SOLAS Big Boat Challenge 2026: See Sydney’s Maxi Yachts Up Close

SOLAS Big Boat Challenge 2026: See Sydney’s Maxi Yachts Up Close

Tuesday 8 December 2026

Sydney Harbour comes alive with serious sailing action in December when the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge brings some of Australia’s biggest and fastest racing yachts together for one spectacular afternoon.

Held in the lead-up to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the Big Boat Challenge is the final leg of the Australian Maxi Championship.

The event is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) and attracts most of the major contenders for the Boxing Day classic.

Whilst well known among sailing enthusiasts, the event flies under the radar for many Sydneysiders. Fewer boats on the Harbour means more open water for skippers to navigate at high speed. And for those lucky enough to join the official spectator craft, it’s the perfect opportunity to get up close to the racing action.

Big Boats. Close Racing. One Spectacular Harbour.

You don’t need to be a sailing expert to enjoy this one. Seeing a maxi yacht from the water gives a real sense of the sheer scale and speed, and the teamwork required.

Unlike Boxing Day, when exclusion zones are needed to manage the huge spectator fleet, the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge allows official spectator vessels to get much closer to the racing.

Watch the crews at work and see the yachts manoeuvre for position as they navigate two and a half tactical laps around Sydney Harbour, finishing in Farm Cove near the Sydney Opera House.

Sailing enthusiasts will love the tactics and close racing, but even if you don’t know one end of a yacht from the other, it’s hard not to be thrilled by the action.

The Big Lead-Up to the Sydney Hobart

The Big Boat Challenge is all about getting close to the racing and watching the tactics, high-speed manoeuvres and crew work unfold around the Harbour.

Boxing Day is a very different experience. That’s when Sydney Harbour fills with thousands of spectator craft and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet gathers for the start of its famous 628-nautical-mile journey south.

The Big Boat Challenge gives you a closer look at the yachts in racing mode. Boxing Day brings the crowds, atmosphere and anticipation that come with one of Australia’s great sporting traditions.

Watch the Action from Starship Sydney

For the 2026 SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, official spectator boat Starship Sydney will be out on the Harbour for four hours of racing action.

The experienced crew know the yachts, the racecourse and where to position the vessel as the race develops. Expert commentary and live CYCA TV coverage onboard also make it easy to keep track of what’s happening.

Then Comes Boxing Day

Just 18 days later, it’s time for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

On Saturday 26 December 2026, the fleet gathers for the famous 1.00pm start before racing through Sydney Heads and beginning the journey to Tasmania.

It’s a day when Sydney Harbour shines, with racing yachts, spectator boats and crowds around the foreshore all adding to the occasion.

There are different ways to enjoy it from the water too. Make a day of it with a Boxing Day lunch cruise, watching the fleet gather and race towards Sydney Heads, or choose a dedicated race spectator cruise to watch the start before following the maxis through the Heads and towards Bondi.

Two Great Days of Sydney Sailing

Think of the Big Boat Challenge as your warm-up for Boxing Day. Spend the day getting to know the yachts, crews and racing tactics, and by the time the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race comes around, you’ll know exactly what to watch for.

And if you’re not already a sailing fan? Seeing one of these maxi yachts powering past from the water might just change that.