In an unprecedented display of support, entries for Australia’s premier offshore regatta, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, are booming.
The 100th entry is expected to be lodged this week – an occasion that will confirm the rate of entries continues to exceed all other years, including the historic 25th and 30th anniversary regattas.
Interest will now centre on just which yacht from across Australia or overseas will register as the 100th entry. The regatta will be staged on the tropical waters surrounding the Whitsunday islands from August 15 to 22.
“It’s wonderful to see such excellent support for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week at this early stage,” said the island’s CEO, Glenn Bourke, an Olympic and multi-world championship winning sailor. “It is a fitting reward for the organisers who have worked so hard to make this regatta the stand-out sailing event, both in Australia and on the world scene.
“Our aim is to create the tropical island regatta that is on every sailor’s bucket list – everything from the best possible tradewind sailing to post-race dockside parties and a free sausage sizzle, as well as spectacular gala events. We also cater for the full spectrum of offshore sailboats: from the smallest cruising yachts through to cruising and racing multihulls and Grand Prix level offshore racing yachts. It’s a regatta designed to please everyone: the sailors, their families and friends.”
Glenn Bourke added that Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2015 was honoured to be hosting the IRC Australian Championship, which is being sponsored by the island. He also noted the strong support coming from multihulls, which are likely to represent more than 15 per cent of the Race Week fleet.
While an impressive 23 entries have been lodged for the Hamilton Island IRC Australian Championship, it is the cruising yachts that continue to dominate entries. There are near 60 cruising monohulls listed to date and 12 cruising multihulls.
All information relating to Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2015, including the Notice of Race and Entry Form, is on the regatta website: www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au
Insert Photo: Mixing monos and multis: Scott Gralow’s high-performance catamaran, Bulletproof, shows her upwind form at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2014. (Image: Andrea Francolini/AUDI)
