Syd Fischer's TP52 Ragamuffin Photo: Andrea Francolini/Audi

The Inaugural Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race was held in March 2008, with CYCA stalwart Syd Fischer taking the Line Honours and Handicap Honours in just under 25 hours.
Stephen Ainsworth's RP63 Loki smashed the record by over 9 hours a year later, setting the current race record of 15h 57m 53s

The 3rd edition of this 213 nautical mile Cat 2 race will start at 12 noon on Friday 19 March, 2010, from Sydney Harbour to a laid mark around 20 nautical miles east of Crowdy Head before the fleet heads to Newcastle and the finish in the Hunter River.

The arrival of the fleet into the Hunter River will provide quite a spectacle for the Novocastrians who are expected to turn out in large numbers to witness the arrival of the cream of the Australia's offshore fleet.

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club’s new premises have recently been opened, and boast a modern bar area overlooking the Hunter River.

The Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race Official Website can be accessed here.

	Start of the Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht RacePhoto: Andrea Francolini/Audi

The Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race replaces the Audi Sydney Southport and Sydney Mooloolaba yacht races, and counts as the final Blue Water Pointscore series race of the season.

The traditional Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race starting the last Saturday of July will continue as the opening race of the seven-race Blue Water Pointscore Series.