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Minerva 2022 winner, photo by Ian Woodforth

Saturday 28 October 2023, will be the 115th race for one of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron's most prestigious trophies, the historic Gascoigne Cup. The 2023 Gascoigne Cup will mark 137 years since it was first presented in 1886, as it was not awarded during the war years.

The Gascoigne Cup was presented to the Squadron in 1885 in honour of Captain Gascoigne, then Aide-de-Camp to Lord Carrington, Governor of New South Wales, for his heroic service in the Sudan campaign, which included an attempt to rescue the embattled General Gordon during the infamous siege of Khartoum.

The first winner was Sir James Fairfax's boat Magic, a 48ft gaff rigged sloop and one of the crack yachts sailing at the Squadron in the 1880s.


Many famous yachts and yachtsmen have won this iconic ocean race and as it moves into its second century, another strong fleet is expected to line up with yachts from all major Sydney clubs competing.


Whisper 2020 winner, photo by Andrea Francolini

The Gascoigne Cup is one of four Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron offshore trophies.

Gascoigne Cup & Thelma Plate
These trophies will be awarded in conjunction with the Combined Clubs SOPS race 2. The Gascoigne Cup will be awarded to a Division 1 entrant and the Thelma Plate to the Division 2 entrant, with the lowest corrected time.

Competing yachts are eligible to apply for average points in the RSYS Spring & Main series pointscores.

Milson Memorial Cup
This trophy will be awarded to the entrant with the lowest corrected time run in conjunction with the City of Sydney Cup on Australia Day to Botany Bay return. 

The Morna Cup
This season the Morna Cup is returning to a format that prevailed for many years.

The Cup will be awarded to the entrant with the lowest combined corrected time in two, non-spinnaker passage races, Sydney to Pittwater and return. Racing is scheduled for 17 & 18 February 2024, forming part of the CYCA Short Haul Pointscore. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for RSYS members who are involved in Cruising in Company or the Annual Squadron Cruise, to get involved for an exciting social weekend away. Competing RSYS yachts are eligible to apply for average points in the CCIS pointscore.

RSYS will be conducting the Gascoigne Cup & Thelma Plate race. CYCA will be conducting the Milson Memorial and Morna Cup races.  Category 4 Equipment Compliance will be required.

All entries will be received by CYCA. Casual entries are welcome.
Enter online here. 


Erica 2018 winner, photo by Ian Woodforth