News & Events

Despite the latest lockdowns in NSW and the South East corner of Queensland, the organisers of Airlie Beach Race Week continue to plan for the 2021 version of the event. With a number of competitors indicating that they are unable to attend, the regatta director and Chairman, Ross Chisholm, said today that the Whitsunday Sailing Club and the ABRW organising committee are committed to ensuring the regatta continues for those who are able to attend.

As a lead up to Airlie Beach Race Week, World renowned Australian ocean navigator & on line teacher Will Oxley will be giving some insights into famous Vendee incidents & local tips, in the Marquee from 19.00h to 21.00h on Wednesday the 11’th of August.

While Covid continues to wreak havoc in parts of Australia, Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) officials and members are looking forward to welcoming a record number of competitors and their supporters to the 33rd running of Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), to be held from 12-19 August in the stunning Whitsunday islands.

With entries not due to close until Monday 2 August, Airlie Beach Race Week has already reached an unprecedented high of 139 boats, outstripping the event’s record of 133 in 2016 and more than doubled those of 2020 when COVID interfered.

A trio of past Sydney Hobart winners in Geoff Boettcher, Darryl Hodgkinson and Phil Turner, along with yachting champion Marcus Blackmore, are among the heavy hitters heading north to race in the IRC Passage Division at the 33rd running of Airlie Beach Race Week, to be held from 12-19 August, 2021.

Adrian Walters was quick on the draw when entries opened for Airlie Beach Race Week 2021; his fun and fast Rob Shaw 11 Metre design, Little Nico, was the first entry received by the Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) and other boats that are speedy on the water closely followed suit.

Entry to Airlie Beach Race Week 2021 is open and organisers at Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) are confident of large numbers following the success of last year’s event, one of the rare major sporting events to go ahead in Australia since March 2020, and yachties are keen to return to racing following a hiatus.

Sixty four boats to part in the 2020 Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing, hosted by Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC), which had a difficult job on their hands between the light and fluky conditions and imposing restrictions caused by the CoronaVirus, but the club handled it with aplomb.

Stuart Tivey and his partner Lisa Sampson were thrilled to win Race 5 in Cruising Division 1 at the Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) 2020 Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing yesterday with their famous German Frers 48, Ragamuffin 111, built in 1975.