Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club

An afternoon of exceptional champagne, exquisite seafood, and unforgettable waterfront dining awaits.

Join us on 30 August for our exclusive V***e Clicquot Seafood Degustation, featuring five beautifully crafted seafood courses, each paired with one of six iconic V***e Clicquot champagnes. Hosted by Linda McWilliam, who has represented the House of V***e Clicquot for 19 years, you'll gain unique insight into one of the world's most celebrated champagne brands while enjoying an elegant degustation experience.

As a special event exclusive, guests will also have the opportunity to purchase V***e Clicquot champagne at wholesale prices.

🥂 30 August
🦪 Five-course seafood degustation
🍾 Six V***e Clicquot champagne pairings
💲$198 per person
🎟️ Limited seats available – ncyc.net.au/whats-on/

SCHOOL HOLIDAY POWERBOAT HANDLING COURSE

Join us on Thursday 16th July for a practical on-water course learning to correctly and safely handle a powerboat.

This 'Australian Sailing' accredited course covers both theory & practical elements with the invaluable hands-on driving experience forming the larger part of the 1-day course.

- Minimum age 12 years old
- 8:30am to 4:30pm
- $350 per person
- Maximum 4 attendees
- includes 'Powerboat Participant Pack' with text book, logbook, case studies & quizzes

Some pre-reading is required so the course-day focus is on your on-water practical skills.

(This course satisfies the requirements for Dinghy Instructor qualifications.)

Register now!

https://www.revolutionise.com.au/ncyc/events/368823

Questions? Please contact us at the Sailing Office via [email protected] or on 4940 8188.

The final race of the NCYC Winter Short Ocean Pointscore delivered exactly what winter offshore racing is known for — big breeze, cold rain, angry seas, and crews hanging on as the fleet battled its way around the course.

The action started almost immediately after the start, with KD4 quick to make the first move. They were the first boat to hoist a kite after crossing the line, charging away under spinnaker as the fleet powered toward the harbour entrance. But almost as soon as the kite filled, KD4 was hit by a sharp wind squall and rounded up hard, giving the crew an early test of composure and control.

They recovered quickly, got the boat back on its feet, and continued to lead the fleet toward the heads, with She’s the Culprit chasing close behind.

Once outside the harbour, the fleet was thrown straight into true winter conditions. Strong southerly winds, building swell, cold rain and flying sea spray greeted the crews as they settled in for a punishing upwind leg toward the first rounding mark off Merewether.

Boats launched off the backs of waves with bows high in the air, before crashing back down into the water and ploughing into the face of the next wave. Crews were fully kitted out in wet weather gear, bracing against the spray and cold as the fleet punched its way south along the coast.

It was spectacular racing, but it came at a cost.

This Way Up was forced to retire due to an issue with their headsail, while KD4’s strong race came to an unfortunate end at the completion of the first lap. As they dropped their spinnaker and gybed toward the bottom rounding mark, their mainsail came down to the deck, forcing them to retire with a mainsail issue.

Conditions continued to test both boats and crews across the offshore racetrack, with every mark rounding, sail change and manoeuvre demanding their best.

Challenge was disqualified from today’s race after receiving a five-blast warning from a ship departing the harbour while approaching the finish.

A special thank you must also go to our volunteer race management team. Days like today make their job incredibly challenging, with strong winds, large swell, rain and sea spray making it difficult not only to set the course, but especially to retrieve the marker buoys once racing is complete. Their commitment behind the scenes is what makes racing possible, and today was a perfect reminder of just how much effort goes into delivering safe and successful offshore racing at NCYC.

With today’s race bringing the Winter Short Ocean Pointscore to a close, congratulations to our overall series winners:

PHS Division 1
1st – Challenge (Michael Trask)
2nd – Summer Salt (Tim Gleeson)
3rd – She’s the Culprit (David Edwards)

PHS Division 2
1st – FIGJAM (Peter Mansbridge)
2nd – Betty D (John Burrows)

IRC Division 1
1st – Challenge (Michael Trask)
2nd – She’s the Culprit (David Edwards)
3rd – KD4 (Joe de K**k)

Congratulations to all competitors who took part in the winter series, and well done to every crew who braved the conditions today. It was a tough, wet and wild finish to the series — and a proper reminder of what winter offshore racing is all about.

Celebrate Newcastle Tuna Fest with our July feature: Yakiniku Grilled Tuna Steak.

Perfectly grilled tuna served with sticky rice, creamy avocado, fresh yuzu and fragrant shiso, bringing together bold Japanese-inspired flavours in every bite.

Available throughout July for $42 at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club.

Sydney… we’re sending the cavalry. ⛵️

Three NCYC crews.
Two regattas.
One mission.

This Super Sunday - NCYC Team. Coral, Kym and Sarah are representing us at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club SheSAILS Development Regatta 2026, while two of our youth crews battle it out in the Interclub Challenge Finals at Cruising Yacht Club Australia.

Our Youth Keelboat Squad will be racing against 6 teams from Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Royal Prince Alfred and CYA on Sydney Harbour.

Both events are raced in Elliott 7s, so we expect close racing, race dividends for teamwork and no shortage of competitive spirit.

Go NCYC!

What a spectacular winter’s day on the water for Race 4 of the NCYC Winter Short Ocean Pointscore.

With a light 4–8 knot north-westerly greeting competitors at the start, Anita Kauffman aboard Seraya led the fleet through Newcastle Harbour and out the heads, setting the pace ahead of She’s the Culprit and the chasing pack.

The fleet cruised south to the Newcastle Beach turning mark before heading further offshore, where the breeze became increasingly light and variable. Race officials split into two finish teams, with Division 2 concluding at the offshore mark while Division 1 continued for a second lap back to Newcastle Beach.

Despite the fading breeze, there was no shortage of excitement. Competitors were treated to an incredible display from the annual humpback whale migration, with whales surfacing throughout the race area and providing an unforgettable backdrop to the day’s racing.

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Race results:

PHS Div1 results:
1st place - Challenge (Michael Trask)
2nd place - She's the Culprit (David Edwards)
3rd place - This Way Up (James Macken)

PHS Div2 results:
1st place - Figjam (Peter Mansbridge)
2nd place - Matilde (Scott Knights)
3rd place - Betty D (John Burrows)

IRC results:
1st place - Challenge (Michael Trask)
2nd place - She's the Culprit (David Edwards)
3rd place - Summer Salt (Peter Sinclair)

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Congratulations to all competitors, volunteers and officials for another great day on the water—and a special welcome to Ian and the crew of Aruna, Scott and the crew of Matilde, and Anita and the crew of Seraya, who joined the fleet for today’s race.

⛵ Sail Our Way – Spinnaker Skills
Our Sail Our Way sailors hit the water today to learn the fundamentals of spinnaker pole work.
Coaches Peta and Alyson started with an onshore session covering pole setup and smooth gybing techniques before heading afloat to put the skills into practice.
The improvement throughout the day was clear to see, with plenty of learning, growing confidence and some great sailing. Well done, ladies!

The world’s biggest football tournament is here, and Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club is your waterfront home for every moment.

We'll be opening early for select matches, serving coffee and fresh croissants while the action unfolds live on the big screens in Reggie’s Rum & Sports Bar.

Whether you're backing a powerhouse nation or cheering for an underdog, there’s no better place to catch the FIFA World Cup with fellow fans.

Check our daily stories for opening times and join us for every goal, save, and celebration.

The Next Generation Takes Centre Stage in Interclub Challenge Opener

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club hosted the opening round of the 2026 Interclub Challenge today, welcoming eight youth keelboat teams from across New South Wales for the first stage of the four-week series.

Created in 2001 to help develop young sailors through competitive fleet racing, the Interclub Challenge brings together the youth keelboat programs of Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC), the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC), and Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (RSYS). Each club hosts a stage of the series, with teams competing across a maximum of six races at each venue.

Racing was conducted in a steady 10–15 knot west-northwesterly breeze on Newcastle Harbour. To accommodate the scheduled departure of a commercial vessel during racing, the race course was positioned closer to the NCYC marina, allowing the fleet to continue racing uninterrupted while maintaining a clear shipping passage through the harbour basin.

The opening race immediately tested the fleet, with four of the eight boats identified as OCS (On Course Side) at the start. Three of those teams correctly returned to restart, having been forced over the line after being squeezed between leeward right-of-way boats and their windward keep-clear obligation. Despite the chaotic opening, the fleet quickly settled into a competitive rhythm.

Race two saw misfortune strike RSYS 1, who were forced to retire after experiencing a manoeuvring issue after the start, while race six delivered another dramatic start where three boats were OCS after approaching the pin end at speed on starboard tack and running out of room before the starting signal. Two boats returned to restart correctly, while one continued racing and were scored OCS.

Race Officer Jack Buchan reflected on the racing and coaching format surmising "The beauty of the Interclub Challenge is that it combines racing and learning. The sailors get immediate feedback from their coaches after each race and then have the opportunity to reset and put those lessons into practice straight away in the next race."

NCYC Head Coach Andrew Omotosho added "The results are always nice, but from a coaching perspective the most rewarding part is seeing sailors grow throughout the day. We saw teams making adjustments, communicating better and applying lessons from earlier races, which is exactly what this series is designed to encourage,"

NCYC 1 (Art, Kate, Hugh and Tom) delivered an outstanding performance on home waters, recording three race wins and claimed overall honours ahead of RPAYC 2 (Ash, Aveer, Victoria, Isabella) in second place and CYCA 1 (Jonathon, Mitchell, Maxwell, Oliver) in third.

Overall Results:
1st place: NCYC 1 – Art, Kate, Hugh, Tom – 7 points
2nd place: RPAYC 2 – Ash, Aaveer, Victoria, Isabella – 10 points
3rd place: CYCA 1 – Jonathon, Mitchell, Maxwell, Oliver – 11 points
4th place: CYCA 2 – Max, Bailey, Eoin, Eddie – 22 points
5th place: RPAYC 1 – Lauinia, Max, Fred, Maxi – 22 points
6th place: RSYS 2 – Rory, Cara, Matteo, Max – 23 points
7th place: RSYS 1 – Alistair, Callan, Lucien, Leonardo – 30 points
8th place: NCYC 2 – Harry, Bryce, Darcy, Will – 35 points

The Interclub Challenge now moves to the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron after the long weekend before continuing at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and concluding at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia later in June.