BIRD ISLAND RACE

The Bird Island Race takes the fleet 83 nautical miles north from Sydney Harbour along the NSW coastline to Bird Island, approximately three nautical miles north-east of Norah Head, before returning south to the finish in Sydney Harbour.

Despite being one of the shorter offshore races of the campaign, Bird Island presents a demanding tactical challenge. The coastal route requires crews to carefully manage changing wind and sea conditions, make critical decisions around the coastline, and maximise the boat's performance on the return leg, where conditions can become particularly variable.

For Moneypenny, the race provides another opportunity to line up against the leading Maxi campaigns and build momentum heading into the final stages of the season. In 2025, Moneypenny finished 3rd across the line, demonstrating the boat's pace against the leading offshore fleet.