Become a Sponsor
The Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Airlie Beach Race Week has grown over more than three decades to become the largest keelboat regatta off Queensland’s mainland coast. 2023 celebrates the 35th year of Airlie Beach Race Week.
Each year, including the turbulent years of 2020 and 2021 when Covid-19 ruled the world, Airlie Beach Race Week continued to operate, introducing hundreds of visitors to the region for a week long event. In 2022, the event reached 188 entrants, bringing over 3000 competitors, officials, volunteers and supporters to the area, generating over $5M direct and incremental expenditure for the Whitsunday Region.
Race Week is recognised amongst sailors Australia-wide as a vibrant, exciting, fun and well run event. The event is focused on the relaxed atmosphere of the Whitsundays, mixing serious sailing with fun socialising. The concept of a shore based public Festival associated with the event now enters its sixth year and we are yet again setting ambitious but attainable targets.
There were over 28,000 direct visitor nights over the week of Festival entertainment and activities with overnight visitor expenditure exceeding $6.5M. This confirms Race Week’s position as the most significant Community Festival event in the Region.
In 2023 the onshore Festival Program will include live entertainment each afternoon and evening on every race day, plus a range of food stalls open from 4pm. The ever popular Airlie Beach Race Week Long Lunch, together with a range of daily events will complete the on-shore activities. Locals and visitors are encouraged to enjoy all the entertainment and mix with competitors throughout the week.
Marketing expenditure for 2023 will be around $100,000 and include Regional Television and Radio Advertising as well as print advertising in publications up and down the coast, plus a range of Sailing Magazines and websites. Post broadcast and telecast reports from our Media Partners confirmed that radio delivers over $25,000 in airtime from Mackay to Townsville and over $11,000 in TV ads going to air. Web, Social Media and extensive PR campaigns are all part of the marketing mix. These figures will be reflected in 2023.
Race Week has been embraced by competitors, officials, volunteers, Government, the local community and a wide range of supporting sponsors. With TEQ “Significant Event Status” and funding confirmed until 2024, Race Week is now poised to grow from strength to strength.
The Whitsunday Sailing Club invites you to Get Onboard, fly your flag high and enjoy the benefits as a sponsor of the Whitsundays most significant sporting and community event!
In return for sponsorship, ABRW will provide Sponsor Benefits as detailed in the latest sponsorship proposal.
If you would like to come onboard and be a part of the 35th Airlie Beach Race Week simply click this link to download the ABRW Sponsorship Proposal – Get Onboard
Alternatively, call Whitsunday Sailing Club on 07 4946 6138 or regatta director Ross Chisholm on 0429 584 787 for further information.
