The 2026 Australian Yachting Champions have been crowned on the Gold Coast, with Celestial and Saltwater Wine taking national honours as The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise 2026 comes to a close.

After three days of racing off the Gold Coast, Celestial, skippered by Sam Haynes, has claimed the Australian Yachting Championship Division 1 title, while Saltwater Wine, skippered by Tom Woods, has secured the Division 2 Australian Yachting Championship title. 

The Australian Yachting Championships were incorporated into Sail Paradise for 2026, bringing national championship racing to the Gold Coast across the King’s Birthday long weekend.

A fleet of 16 yachts contested the TREX Monohull Rating Division, bringing together crews from Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia and a diverse mix of yacht designs ranging from the high-performance Cape 31s through to some of the larger offshore racing yachts.

For Haynes and the New South Wales-based Celestial, a Cape 31 representing the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the result caps off a competitive three days of racing to secure the Division 1 Australian title.

“We’re really excited for the result," said Haynes. "Today was a bit of a harder race but we had a pretty good reggatta overall and we’re really happy with our performance and the boats, it’s a great place to sail.”

Fellow New South Wales entry Saltwater Wine, a JPK 1080 skippered by Tom Woods and representing Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, emerged as the Division 2 Australian Champion.

“We stopped in because of some strong wind heading home from Magnetic Island," noted Woods. "We stopped in at Southport Yacht Club for cover and decided to enter Sail Paradise and became the Australian Yachting Champions.”

THREE DAYS OF RACING ON THE GOLD COAST

The championships formed part of a diverse Sail Paradise racing program, with competitors taking on both tactical windward-leeward racing and passage courses along the Gold Coast coastline.

Day One delivered 10–15 knot northerly conditions, with the Rating Division completing three windward-leeward races while the Performance Division and Sports Boats headed south on a passage race towards Mermaid. The opening day also produced one of the weekend’s most spectacular sights when 144-foot sailing superyacht SY Encore joined the action offshore to watch the fleet race against the Gold Coast skyline.

Day Two turned the spotlight towards the next generation, with two all-youth Sports Boat crews taking on yachts significantly larger than their own. More than 10 sailors under the age of 21 have taken on skippering and crewing roles throughout the regatta, highlighting the emerging talent progressing through the sport and into competitive yacht racing.

After three days of competition, the national titles have been decided:

Australian Yachting Championship – Division 1
Celestial – Sam Haynes | CYCA, NSW

Australian Yachting Championship – Division 2
Saltwater Wine – Tom Woods | NCYC, NSW

The championship victories bring to a close a major edition of Sail Paradise, combining national-level competition with passage racing, emerging youth sailors and the spectacular Gold Coast coastline. With Australian Championship titles decided and another Sail Paradise drawing to a close, the 2026 regatta has showcased both the depth of established Australian yacht racing and the next generation coming through the sport. 

The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise 2026 concludes today with the final presentation at Southport Yacht Club.

Photos and Words: Southport Yacht Club