Sailing Puts The Whitsundays On The World Stage

There are few better times to be in the Whitsundays than August, when our waters come alive with some of the best sailing in Australia.

We’ve just enjoyed another fantastic Airlie Beach Race Week, bringing sailors, families and supporters from across Australia and beyond to our region. This week the attention shifted across the water for Hamilton Island Race Week, once again showcasing the Whitsundays as one of the world’s great sailing destinations.

These events are much more than a great spectacle on the water.

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They bring thousands of visitors into our region who stay in our accommodation, eat in our restaurants and cafes, visit our shops, book tours and support local businesses. That flow-on spreads well beyond Airlie Beach and the islands, supporting jobs and our broader regional economy.

It’s also another reminder of why the Whitsundays is such a logical home for Olympic and Paralympic sailing in 2032.

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The Queensland Government identified the Whitsundays as its preferred location for sailing more than a year ago and, while the formal field of play and infrastructure planning processes continue, Council certainly hasn’t been sitting back waiting for every box to be ticked before making our case.

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Since then, that momentum has continued to build. I’ve signed a Host City Deed and been appointed to the Brisbane 2032 Host Mayors Advisory Group, while Council continues to work closely with government agencies and Games planners to advocate for the Whitsundays and the legacy investment our region deserves.

We are advocating strongly and confidently because successful advocacy starts well before the final decisions are made, and opportunities like this don’t come along very often.

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For me, 2032 has never been simply about hosting several days of Olympic and Paralympic competition. The real prize is the legacy it can leave behind.

That means global exposure for the Whitsundays, but importantly it also means advocating for investment in infrastructure and facilities that our community will benefit from for decades.

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We already know we can host world-class sailing events. Every August, events like Airlie Beach Race Week and Hamilton Island Race Week prove that.

Between now and 2032, our job is to keep building on that reputation and make sure the Whitsundays receives the lasting benefits that should come from being part of the biggest sporting event on the planet.

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For now, congratulations to everyone involved in another successful Airlie Beach Race Week, and a warm Whitsundays welcome to everyone arriving for Hamilton Island Race Week.

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It’s a pretty special time to call the Whitsundays home.

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