Sixteen boats across the TP52 and Super 40 divisions will compete on Sydney Harbour from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November as part of the LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup. Organised by the Australian TP52 Sailing Association and conducted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, the regatta includes weekday twilight racing and a weekend of windward-leeward competition. The fleet features five boats in the TP52 division and 11 Super 40s, with no discards in either division, ensuring every race score counts.
David Doherty’s Matador enters the event with strong momentum after winning the 2026 Pallas Capital Gold Cup on both TPR and IRC. The TP52 has had a notable international career under various names, including Bribon and Beau Geste.
For Peter White’s First Light, the focus shifts to integrating a new team, with tactician Gordon Maguire noting eight crew changes since Hamilton Island Race Week. Clare Costanzo will navigate alongside him.
“Fundamentally, we are starting again with a new lineup,” Maguire commented, expressing hopes of building a strong crew for the future.
The mix of new and seasoned sailors also features aboard Mark Spring’s Highly Sprung, where Congressional Cup-winning skipper Cole Tapper leads tactics, and skiff veteran Dean Williams joins the afterguard. After the twilight race on Friday 30 October, members of the Congressional Cup-winning Kairos Racing team will attend the Australian Sailing Awards, where they are finalists for Team of the Year.
Lee Hawksley’s Gusto, previously known as First Light, Fifty Two Hundred, and Cougar II, will also compete, featuring a lineup of four youth sailors and three women. Completing the fleet is Virago, a Reichel/Pugh 52 that has undergone refurbishment.
The Super 40 fleet showcases a variety of designs, led by Karl Kwok’s Beau Ideal, a 2025-launched Botin design helmed by Gavin Brady with Dean Barker on tactics. Chris Dare’s Ambition will use the Cup to test boat setup ideas, maintaining a mixed crew that includes younger sailors.
Anarchy’s crew includes Grant Pocklington and Mark Dorling, along with three youth members. Rumours suggest the team may step up to Matador for future events. Across the circuit, new campaigns and boat modifications indicate ongoing growth, with David Doherty entering Caro in the upcoming Rolex Sydney Hobart as Islero.
Other notable entries include Peter Farrugia’s Bullwinkle 400, Ross Hennessy’s Condor, and Craig Neil’s incoming Quest, formerly Mockingbird. Mike Ritchie’s family-run Revolver, designed by his father Bruce, will also compete, featuring a young amateur team.
Fresh from racing together at the New York Yacht Club Women’s International with Shaw and Partners Women Racing, Juliet Costanzo and Sarah Parker will line up on Revolver, with Juliet on tactics and Sarah on main. Juliet’s sister Clare Costanzo, who called tactics in Newport, is new to navigation on First Light.
The wider Women Racing squad is also represented across the fleet: Katherine Dawson also joins Revolver, Lisa Denvir and Bayley Taylor sail on Anarchy, and Alice Tarnawski is aboard Edge. Women Racing co-founder Katie Spithill, who skippered the team in Newport, will join the commentary team alongside Peter Shipway and Sailor Girl, Nic Douglass.
Event information, including how to watch, will be available at www.australiacup.org. The regatta promises to be an exciting showcase of talent and competition on Sydney Harbour.
Event schedule
| Date | Racing | First warning | Onshore / coverage |
| Wed 28 Oct | Up to 2 windward-leeward races | 5:55pm | |
| Thu 29 Oct | Up to 2 windward-leeward races | 5:55pm | |
| Fri 30 Oct | Passage race | 6:00pm | Owners’ Lunch |
| Sat 31 Oct | Up to 4 windward-leeward races | 10:55am | Ladies’ Lunch LIVE on YouTube |
| Sun 1 Nov | Up to 3 windward-leeward races | 10:55am | LIVE on YouTube Presentation after racing |
All times are Sydney local time (AEDT). Times shown are first warning signals. Schedule subject to change; refer to the official notice board for updates.
Source: Nic Douglass | Sunset Media / Sailor Girl HQ | LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup
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