Princess Royal Sailing Club hosts official launch of returning Fremantle to Albany open ocean yacht race
Princess Royal Sailing Club relaunched the 2026 Fremantle to Albany yacht race on Friday night, hosting members, dignitaries, sponsors and Royal Perth Yacht Club representatives.
The much-missed race is set to return to the Albany sailing calendar in April 2026, with the race temporarily shelved in the throes of COVID-19 in 2020.
The prestigious race covers 300 nautical miles and two oceans, with competitors leaving Fremantle on April 17 and tackling the meeting point of two oceans at Cape Leeuwin before heading into the Southern Ocean and home to Albany.
Royal Perth Yacht Club Commodore Dr Janet Hornbuckle said the race was set to be the “premier offshore sailing race of the 2025-26 season”, and in years past attracted hundreds of sailors including America’s Cup and Sydney to Hobart competitors for the glory of success in the unique destination event.
Great Southern Lime has signed on as the major sponsor of the event, and has put up a $10,000 prize for the boat that beats the record time of 37hr. 1min. set by the company’s chairman Ken Court in 1996 with his yacht Second Term.
Albany MLA Scott Leary wished the prospective competitors well in the upcoming race, and lauded the tourism benefits of putting the race back on the calendar.
Princess Royal Sailing Club Commodore Rachel Hodgson reflected on the history and tall tales heard around the Albany club from past years of the race.
She said the race was synonymous with the spirit of adventure on the open ocean, and would act as a shining example of ocean racing for the club’s young members, some of whom were present on launch night at the club rooms.
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