Yachting Australia

With the website for 25^th Anniversary edition of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week having been open just 48 hours the immediate indications are that the anticipated fleet of more than 200 yachts will be achieved well before racing starts on August 23.

 

Within two hours of the site, going on-line eight eager owners had lodged their entries, and since then the number has been climbing steadily.

 

“This year Audi Hamilton Island Race Week will have the added appeal of the Silver Jubilee celebrations, so I see it as very likely that last year’s record of 217 entries will be exceeded,” said the Race Director, Denis Thompson. “The actual list of entries will be updated on a regular basis on the website. From here on it’s going to be fun to watch the list grow, right up until just before racing starts.”

 

Hamilton Island’s owner, Bob Oatley, who will be competing with his 66ft canting keel racer, Wild Oats X, has promised that this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever.

 

“Our plan for this 25^th Anniversary regatta is to celebrate Race Week’s significant advances over the years, and to build on the outstanding success we achieved last year,” Bob Oatley said. “We will be making some more exciting additions to the entire program in 2008, and I am sure the sailors, their families and friends will appreciate them as the week progresses. These developments are part of our underlying resolve to see Audi Hamilton Island Race Week continue to set new standards, and to retain its position as Australia’s premier keelboat regatta.” 

 

There will be nine principal divisions this year to cover the full spectrum of competing yachts, from Grand Prix IRC Racing to Non-Spinnaker Cruising. To make for even better racing, some of the divisions with large entry lists will be split into two or more categories just prior to the event.

 

“We have changed the names of some of the divisions this time to better reflect the style of yachts competing,” Denis Thompson explained. “In particular we will be working very hard to protect the interests of the genuine cruising guys who have been the backbone of the Race Week fleet from the outset. These days a lot of so-called cruising yachts are orientated more towards racing, so we will be making sure they are in the appropriate division.”

 

Denis Thompson said that he would also develop the opportunity this year for competitors to be advised of courses and any significant changes to racing instructions via SMS messages.

 

An interesting change is also planned for the Prix d’Elegance. Following the obvious enjoyment that this fun event provided last year, the Race Week organisers have now decided to expand it to two categories – the Best Presented Yacht and Crew, and the Best Fun-Themed Yacht and Crew.

 

It will be judged as the fleet departs Hamilton Harbour for the start of racing on Monday, August 25, and the trophies will be presented to the winners during the entertainment at the Hamilton Island Race Week 25^th Anniversary Party, scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, August 27.

 

This year sees German luxury carmaker, Audi, taking naming rights of Australia’s premier offshore regatta, Hamilton Island Race Week, for the second time.

 

Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann, said the brand was keen to see record entries for 2008.

 

“Audi is breaking sales records in Australia,” Joerg Hoffman said, “and we would certainly like to see this success reflected in the entries for this important sailing regatta.”

 

Audi is now the largest supporter of sailing in Australia. One of Audi’s new initiatives has led to the creation of the four-event Audi IRC Australian Championship for ocean racing yachts. The championship will be decided during the final round at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2008.

 

Billed as the ‘Great’ Great Barrier Reef Island, the already highly acclaimed Hamilton Island resort is continuing to expand in spectacular fashion via major upgrades in accommodation and the development of new facilities. Among the new projects being undertaken is the spectacular 18-hole Hamilton Island Golf Course, and the impressive Hamilton Island Yacht Club complex. The first significant development to be established under the new plan, ‘qualia’, is a world class resort situated on the secluded northern most tip of the island.

 

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is Australia’s most awarded regatta. It has been recognised as Queensland's ‘Best Significant Event’ at the annual Queensland Tourism Awards on three occasions, and also taken out two Australian Tourism Awards.

Other Links
	Race Week Website