Boat shows
Sail Expo 2026: Australia's Biggest Sailing Show Comes to Pittwater
Published · Last checked October 2026
Sail Expo, which bills itself as Australia's largest dedicated sailing show, runs on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October 2026 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Newport, on Sydney's Pittwater. Entry and parking are free, with free tenders from nearby Pittwater wharves.
What's on show
- On the water: cruising and racing yachts, catamarans and dinghies from brands including Dufour, Bavaria, Beneteau, Hanse, Lagoon, Jeanneau and Seawind.
- Brokers: Sydney Marine Brokerage is showing a Bavaria C38, C46 and C57 and a Grand Soleil 40; The Yacht Sales Co. has a Dufour 48 and a Fountaine Pajot 44 catamaran.
- Ashore: sailmakers, holiday operators, tenders, clothing, hardware (DeckHardware marks 20 years of family ownership) and shared-ownership schemes.
- Youth sailing: Optimists and other small boat classes.
- Food, drink and live entertainment through the weekend.
The show is sponsored by Pantaenius. Details are at sailexpo.com.au.
Before you step aboard
Boat shows are a good chance to check the details that matter at sea: grab rails below, a usable chart table, jackstay points and how easy it is to reach the reefing lines. Our guides to jackstays, when to reef and chartering give you a checklist.
Pittwater and the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
Pittwater is a large sheltered waterway on Sydney's Northern Beaches, opening into Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River. Its moorings, bays and steady sea breezes make it one of Australia's most popular places to keep a yacht. The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) at Newport, founded in 1867, is one of Australia's oldest yacht clubs and runs a busy racing and training programme.
Sailing in Australia
Australia has a huge sailing culture, from the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race every Boxing Day to SailGP's Bonds Flying Roos and Olympic success. Sailing schools follow Australian Sailing's own course framework, and many also offer RYA courses, so it's easy to learn on holiday.
Buying a yacht at a boat show: questions to ask
- How is the boat set up for short-handed sailing: are lines led aft and is there an autopilot?
- Where are the liferaft, grab bag and EPIRB stowed?
- What does a shared-ownership or syndicate scheme really cost each year?
- Can you arrange a sea trial after the show?