The entry form and Notice of Race for Airlie Beach Race Week 2015 are online and organisers are expecting a good roll up for the annual event’s 26th edition, with some well-known multihulls among the early entries already received.
Open to IRC Racing and IRC Passage, One-Design, Performance Racing, Sports Boats, Cruising (spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions), along with Multihull Racing and Multihull Passage classes, Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) Tropical Shirt’ regatta is attended by boats from Australia wide.
A good cross-section of boats assures a vibrant feast for the eyes, none more so than the cruising classes. The event also features the latest in design and technology, across the board, and should you feel the need for some real speed and thrills, the sports boats and multihulls cannot be missed.
Some competitors go the distance to compete, among them Rob Remilton, who carts his 31 foot multihull Wilparina II all the way from South Australia each year. However, Remilton has his boat on the market and for the first time will fly to Queensland to sail with local, Mike Hodges, on his multihull Renaissance.
“It’s a bit sad, I’m really going to miss the road trip, but I’m looking forward to sailing with Mike, he’s a great guy,” says Remilton.
“Last year was sensational sailing, anything from drifters to strong breeze in great surroundings. The ambience and atmosphere ashore is wonderful too. The organisers go out of their way to make it a good experience for all.”
Remilton is not alone, as fellow South Australian, Peter Hawker, will trail his Ian Farrier designed carbon built multihull, Carbon Credit, as will Gerald Valk with sistership Crosshair.
“There will be around five multihulls making the trip from South Australia this time,” says Peter Hawker, who is a regular at Airlie Beach Race Week.
“We love the competition at Airlie Beach, the flat water and we make a trip of it. Three of us will tow our multis over together this time; us, Gerald Valk and Peter Boyd with his Grainger designed Dux Nutts.
“It normally takes us five days to reach Airlie Beach. We stop overnight each night as the Farrier designs are oversized and not allowed to travel at night. We like the road trip there and back, it’s three weeks of fun,” Hawker ends.
Organised by Whitsunday Sailing Club, Airlie Beach Race Week is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland in conjunction with its other major events throughout the state.
The 26th edition of Airlie Beach Race Week will be held from 7-14 August on the waters of Pioneer Bay and the Whitsunday Passage. There will be a lay day mid-regatta, offering a great opportunity for competitors family and friends to take advantage of the leisure activities Airlie Beach and its surrounds have to offer.
Entry is online only and closes on Saturday 1st August 2015. The race committee may accept late entries after this date subject to an additional late fee of $150.00.
For entry form, Notice of Race and all information, go to: www.abrw.com.au/
Further information on Whitsunday Sailing Club: www.whitsundaysailingclub.com.au/
By Di Pearson, ABRW media
