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Photo credit: Vampp Photography.
While hundreds of sailors battle it out on the water, there'll be just as much happening ashore during Airlie Beach Race Week, with live entertainment, food, family activities and special events ensuring the regatta offers something for everyone.
From daily live music and the Festival Village to Lay Day celebrations and the traditional presentation dinner, the week is as much a community celebration as it is a sailing event.
"The onshore activities are open to all of the sailors, plus any of the locals and any visitors can come along, get the vibes and have a beer,” Terry Archer said.
Throughout the week, the Whitsunday Sailing Club precinct will come alive with a packed entertainment program.
Ash Smith will open the festivities on Thursday before performances from The Fox, Two Fires, The Hillbilly Goats, Paul Fergus Morris, Sam McCann and Viva Band keep the energy pumping through the week.
Alongside the live entertainment, there'll be daily race presentations, Friday Night Movies in the Park, the Whitsunday Sailing Club Restaurant and Bar, and a fireworks display to close out the week.
Those heading to the 74 Islands Distillery Changing Courses Lunch on Lay Day will be greeted with a Summit Spritz before settling in for an afternoon of live music, roaming canapés and food stations at Elementa. Back in the Festival Village, the distillery will be pouring its range of locally crafted spirits alongside frozen cocktails throughout the week.
Also on Lay Day, Jeanneau Australia, presented by Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers, will invite visitors aboard a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455. The open boat experience gives both sailors and first-time visitors the chance to step aboard the popular cruising yacht and get a closer look at life on the water.
Meanwhile, Festival Village sponsor Northside Marine will have its Highfield Sport 800 out in action for the duration of Race Week. But Archer said the company's contribution goes well beyond the showcase, with Northside Marine supplying the regatta's official camera boat and rapid response vessel, both of which play an important role in delivering the event safely.
Archer said the success of Race Week comes down to the combined efforts of its sponsors, volunteers and local businesses, whose support has helped the event continue to grow year after year.
"We've been so lucky this year, as without our sponsors we just couldn't do it," he said.
"Six or seven years ago, we were struggling to get a naming rights sponsor.
“Now we're having to go to our sponsors and say, 'Hey, would you mind sharing it? Because we've got two that we'd like to do.' It's just fantastic."
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