Category 3 Plus event, organisers noted that not all participating boats and crews are equipped to handle conditions approaching Category 1 offshore survival weather.
The cancellation marks a disappointment for local marine businesses and the Coffs Harbour International Marina, which had recently completed a multi-million dollar redevelopment featuring 143 new berths in anticipation of the fleet’s arrival. While the race has been affected by weather and other disruptions in the past, including cancellations in 2020 and 2021, the club has confirmed that entry fees for this year will be automatically rolled forward to the next event, which is set to take place on 19 March 2027.
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