
Staged by Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta is set to take place over the weekend of 1-2 March. The regatta is sure to be a spectacular event for participants and viewers alike, with Sydney Harbour set to come alive with a multitude of colourful spinnakers, fast racing yachts and some beauties from yesteryear. With the regatta celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, we chatted to MHYC’s CEO Andrew Forbes and asked him to share what makes the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta such a special event.
Please give us an overview of the regatta.
The Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta consistently attracts a diverse fleet of boats and classes. From modern one-designs and historic 18-foot skiffs to high-performance IRC racers, the regatta has rightfully earned its reputation as Sydney Harbour’s ‘Sailing Spectacular’. As we aim to attract 200 entries for this special event, the regatta presents a fantastic opportunity to showcase the excitement and enjoyment that our sport offers.
The regatta is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025 – how significant is this milestone?
Middle Harbour Yacht Club is proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the regatta and deeply grateful for the support of Nautilus Marine Insurance in helping us reach this milestone. It’s a wonderful coincidence that Nautilus Marine Insurance is also marking its own 20th anniversary this year! The regatta evolved from the Middle Harbour Regatta, which MHYC first initiated in the 1960s. The club has long been a leader in race management, with a strong focus on promoting inshore harbour racing. Today, the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta stands as MHYC’s flagship event in this pursuit.
What can sailors expect from the weekend?
This year, the event will feature the J/99 and Fareast 28R Australian Championships. Jules Hall and his Disko Trooper remain the benchmark in the J/99 class, having won the title in 2023 and 2024, while Scott Lawson’s Firecracker claimed victory in the inaugural Fareast 28R Championship. Both classes are set to compete in six windward-leeward races over the two days.
On other courses, the Open Class (Divisions 1 and 2), along with a variety of high-performance 30- and 40-footers, will race three inshore windward-leeward races per day. The Super 30 and Super 40 groups will sail a mix of windward-leeward and passage races inshore, in the northern part of Sydney Harbour. Meanwhile, yachts of all sizes and designs will contest three races in the Performance Spinnaker Division, the Performance Non-Spinnaker Division, and the always eye-catching Classic Yachts Division. One of the highlights of the regatta is enjoying post-race drinks on the beach at MHYC, with live music, delicious food, and a fantastic atmosphere shared with fellow competitors.
What’s new for the regatta in 2025?
For the first time, the high-performance VX One Class will compete as a One Design fleet in this year’s regatta. They join an impressive lineup of One Design classes, including the J/24, J/70, J/99, Adams 10, Etchells, and Fareast 28R fleets. The addition of the VX One Class adds another layer of competition to an already diverse and dynamic event.
The Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta wouldn’t be possible without the staging support of many other clubs and a raft of volunteers – tell us about their involvement.
MHYC has grown this major regatta with the invaluable support of other Sydney keelboat clubs, highlighting the strength of interclub cooperation. Eight clubs contribute race management resources, with some overseeing entire course areas, and volunteers from even more clubs playing key roles in ensuring the event runs smoothly. We extend our sincere thanks to all the volunteers and participating clubs. Their assistance and dedication are essential to the regatta’s success and showcase the spirit of Sydney arbour’s sailing community.
What are you most looking forward to about the weekend?
The Sydney Harbour Regatta weekend is a standout event on the sailing calendar. Having competed several times myself, it’s a spectacle to see the Harbour buzz with activity, with race areas stretching from Kirribilli to Manly and offshore.
After racing, the club becomes a hub of energy, as competitors gather to share highlights and rivalries give way to laughter and good times with friends and fellow competitors. The Monday evening prizegiving is a fitting conclusion, celebrating not only the winners but also the achievements, and shared experiences of all competitors who come together annually for this remarkable event.
Visit shr.mhyc.com.au
Photography by Andrea Francolini
For boating news, features and interviews, subscribe to Nautilus Marine Magazine here.