Why Pittwater Sail Expo 2025 matters
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club will host the Pittwater Sail Expo 2025 from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October. It is billed as Australia’s biggest sailing only showcase. For Kiwi sailors it is a practical hop across the ditch to see new boats in one place. You can compare rigs, feel cockpit ergonomics, and talk through fitout choices without racing between yards.
The mix is broad. Racing sailors will find quick keelboats with clean decks and light gear. Cruisers can climb through bluewater layouts with proper stowage and sea berths. Multihull fans get a look at the latest cats. The point is simple. Put your hands on real boats before you commit.
Side by side star turns: Catalina and Italia
Performance Cruising Yachts plans a neat dock story. Director Matt Hayes confirmed a side by side display of the Catalina 426 and the Italia 12.98. It gives shoppers a direct comparison between American volume with easy handling and sharp Italian lines with pace.
Hayes sets the scene clearly. “The Catalina 426 is a proven favourite with sailors looking for space, comfort and ease of handling, while the Italia 12.98 combines modern European styling with outstanding performance. For us, the Expo is about letting people step aboard, feel the layouts, and imagine how these yachts could fit into their sailing life.”
That is the sort of access buyers need. You can measure jib tracks, check halyard runs, and see how a real galley works at sea. You can also judge coamings and seat heights, which matter on a long reach. Expect both boats to draw solid traffic from club racers and coastal cruisers alike.
Grand Soleil in force on Pittwater Sail Expo 2025 docks
Sydney Marine Brokerage will show three Grand Soleil models together. The GS34, the GS40, and the GS46LC will sit on the same dock. Importer Andrew Withers likes what that says about the range. “Each model showcases a different side of the Grand Soleil philosophy, from performance oriented yachts, through to luxurious long distance cruisers. Having all three available to step aboard in one place gives sailors a chance to truly appreciate the depth of the range.”
Lining the trio up makes good sense. The GS34 gives a pure club race vibe with a simple systems load. The GS40 bridges club racing and family trips. The GS46LC steps into long range comfort with proper tankage, storage, and a house that works on passage. Seeing all three in a row lets you calibrate your needs without guessing from brochures.
Beyond the docks: gear, people, and practical answers
The Expo is not only about hulls and rigs. On shore you will find sailmakers, rigging experts, electronics firms, and marine service providers. This is where you solve the knotty stuff. Do you refit standing rigging or change chainplates. Should you go with a new pilot computer or a full network refresh. What battery chemistry suits your loads. In one loop you can talk to specialists and leave with a plan.
Spring timing helps. If you want a sail order for early summer, now is the time. If you are thinking about a new boat for 2026, this is where you set the spec. You can talk keel options, sail plans, and delivery timing with people who sign the build sheets. It saves months of email.
Plan your visit to Pittwater Sail Expo 2025
The show runs Friday 24 October from midday to 4pm. It continues Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October from 10am to 4pm. Entry and parking are free. The venue is the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at Newport on Sydney’s northern beaches. It is a tidy run from the airport by car. Food and coffee options sit close by, and the club setting makes family visits easy.
If you are travelling from New Zealand, make a short list before you fly. Book time with the brokers for the boats you care about. Wear soft soles, bring a tape and a notebook, and take photos of bilge runs and lockers. Good notes beat brochure gloss every time.
What stands out for Kiwi readers
Pittwater offers sheltered water, so you can picture the boats in our harbours. The Catalina 426 will appeal to owners who want volume and a gentle motion. The Italia 12.98 suits sailors who prize pace and helm feel. The Grand Soleil trio covers a spread from club line honours to long country miles. The onshore precinct compresses weeks of vendor hunting into one stroll. That is a win for anyone planning a refit or a structured upgrade.
The big theme is choice. The Expo bridges racing and cruising without forcing either camp to compromise. You can line up cockpit ergonomics for a shorthanded series, then step onto a proper cruiser with a seakindly galley. You can compare how each builder handles systems access. You can check liferaft stowage and jackline runs. You can stand at three helms in ten minutes and decide what feels right.
Final word
The Pittwater Sail Expo 2025 delivers a clean brief. Real boats, open access, expert advice, and no ticket price at the door. The headline docks will be busy, with Catalina, Italia, and Grand Soleil drawing attention. The rest of the fleet fills out the picture with options for every kind of sailing life. If you are weighing a new build, a refit, or a switch in class, this is a smart weekend to put in the calendar.
Event details:
Pittwater Sail Expo 2025, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Newport.
Friday 24 October, 12pm to 4pm.
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, 10am to 4pm.
Free entry and parking.
More information and exhibitor updates at pittwatersailexpo.com.au.
