Organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney New South Wales with the co-operation of Southport Yacht Club in Queensland, the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is a 384 nautical mile ocean yacht race that commences usually on the last Saturday of July at 1.00pm. From Sydney Harbour, the fleet turns to port once outside the heads for a course north east towards the warmer climate of Queensland's Gold Coast and Southport's Harbour. From Southport after completion of the race, those seeking an escape from winter's chill and looking for more warmth further up in the tropical north have options to either just cruise or compete in the Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race, which finishes up on Central Queensland's Capricorn Coast, a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.