The sun was on full beam, and a lovely breeze built to 15 knots for the opening day of the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s 26th Airlie Beach Race Week, making it a perfect day out, as all sailors attested to on coming ashore this afternoon.
Ray ‘Hollywood’ Roberts turned up the heat with his Farr 55 OneSails Racing, defeating Matt Allen’s TP52, Ichi Ban in IRC Racing Division 1. The Sydney yachts both have the same handicap, but this is the first time Allen has skippered the former Shogun V in race mode since purchasing it recently.
An official online noticeboard has been set up for competitors to be informed of all announcements from the race director and race officers during ABRW 2105.
Competitors are invited to check the online Noticeboard to stay abreast of important racing information throughout the regatta.
For Peter Harrison, last year’s Airlie Beach Race Week was memorable for all the wrong reasons, because his yacht, Rumgutz, capsized on the first race day – but as the old saying goes, ‘You can’t keep a good man down’.
When Queenslander Damian Suckling hits the water with Another Fiasco at Airlie Beach Race Week in August, he will be happily swapping one style of sea life for another.
It was champagne and smiles all round at the Whitsunday Sailing Club when the 43’ mono hull ‘Huahine’, owned by local yachtsman Nick Smail took its place as the 100th entry in this year’s Airlie Beach Race Week.
Twelve medical students from the University of NSW’s Wagga Wagga Rural Clinical School will join the crew of Helsal 3 for the 26th edition of Airlie Beach Race Week in August.
Over 80 boat owners have already pledged their support for Airlie Beach Race Week, and with just over two weeks to go to Close of Entries, organisers for the event billed as the ‘Tropical Festival of Sailing’ are forecasting in excess of 100 boats.
With only 4 weeks until the start of Airlie Beach Race Week, anticipation is building for what is lining up to be the most inclusive and community focused race week in the 26-year history of the event. Everyone will be welcome to join in the after-racing activities at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, which will include live music every evening and an exciting variety of food at great prices.
Yachting Australia President Matt Allen is bringing the newest member of his Ichi Ban family to Airlie Beach Race Week, making it the second time the TP52 will race under her new name.
There is no better way to beat the winter blues than sailing at Airlie Beach Race Week and among those planning their winter escape are reigning and past yachting champions, Roger Hickman (Wild Rose), Bob Steel with his latest ‘Quest’ and Peter Sorensen (The Philosopher’s Club).
