Sails on the Horizon: Port Douglas Race Week 2025

Port Douglas Race Week - Image credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland

Each May, as the Coral Sea stretches out in its silken calm and the tradewinds rise with a whisper, something quietly spectacular begins to unfold off the coast of Port Douglas. From Monday, 12 May to Saturday, 17 May, the tropical tempo lifts ever so slightly for the Port Douglas Race Week. It’s a time when white sails bloom like lotus flowers across the bay - and the rhythm of life at sea meets the slow indulgence of life on land.

'Jasmin'

'Resolute'

Image credits: Tourism Tropical North Queensland

Where the Horizon Becomes the Stage

Just under an hour’s scenic drive north from Bellbry Lodge, this regatta is no ordinary race. It’s a tropical ballet set against the verdant spine of the Daintree and the glittering expanse of Trinity Bay. The six-race series over 5 days includes passage races around Low Isle and Snapper Island, and technical buoy racing off the golden sweep of Four Mile Beach.

'Y Knot' crew - Image credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland

Sundowners, Sails and Stories by the Sea

Hosted by the welcoming Port Douglas Yacht Club, the week invites both competitive crews and curious onlookers. Come for the races, stay for sunset drinks, nightly live music, and the easy rhythm of marina life. The views of Dickson Inlet - with sails returning to harbour - are reason enough to linger a little longer.

'Ostara'

Image credits: Tourism Tropical North Queensland

From Salty Veterans to First-Time Crews

Race Week welcomes a diverse fleet - seasoned skippers who know every shift in the Coral Sea, and fresh-faced crews chasing their first taste of offshore glory. Some boats arrive sleek and competitive, others with sun-worn timber and tales to tell. You’ll spot high-performance racers carving arcs alongside easy-going cruisers simply here for the view. It’s a beautiful blend of passion, precision and pure love for the water - no matter the speed or finish line.

Image credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland

A Perfect Daytrip from Bellbry Lodge

For our guests, Race Week offers the ideal blend of colour and calm. Spend the day by the water, sipping something crisp and local, then retreat to the quiet sanctuary of your suite - where the only thing moving fast is time itself.

📍 Port Douglas Race Week · 12–17 May 2025

Follow the sails and feel the breeze - spectator-friendly, sailor-approved.

https://pdyc.org/port_douglas_race_week/