March 1 - 31, 2026: Issue 652

 

Light Winds Delay Racing on Day One of the 2026 Pittwater OTB Regatta: hosted by RPAYC, BYRA, ASC + Pittwater!

Report and photos by RPAYC

Sailors from across Sydney’s northern beaches and beyond have converged on Pittwater this weekend for the 2026 Pittwater Off-The-Beach Regatta, bringing together a vibrant fleet of centreboard classes for two days of competitive racing on one of Australia’s premier sailing waterways.

Hosted on Pittwater through a collaboration between the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Avalon Sailing Club, and Bayview Yacht Racing Association Sailing Club, the regatta continues to build momentum following a successful inaugural event that attracted more than 70 boats from multiple clubs.

The regatta features a diverse fleet of dinghies and skiffs, with entries spanning junior development classes through to high-performance youth and open fleets. There's even a Green Fleet for beginners. Competitors are racing across multiple course areas on Pittwater, ensuring close competition within each class while providing an accessible regatta environment for sailors of all experience levels.

The entry list reflects the strong centreboard sailing community around Pittwater and the broader Sydney region. Classes represented include:

  • ILCA (Laser) fleets – ILCA 4, ILCA 6 and ILCA 7
  • Spirals
  • Manly Junior
  • Optimist
  • 29er skiffs
  • O’pen Skiffs
  • Waszp foiling dinghies
  • Multihull and open dinghy classes

On Saturday March 14 competitors were greeted with picturesque but frustratingly light winds on Day One, delaying the start of racing on Pittwater.

Sailors and race officials assembled early in anticipation of the opening races of the regatta, however a calm Pittwater and only intermittent signs of breeze forced the race committee to hold competitors ashore while awaiting more favourable wind conditions.

With temperatures in the mid-20°C range and mostly cloudy skies across the estuary, the day provided comfortable conditions on shore but little pressure across the water. The light to zero breeze across Pittwater made it impossible to set a fair course for the fleet during the morning session.

Racing eventually got underway at 2:00pm, 2hrs after the scheduled start, for most fleets as a light 6–8 knots breeze finally filled in across Pittwater.

In the small pond, the Optimist classes run by Bayview Yacht Racing Association (BYRA) provided competitors with a valuable opportunity to tune up ahead of the Optimist State Championships next weekend, hosted by RPAYC.

Avalon Sailing Club (ASC) had the challenge of managing two championships on their course area. The MJ Nationals (Part 2) and the Spiral Travellers Series, along with the ILA and AERO classes, raced on a course area in the “big pond” north of Scotland Island. After a number of AP signals during the morning, all classes were eventually sent away racing in steady conditions, completing two races for the day.

On the Waszp NSW Championship course, located north of Longnose Point, conditions proved more challenging. Racing for the WASZPs, 29ers, 420s and Multihulls struggled in the patchy breeze, with only one race completed for the WASZPs and two races for the remaining classes.

As the afternoon progressed, however, the breeze once again began to fade, with the light conditions across Pittwater producing a frustrating end to the opening day of the regatta.

The Pittwater OTB Regatta has attracted a strong fleet of off-the-beach classes from across New South Wales and interstate, with competitors making the most of the limited breeze to get racing underway.

Racing will continue Sunday March 15, with sailors and race officials hoping for stronger and more consistent conditions across Pittwater.

The Pittwater Off-The-Beach Regatta highlights the strength of the region’s grassroots sailing pathway, bringing together junior sailors, youth development classes and experienced competitors in a single event.

With colourful sails spread across Pittwater and fleets launching from local beaches and clubs, the regatta is an exciting weekend of sailing and community spirit on the water.

Full entry lists, results and race updates are available via SailSys - the Day Two report will be added in once racing has been completed, Sunday March 15 2026.

Pittwater Off The Beach Regatta – Day two Delivers Classic Pittwater Sailing

Sunday March 15 2026

Report By RPAYC

Day Two of the 2026 Pittwater Off The Beach Regatta delivered the kind of sailing conditions Pittwater is famous for, with a steady breeze ranging between 8 and 15 knots, allowing race officials to run a full schedule of racing across all 3 course areas.

Under clear blue skies and sparkling waters, fleets launched early as the breeze filled across Pittwater, providing ideal conditions for competitive racing. The consistent wind allowed race committees to complete multiple races for every class, keeping the regatta on schedule after the lighter conditions experienced on the opening day.

Across the afternoon, the breeze shifted to the north-east, providing ideal conditions for competitors but requiring race management teams to adjust their course configurations to stay aligned with the wind. The shift brought classic Pittwater sea-breeze conditions, producing lively racing across the regatta courses.

On the WASZP NSW Championship course, foiling sailors thrilled spectators as the breeze settled into the mid-teens. The WASZPs and Multihull fleets took full advantage of the conditions, cutting up the course and crossing the finish line at pace as the boats powered through the windward-leeward legs.

The 29er and 420 fleets enjoyed excellent planning conditions, with tight racing throughout the fleet as crews pushed hard upwind and downwind in the lively breeze.

Further south on the Avalon Sailing Club course area, competitors in the MJ Nationals (Part 2) and Spiral Traveller Series, along with the ILCA and AERO classes, took full advantage of the conditions. Multiple races were completed in the building afternoon breeze, rewarding sailors who could combine speed with consistent boat handling in the moderate Pittwater chop. 

“It’s fantastic to see the variety of sailors competing this weekend and the pathway classes clearly on display for any new budding sailor to adult sailor to see, OTB racing is for everyone”, said Race Director (RPAYC) Nick Elliott. 

In the more sheltered waters of the “small pond” course area managed by BYRA/RPAYC, the Optimist fleets continued their strong preparation ahead of the upcoming Optimist State Championships hosted by RPAYC next weekend. The building breeze provided excellent learning conditions for the young sailors, with several competitive races completed throughout the day.

Competition remained tight across the fleets as sailors head into the final races of the regatta, with podium positions still very much in contention.

With sunshine, sparkling water and a reliable 14–18 knot north-easterly breeze, Pittwater once again proved why it remains one of Australia’s premier dinghy sailing venues.

The Pittwater Off The Beach Regatta concludes today. The official regatta presentation will be hosted by BYRA on Wednesday evening to celebrate the achievements of competitors across all classes.

Some of the Day One Action on Pittwater

Some of the Day Two Action on Pittwater