Record-Breaking Race Week Sets Sail Soon

Over 140 entrants across a variety of classes are eagerly preparing to set sail in the warm waters of the Whitsundays this month, shooting across the perfect conditions in the 34th annual Airlie Beach Race Week.

They come from as far afield as Tasmania and Western Australia, and its worth ever mile according to event faithfuls.

It seems a long time since that very first Race Week over three decades ago, when in 1987, Hog’s Breath Café entrepreneur Don Algie arrived in his classic 55’ sloop Storm, starting an event that now welcomes thousands of yachties from around the country and the globe.

The Whitsunday Sailing Club hosted event is now looking back on two years of battling against the wave of Covid and coming out on top, remaining one of the country’s largest yacht racing regattas.

Now it looks seaward, as ships already begin to anchor a week out from the famed competition, eager to stake their claim as an Airlie Beach Race Week champion – all while enjoying a town returning to the full-swing of hospitality and tourism.

Back in early February, Mako, the much-travelled Sydney 40 owned by a Newcastle, NSW syndicate was the races first official entry received for the 11 to 18 August event.

Entered by Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC) CEO, Paul O’Rourke, Mako is a well-used yacht that was originally built for the 1999 Admiral’s Cup. Under the name of ‘Computer Products’, she formed part of the winning Dutch Team that year.

O’Rourke said the crew is fired up and ready to race in the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s popular event.

“The boat is entered for the whole northern circuit this year, but Airlie Beach is the only event I’ll be doing. Last time we were up there (2019), Mako finished third in Division 2. We plan to better that result,” he said.

Many attend the event regularly, but for others it will be their first time, like Peter Chappell from Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club in Perth.

“Yes, this is my first Airlie Beach Race Week and we’re looking forward to a good mix of sailing, the good sailing community, different types of boats and sun. There’ll be seven or eight of us there,” Chappell said.

His weapon is ‘The Cadillac’, a Barrett 9.5 design. Chappell describes the boat he had built in 2013 as, “A big dinghy built for ex dinghy and Etchells sailors and it’s got the excitement factor downwind. I decided to put the fun back into sailing and it keeps the crew active and fit too.”

Meanwhile, there are those from as far south as you can get from Western Australia, Richard Fader and his vessel One O Nine.

They will sail over 1700 nautical miles from base at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in Hobart. Fader’s beamy and comfortable Hanse 540e already left Hobart in July to sail in Performance Cruising Division 1.

“Why do we come so far each year? Because we enjoy getting out of the cold,” Fader said with a laugh.

“Airlie is a good little town and we catch up with mates from up there who come and sail with us. About a dozen of us have travelled up north from Tasmania for the past 10 years. We do it to have an enjoyable time away with a dozen mates who don’t always see each other at home, so it’s a great time to catch up with everyone.

“It’s great fun, a good event and an enjoyable time. We probably do more sailing in the two weeks up north than at any other time.”

It means a lot to the yachties, but it might just mean more to the local enthusiasts, whether they be jumping aboard a spectator boat or watching from the land with beer in hand.

But certainly, for those not-so-seaworthy, it brings their community into the light. The Whitsundays becomes a boisterous place alive with the sound of flapping sails and boaties on the booze.

It hosts long lunches and dinners, drinking and dancing, and it most certainly raises the Whitsunday sail.

Tourism Whitsundays Chief Executive Officer, Rick Hamilton, said The Whitsundays is excited to welcome and host a high volume of entrants in the Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing.

“Events play a significant role in helping to build awareness for The Whitsundays, creating job opportunities across our region and showcasing our community spirit,” he said.

“Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing showcases some of our best assets: community spirit, clear turquoise waters, secluded coves and fringing reefs, highlighting that The Whitsundays is the Heart of Sailing.”

The Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing begins next week from August 11 to 18.

For NoR, entry and all information on Airlie Beach Race Week, please visit: www.abrw.com.au or www.whitsundaysailingclub.com.au

Airlie Beach Raceweek is back next week, with over 140 boaties ready to set sail on the Whitsunday waters

Boaties are more than eager to take to the ocean for the August 11 to 18 event

The 34th annual event captures the sailing spirit of the Whitsundays

Last year was a wet a windy event, but weather is looking better for Race Week 2022

There are plenty of returning sailors and new faces either making their way or already arrived in Airlie for the annual race

‍