Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

For all event sponsorship enquiries, please contact:

Stephanie Inglis
Level 3, 100 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065
p - 02 9433 0428
e - singlis@hamiltonisland.com.au

What makes this event so special is that there's something for everyone. For some, it's the soothing effect of long days drifting into warmer climates. For others, it's the thrill of racing or watching the best boats that money can buy. Most importantly, together with Audi, we have built something so much more than a sailing event. This true lifestyle event offers sailing, gourmet food, leading fashion, music, fast cars and of course the beautiful location that is Hamilton Island, in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

"Our goal this year is to attract a record breaking 250 boat registrations. In keeping with tradition we have an exciting array of onshore activities and events for guests to attend free of charge or purchase tickets to," she added.

It was during the historic America's Cup match in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1983 that Hamilton Island's developer, Keith Williams, hit on the idea of staging a major annual yacht regatta out of the island.

He discussed it at length with a friend, Rob Mundle, who was reporting on the America's Cup in Newport at that time, then, on his return to Hamilton Island, he approached a Melbourne yachtsman, David Hutchen, who was living in the Whitsunday region, and detailed his idea for the event. Hutchen seized on the concept and was subsequently commissioned by Williams to get it organised.

A few weeks later a small group, including Hutchen, Mundle, and Australia's original America's Cup challenge skipper, Jock Sturrock, were at Hamilton Island with a view to formulating the parameters for what would become the now famous Hamilton Island Race Week. With that done, Hutchen headed the organising committee that included two of his sailing mates out of Victoria, Warwick Hoban and Leon O'Donoghue.

The inaugural Hamilton Island Race Week was staged in April 1984, immediately after Easter. The response for the seven-day series was way beyond expectations: 93 yachts travelled from as far afield as Perth to be there. Unfortunately though, the weather was not what anyone had envisioned when it came to sailing in the tropics. The 'wet season' lived up to its name: rain poured down for almost the entire week. This led to the series being referred to light-heartedly as Hamilton Island Rain Week in the 'Wetsundays'. Also, the harbour-front Mardi Gras party that was staged mid-week became known as the 'Muddy Gras'.

Hamilton Island Race Week is one of Australia's favourite yachting events and a firm fixture on the international sailing calendar. Competitors, family and friends come together to enjoy the convivial atmosphere and unique camaraderie of the event's on-water and off-water carnival. Every August, spectators and yachties from around the globe sail to Hamilton Island for Hamilton Island Race Week - Australia's largest offshore keelboat regatta.

Perfectly situated on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, amongst Queensland's 74 Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island offers an experience like no other: glorious weather, azure waters, brilliant beaches, awe-inspiring coral reefs, fascinating flora and fauna, fine food and wines, and activities almost too numerous to mention.