Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is a big deal down under with many keen Aussie and Kiwi (and now international) sailors taking part. The Whitsunday Islands on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef is a beautiful destination and an ideal racing ground. The Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is a growing regatta and has again confirmed its status as Australia’s premier keelboat regatta in 2010 with the fleet number of sailing yachts entered now exceeding the magical figure of 200.
With the regatta starting on August 20, 2010 and late entries still to come it is possible that the figure will reach 210. At last count it stood at 205.
Spinnakers on Audi Hamilton Island Race Week
‘It’s extremely satisfying for us to see such an impressive number of yachts lining up this year,’ said Hamilton Island’s CEO and sailing world champion, Glenn Bourke. ‘The fleet represents an amazing cross-section of keelboats; an eclectic selection from the smallest to the largest.
‘Our job now is to present these sailing enthusiasts who have come from across Australia and overseas with the best possible regatta – and I’m sure we will do that. We are determined to have them enjoy every aspect of Race Week, on the water and on the island.’
The 200th entry was a brand new Beneteau Oceanis 50, The Waughship, so new in fact that the first time owner Bruce Waugh will sail her will be when he starts in the non-spinnaker Cruising Division at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - Image by Andrea Francolini
Waugh, who will be competing at the regatta for the sixth time, said he and his three mates who will be making up the crew will be there simply to have a good time and meet good people.
Yachts representing the two extremes of the fleet were among the latest entries. One was a 6.1 metre SB3 sport boat and the other the giant new 58-metre long sleek superyacht, Kokomo.
There are so far four Superyachts entered in the 2010 Regatta:
KOKOMO Adam Painter NONE Dubois Ove tba Y
LAHANA 10081 Peter Millard CYCA Irc Maxi NSW tba Y
PERSEUS Aaron Abramowitz NONE Perini Navi Ove tba Y
WILD OATS XI 10001 Bob Oatley HIYC Reichel/Pugh 30 Mtr NSW
Hamilton Island Race Week’s naming rights sponsor, Audi, is the fastest growing German luxury carmaker, and the largest supporter of yachting, in Australia.
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is Australia’s largest and most awarded keelboat regatta.
Race Week was conceived by David Hutchen in 1983, after he had moved to the Whitsundays with his yacht “Banjo Paterson” to start a yacht charter business. David was able to convince the then owner and founder of Hamilton Island, Keith Williams, to agree to hosting the event as a way of generating tourism and favorable media attention to the resort.
