The annual Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race is a unique ocean classic on the Australian yachting calendar. It is a true blue water event, a voyage of 416 nautical miles on a north-easterly course across the rugged northern Tasman Sea from Broken Bay on the Central Coast of New South Wales to this tiny, but magnificent semi-tropical island.

The Hempel Lord Howe Race is the only annual Category 1 ocean race in Australian waters other than the famous 628 nautical mile Rolex Sydney Hobart Race and is a qualifying event for the Hobart Race. Traditionally held at the end of October, the race is regarded by many yachtsman as a significant preparation for the longer race south in the Tasman Sea to Hobart.

Among the prominent yachts to have competed have been Rolex Sydney Hobart line and handicap winners Brindabella, Fidelis, AFR Midnight Rambler, Love & War, Illusion and Pacha, along with former round-the-world racing yacht Merit and international maxi Shockwave 5. AFR Midnight Rambler won the storm-battered 1998 Sydney Hobart and the following year took out a tough Gosford to Lord Howe Island race.

Starting fromBroken Bay, just south of Gosford, on the last Saturday in October, the fleet first heads north to a rounding make off Terrigal on the CentralCoast, before setting a course for Lord Howe Island, 416 nautical miles to the north-east across the rugged Tasman Sea on this true blue water classic.

The first sight of land for their crews will be unique twin peaks of Lord Howe Island rising out of the eastern horizon, as they were first seen by a ship of Australia’s First Fleet in 1788 on its way to Norfolk Island.  Unlike the crew of HMSSupply who sailed past the island 221 years ago,   the crews of the yachts in this year’s race know they will have several days of relaxing beneath Kentia palms and Banyan trees in this semi-tropical setting before sailing back to the Australian mainland.