We’re incredibly proud to announce Skin Check Champions as the official charity partner of Palm Beach XI — one of the world’s most innovative racing yachts, set to compete in the iconic Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race this Boxing Day.
This partnership is a special one for us.
Sailors are a high-risk community
Sailors spend long days — and often years — exposed to intense sun, salt and reflection from the water. It’s one of the reasons skin cancer rates in the sailing community are so high, and why early detection can be genuinely life-saving.
For close to a decade, Skin Check Champions has been proud to provide thousands of specialist-grade skin checks to sailors at Hamilton Island Race Week, thanks to the support and generosity of the sailing community — particularly the Oatley Family, who have been longstanding champions of our work.
A Skin Check Victory close to home
One of the many #SkinCheckVictory stories from this partnership belongs to the Captain and new owner of Palm Beach XI, the great Mark “Ricco” Richards.
During a skin check at Hamilton Island Race Week, Ricco discovered a skin cancer on his ear. It was picked up early and treated straight away — a powerful reminder of why regular skin checks matter, especially for those who live and work outdoors.
A place on the boom — and a shared mission
Following Hamilton Island Race Week this year, Ricco generously offered Skin Check Champions a place on the boom of this much-anticipated yacht — and we were honoured to accept.
Palm Beach XI is a nine-time Sydney to Hobart winner, reborn through a dramatic redesign by a world-class, deeply experienced team. Millions of Australians — and viewers around the globe — will tune in on Boxing Day to watch this extraordinary yacht carve through the fleet, and we’re proud to stand alongside a team that values performance, innovation and purpose.
Thank you
A huge thank you to Mark Richards and his crew, Palm Beach Motor Yachts, and The Oatley Family for their continued support, belief, and commitment to protecting the health of the sailing community.
We can’t wait to watch Palm Beach XI take on the race — and to keep doing what we do best: bringing early detection to high-risk communities, wherever the road (or ocean) takes us.
Together, we are making skin cancer history.
🌞🔎🏁
