flinderS islet RACE

The Flinders Islet Race is the opening offshore race of Moneypenny’s 2026 campaign.

Starting from Sydney Harbour, the fleet heads south along the NSW coast, passing through Sydney Heads before racing towards Flinders Islet, off Wollongong. After rounding the island, the yachts turn north for a high-speed return to Sydney Harbour.

At just 88 nautical miles, the race is relatively short by offshore standards, but it is an intense test of boat speed, tactics, crew work, and decision-making. Conditions can change rapidly along the NSW coastline, with the fleet often experiencing a combination of strong reaching and downwind conditions, coastal shifts and challenging sea states.

Moneypenny enters the 2026 race as the 2025 IRC Winner, having taken victory last year after a closely fought battle with the other leading maxis. In 2025, Moneypenny crossed the finish just nine minutes behind URM Group but gained enough time on the fast return leg to secure the IRC win.