Airlie Beach Holds World First Solar Powered Regatta

Compliments flowed from competitors at Whitsunday Sailing Club's (WSC) Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024, following a solid week of racing, as the Club and Whitsunday Islands delivered the best mix of racing seen for a while, allowing all entrants a chance to redeem themselves.

It's the final morning of racing at Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 and once again it is light and lovely and expected to be almost a replica of yesterday, with the sea breeze poking her nose into the Whitsundays around midday.

"Where is that damn wind", we were all asking this morning, Day 5 at Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 – so no racing starting on time while officials monitored conditions on what was an otherwise picture perfect day - and finally the AP flag came down and racing was underway just after midday.

It's the morning of Day 5 at Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 and PRO Kevin Wilson has announced an AP ashore, as the beautiful sunny morning does not include a breath of wind, forcing Regatta Director, Jenni Birdsall and Wilson to raise the AP ashore and they will reassess the situation at 10am.

Day 4 at Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 was the antithesis to the earlier part of the week-long regatta, as variable warm breezes under a sunny sky meant a return to the beautiful tropical Whitsundays, the light air lovers finally gaining an opportunity to excel and the all-rounders double dipping.

It is the morning of Day 4 at Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 and the sun is out again after an extremely wet lay day – the question though is will there be any wind in Paradise today for the fourth day of racing – the Wettas and F18s certainly hope so after their racing was called off on Sunday due to the conditions.

Rain squalls and conditions general tested a few on Day 3 of Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 and not everyone escaped unscathed, Michael Unwin's Fuzzy Logic from Townsville was dismasted and others suffered too.

It's Day 3 at Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 and the forecast is for nice south-easterly trade winds again – 17-20 knots and gusting to 28 during the afternoon, making it three days in a row of hard but enjoyable sailing – lay day tomorrow will be welcome by all for a little R&R.

It was another big day on the water for the 36th running of Whitsunday Sailing Club's Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024, although it was more 'doable' than yesterday's race, as the seaway was a lot more user friendly according to competitors.

Day 1 is out of the way at Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024, much to the delight of those who found the going tough, particularly the smaller off-the-beach boats taking part in the 150-strong fleet – and as the saying goes – today is another day.

The mass start of 150 boats on two start lines made for a palette of colour on Pioneer Bay for Day 1 of Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024, but the day was not without incident, as a number could not control their boats in the unruly winds that gusted to 24 knots causing many a capsize and broken masts across the classes taking part in the 36th running of the event.

Day 1 of Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 is set to be a cracker for the 150 competing boats across 14 divisions, with a spectacular mass start from two lines on Pioneer Bay the order of the day - and the weather is looking perfect for the opener of Whitsunday Sailing Club's signature event.

Over 150 boats are ready for a week of action on the water and ashore when Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) kicks off on 8 August, 2024 and there is a surprise or two among the 150-strong fleet taking part in the 36th running of this popular event.

Organisers at Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 look forward to seeing new talents emerge every year as they gravitate to one of Australia's favourite sailing playgrounds – and this year is no different, but the reasons they will make it to the Whitsundays are – some have funny stories attached, others have tales of frustration.

Entries for Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 continue to grow and among the latest, with two boats in the running, is local Michel Van Der Zwaard, whose two kids have been added to one of his boats for the 36th running of Airlie Beach Race Week, to be held from 8-15 August.

Entries for Whitsunday Sailing Club's (WSC) Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 continue to flow in and competition is set to ignite in the Trailable Yachts and Sports Boat class, while new support sponsors sign up for the popular Queensland regatta.

Entries for Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 have already touched 100 and continue to grow as organiser, Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC), announces a new Regatta Director, Jenni Birdsall.

As entries continue to flow in, it is with great pride Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) announces that Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week is going off the grid and green, courtesy of event support sponsor, Mobile Power Trailers.

Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) is pleased to announce the addition of naming rights sponsors Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay to Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 and also announces that entries have already broached 60 for the 36th running of the event, held in the stunning Whitsunday Islands every year.

The final day and no wind to speak of on the horizon on an otherwise beautiful sunny day, as officials at Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) 35th Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sail waited until near the 1pm cut off, unable to drum up a skerrick of wind, so all racing was abandoned and results stand as they are.

The organising committee of the Airlie Beach Race Week have announced the dates for the 2024 regatta. After this year’s very light series, the organisers, the Whitsunday Sailing Club, are looking for better racing conditions for the next installation, which will be conducted from 8 – 15 August 2024.

The final races at Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) today will decide the winners across the various divisions at Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) 35th running of its signature event and signs are that racing should get away from 11.30am.

Another warm sunny morning at Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) on Day 5, but racing has already been postponed due to identical conditions to yesterday’s – blue skies, balmy weather, but no wind, as the Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) race management team grappled with how to get some racing in.

Day 4 of Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) after competitors made the most of lay day yesterday, sightseeing and shopping locally, or on adventures further afoot, returning this morning to find organisers at Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) had displayed AP ashore with a 9.45am advising, “No breeze on the race course.”

Another sunny light air day Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) on Day 3, officials at Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) out searching for steady breeze, but struggled to get racing in, just four divisions raced while the rest floated around and watched whales at play and took in the scenery.

An outgoing tide and no breeze to speak of, meant race officials at Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) were up against it to get any racing in on Day 4 of Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), even though a breeze teased after the AP flag went up ashore, but competitors waited and waited, officials keeping them updated of an indecisive and extremely light breeze.

Day 3 at Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) and officials at Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) warned the forecast was for a 5-10 knot east/south-easterly, which meant sending the bulk of the fleet further north to make the best of the breeze.

Day 2 at Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) and the 152 entries lined up on Pioneer Bay for the first starts at 10am on another blue skied sunny day with a light breeze of 10 knots expected on the various course areas today.

A mass start for the fleet at Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) and ideal sailing conditions of up to 20 knots as a gloomy sky developed into a sunny blue day on Pioneer Bay when officials fired the first gun for Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) 35th running of its annual event.

Day 1 at 2023 Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) and the volunteer force that makes this regatta possible were out in force at this morning’s race briefing preparing for the opening race, a spectacular mass start from 11am.

Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) continued today in a light breeze on a typically balmy Whitsundays day, but all were kept on their toes as the tide played a big roll and found some stranded ashore for a time when they took things a little too far – Scarlet Runner, Rock ‘n Roll and Secret Weapon among them.

Father and son duo, Joe and Thomas Goddard, will join over 160 new and regular entries from Australia wide, New Caledonia and New Zealand, when the start gun is fired on Friday, signalling the first day of racing at 2023 Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW).

Airlie Beach Race Week is sure to set pulses racing and hearts pumping when the multihulls and sports boats take to the water for the 35th running of the annual Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) takes off from 10-17 August.

Two past Sydney Hobart winners, a record-breaking Kiwi yacht, a Fast 40 and a new kid on the block are among the quality IRC/ORC entries ready for action stations when the 35th running of Airlie Beach Race Week, organised by Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) is held from 10-17 August.

Berthing for yachts and big multihulls for the 35th edition of Airlie Beach Race Week has been exhausted, as entries reach 100 early on, but organisers at Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) encourage other possible entries to try and source independently.

Entry is open and the Notice of Race online for the 35th edition of Airlie Beach Race Week, but with marina berthing limited, necessitating a cap of 100 yachts/multihulls, organisers at Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) urge all prospective competitors to enter now.

Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) reached its penultimate day and a lovely 15-20 knot breeze shook up competitors who had been basking in light conditions all week at the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s marquee event.

The Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) continued today, with multiple classes and a record 178 entries where some pointscores are becoming clear and others are so close they are tied on points.

A super competitive father and son are sailing in the Weta trimaran class at Airlie Beach Race Week in the Whitsundays this week and the results have sea sawed between the pair from Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club in Boreen, Queensland.

A magic day on the water for the record fleet of 178 taking part in the final day of racing at Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) in the Whitsundays, the sun and wind turned on their charms one more time, as whales and dolphins cavorted in the background.

Following an hour’s delay in racing at Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) today as officials waited for the breeze to fill in, Ray Roberts and his Team Hollywood (NSW) added a further win to their Day 1 victory to take command of IRC/ORC Division 1 of the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s 34th regatta.

Kerrie Driver is among the off-the-beach F18 multihull sailors competing at the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s 34th Airlie Beach Race Week this week and all of the class knows who the Sydneysider is.

Australian Olympian Mara Stransky is among the record numbers taking part in the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s 34th Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), which started off Airlie Beach in the Whitsunday Islands on Friday.

On Day 2 of Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), competitors in the record fleet of 178 boats were initially held ashore, as organisers Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) monitored a very light and variable breeze, but eventually all headed out to Pioneer Bay and waited and waited, until there was no choice but to abandon racing for the day at around 1pm.

A record fleet of 185 plus entries in 2022, surpassing the all-time record of 133 boats at Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) in 2016 will enjoy their first major regatta of the northern regattas season when the start gun fires in the Whitsunday Islands from 11 to 18 August.u

Families that sail together stay together – just ask those whose enthusiasm for sailing has rubbed off on the younger generation and other family members at Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) – among them is Geoff Dews, whose family have joined him for a special celebration.

As part of the 34th Airlie Beach Race Week, Whitsunday Sailing Club will also be hosting the Queensland Trailable Yacht & Sports Boat championship. Conducted in accordance with Australian Sailing’s Australian Class Based Handicap (CBH) Rating System for Trailable Yachts and Sports Boats, the event will be open to complying boats holding a current CBH or who fully complies with relevant class rules.

The lure of sailing on the warm waters of the Whitsunday islands in August, not to mention the competition from Australia-wide, has owners and crews once again feeling the pull of Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) and all it offers away from cold winters in their respective interstate homes.

More than 100 entries across a variety of classes have so far been received for the 34th running of Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), to be hosted by Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) in the Whitsunday Islands from 11 to 18 August, 2022.

We are receiving reports that it is difficult to secure berthing for boats at this year’s Airlie Beach Race Week. Both Port of Airlie and Coral Sea Marinas are advising enquiries that they do not have berths available, and are putting boats on waiting lists. They won’t be releasing any berths until much closer to race week other than cancelations.

Mako, the much travelled Sydney 40 owned by a Newcastle, NSW syndicate is officially the first entry received for Airlie Beach Race Week 2022, which will be held in the Whitsunday Islands from 11 to 18 August.

Whitsunday Sailing Club, the host of Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing, has announced the dates for the 2022 Airlie Beach Race Week. The Regatta will commence with registration on Thursday 11 August 2022, with racing commencing on Friday 12 August through to Thursday 18 August. Monday 15 August will be the traditional lay day.

The Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Airlie Beach Race Week finished on a high note, with 10-17 knot winds for the final race on a triangle course on Pioneer Bay deciding the day’s victors and the overall winners in the various divisions.

This is the final day at the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) Airlie Beach Race Week and the stakes are high in some divisions where the pointscores are so close that the top three will be decided by a triangle course on Pioneer Bay starting from 10am.

The weather gods were smiling down on competitors at Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing again, offering up a superb 10-17 knot south-easterly wind, and bucket loads of sunshine on the penultimate day of the week-long regatta in the Whitsundays.

Two days of racing remain at Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Airlie Beach Race Week, which continues today with a mix of windward/leewards and passage racing, all starting on Pioneer Bay in the stunning Whitsunday Islands – or Paradise, as it is known to those who live there and visitors to the region.

Tim McCall and the Hairy McClary crew from the Capricornia Cruising Yacht Club in Queensland had their day in the sun at Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing, their race win taking Tim McCall’s Trailable yacht to a one point lead overall

Fun was had by all on yesterday’s lay day and today the proof will be in the pudding at Airlie Beach Race Week – who will turn up prepared, and who will be dusty – the results will be the telling in the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s annual major sailing event.

Three days of superb racing conditions and a fabulous social atmosphere a world away from lockdowns and the serious business of work life as competitors acknowledge and appreciate their week of racing at Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) Airlie Beach Race Week.

Another day of ideal sailing at Airlie Beach Race Week with a race course weaving through the beautiful Whitsunday Islands and an ideal 15- 20 knot wind, but fun seems to be the focal point for most competitors who are enjoying the freedom they realise they are fortunate to have.

Day 1 out of the way, officials and competitors at Whitsunday Sailing Club’s annual Airlie Beach Race Week have dusted themselves off after the night’s celebrations and are now looking forward to the day ahead, which Event Chairman, Ross Chisholm, says, “should be champagne sailing.”

It had all the drama of soap opera; while some revelled in the 20 knot breeze, others were dismasted or were damaged, which put paid to their race on the opening day of Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) 33rd Airlie Beach Race Week.

Despite the latest lockdowns in NSW and the south east corner of Queensland, organisers at Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) are looking forward to welcoming competitors and their supporters to the 33rd running of Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), which starts on Thursday with registration.

Will Oxley is one of the world’s leading navigators for ocean racing, having sailed over 250,000nm including 5 round the world races and 19 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races, and winner of the CYCA Ocean Navigator of the year award in 2010, 2018 and 2019.

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.

It’s Day 5, the penultimate day of racing at the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) 2020 Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing, and among the entries is a newcomer, Glenn Burrell’s Black Diamond.

A long wait ashore for 64 crews as officials continued to monitor the weather, or lack thereof on the Pioneer Bay course, for the penultimate day of Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing, hosted by Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC).

Back in Black has exerted her authority on the rest of the Multihull Racing fleet today, the Extreme 40 won both races on windward/leeward courses at the 2020 Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing, while Ray Roberts’ Team Hollywood has made it four from four in the IRC Rating Passage Division.

Refreshed from the lay day and having effected any repairs. or undertaken training, the 64 boats competing at the Whitsunday Sailing Club hosted Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing 2020, are back on the water today for Day 4 of racing.

Sunshine finally poked through the clouds, and competitors aboard the 64 competing boats at the 2020 Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing did not find the anticipated 15 knots, instead the breeze peaked at 8 knots.

Day 3 at Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) 2020 Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing, and with racing to kick-off from 1030am this morning, competitors were looking forward to another day of decent sailing conditions, not dissimilar to yesterday.

Festival of Sailing today, the winds Gods changed tack and gave the 64 boats and crews a run for their money in the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) annual event.

Sixty four boats are taking part in the 2020 Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing and faced the unusual situation of little to no breeze on a foggy and rainy day in the beautiful Whitsundays yesterday, but there were happy campers in the end, when some found 6-7 knots of breeze late in the shortened race.

It is a requirement that ALL crew members complete the attached declaration and lodge with the Organising Authority.

In light of the recent Government announcements regarding health concerns over Covid-19, the Airlie Beach Race Week Organising Committee wish to clarify the plans for the 32nd Airlie Beach Race Week.

Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) officials are pleased to announce that a healthy fleet of 70 boats will take part in the 32nd running of Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing, where a week-long sailing program and a fabulous social calendar awaits all.

Whitsunday Sailing Club, in conjunction with Mainstay Sailing, will conduct an Australian Sailing “Safety and Sea Survival” course on Friday 14th August, the day after the completion of Airlie Beach Race Week.

With the announcement that the Queensland border will open on 10 July to all but Victoria, Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) is working hard to make sure that Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing, to be held from 6-13 August, is a memorable event for all concerned.

As Coronavirus restrictions continue to ease around Australia, Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) is pleased to announce it is full steam ahead for Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsundays Festival of Sailing.

Sometimes it’s really hard to see the rounding mark on the horizon even when everyone aboard knows that it’s there. We just have to rely on the compass and keep all eyes focused ahead. Like searching for “cats’ paws”, wisps of wind on a glassed-out sea, patience and determination will get us across the line.

Entry for the Whitsunday Airlie Beach Festival of Sailing opened on 1 March, 2020 and can be found online, along with Notice of Race, easily found on the Home page of the official Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) race website.

The 31strunning of Airlie Beach Race Week has come to a close late this afternoon and all winners and placegetters will be feted at the official prize giving at Whitsunday Sailing Club this evening.

Paul Mitchell skippered Ullman Sails to one final win at the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) 2019 Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) to claim the Australian Multihull Championship title; finishing 11 points clear of nearest rival, Julian Griffiths The Boat Works.

The 2019 Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) grand finale is shaping up to be a beauty with east/south-east 15 to 20 knot winds expect and Ross Chisholm, the Race Director Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) advising all courses would be on Pioneer Bay for the final day.

Paul Mitchell and Ullman Sails are well on the way to winning the Australian Multihull Championship at Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) and to defending the title they won last year, and the year before, such is Mitchell and his crew’s dedication to performing at the top of their game.

The 31st Airlie Beach Race Week, hosted by Whitsunday Sailing Club, is in its closing stages with just one day of racing remaining, so all 114 competing boats were out on the various courses today doing their best to cement a podium place in advance of the final day.

Day 4 at 2019 Airlie Beach Race Week and the 31st running of Whitsunday Sailing Club’s largest sailing event, which reels in the big tourism dollars to the region, hit a new high note today, with winds reaching in excess of 20 knots and gusting 24 at times.

Day 5 and weather forecasters have promised similar conditions to those of yesterday at Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), hosted by Whitsunday Sailing Club (WS, meaning 12-23 knots under sunny skies again.

It’s all to play for in the Australian Multihull Championship at Whitsunday Sailing Club’s 2019 Airlie Beach Race Week – particularly for the local rock star – and that became very evident on Day 4, as the wind freshened and the multis showed their power and the crews their passion for racing them.

Cruising boats such as Eve, Vanilla 2 and White Swan are providing the glamour at Airlie Beach Race Week, the multihulls and today’s weather are the glitz factor, and in fact the entire 114 entries put on a stunning show in the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) event today.

It’s Day 3 at Airlie Beach Race Week and a breeze of up to 15 knots is on the horizon at the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s 2019 event, which plays into the hands of the sports boats where winning is just about winning, it’s all about family pride, with six of the ten entries chockablock with family talent on board.

Pioneer Bay provided the perfect opportunity for sailors, photographers and spectators on Day 2 of 2019 Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), with Whitsunday Sailing Club officials decreeing all classes sail on the Bay, resulting in a mass of colour around the course.