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.
The last three days of racing have been in variable light breezes, in contrast to the first three days, which were full-on. Here's how it panned out in the end.
Performance Racing
It could not be much closer, with three boats in contention on the final day. At the top of the board going into racing this morning, Leo Rodriguez/Iyas Shaheen's RP36 Shockwave, Smooth Criminal, led proceedings from Gerard Tromp Everaarts' Gizmo and Mark Beale's Bobby's Girl. All three represent Queensland.
The last race decided in favour of Smooth Criminal over early series leader Mr Mojo (George Kompolthy, NSW) after the latter scored a second today. Gizmo took the other podium place. Dermot Crean's Deviljsh put the cat among the pigeons by winning the final race which dropped Bobby's Girl to fourth.
Rating Division 1
This ended closer than we predicted. Ray 'Hollywood' Roberts' Team Hollywood was the boat to beat and fellow Sydneysider, Gordon Ketelbey, gave it a good go with his TP52 Zen over seven races. However, Team Hollywood prevailed by winning the last race, Zen was second and Mobile Power Trailers, the Adam Janczyk skippered MC38, climbed up into third by finishing second in Race 7.
"it's a tricky place to sail. The tide's not always easy," Roberts said. The races where we sailed well was more about boat handling in the big breeze – hang on and hold on. Even though our results were up and down I thought we sailed well. What you have to remember is there are other very good teams here doing the same thing.
"Above all, Airlie Beach is a great place to sail. There are good courses and a diverse fleet, which is quite unusual," Roberts said. "There's plenty to do onshore as well, so they have it all covered."
Multihull Racing
The end result was tighter in Division O than anticipated. It boiled down to the day's Race 7. Second place was enough to give Paul Mitchell's local Ullman Sails the overall win over Joel Berg's Hooligan (Qld). Both are Extreme 40s. Mitchell's brother Dale won the final race, moving him up to third overall with the MC32, M32 World.
"Last year we ended up third. This time we had a good workout from the others including my brother Dale. It's good to have a bit of all conditions, including a bit of breeze. The Extremes went better in the heavier conditions than the other boats, which got their chance in the light air," Mitchell said.
"We'll be back next year," ended Mitchell whose Ullman Sails was a support sponsor of ABRW this year, including providing the skipper's bags. Ullman's also repaired sails for those who suffered damage with a quick turnaround, so crews could be back on the water next day, much to the appreciation of those owners.
Division 2
Rushour (Qld), designed and built by her owner/skipper, Drew Carruthers, held the upper hand this week. However, two others - Pierre Gal's Fez (NSW) and Greg Alder's Top Gun (Qld) - did not let the grass grow under their hulls. Rushour prevailed by two points over Top Gun. Fez was third. Cut Snake (Stuart Cox, Qld) won the last race, his first win of the series.
"Very happy we did well in the light wind. Very grateful for other people sailing, otherwise we'd have no races. There wasn't much in it in the end. One race there was only a second in it, so the handicapping was very good. It was absolutely great to win – it was a great week - I can't complain at all," Carruthers said.
Weta 4.4 trimarans
George Owen (Wetasashag) cleaned up in the off-the-beach Weta trimaran division, winning every race but one, in which he finished second and used as a drop. The class sailed two races today to complete the 10-race series in which Brad Stanley (Hazmat) placed second and New Zealander, Terry Bailley, took the final podium place.
"It was a lot harder on the windy days," Owen said. "This class has a good bunch of guys and they are very competitive. Brad hasn't sailed the boat much, so he'll get better and better. Terry came from Auckland to race and is more attuned to the heavier weather. There's a lot of people new to the class and it takes a bit of time to learn the intricacies. I'm more experienced but I'm still learning the boat too.
"I love the one-design sailing and the boat's so easy to rig and de-rig. I'm sure I'll be back next year as Maz (his wife) does volunteer duty on Miss Polly. We enjoy it here," ended Owen from Lake Cootharaba, north-west of Noosa and where many of the Wetas race.
Trailable & Sports Boat Division 1
Julian Bethwaite cleaned up with Don't Panic (NSW), his self-designed and built Bethwaite 89er. Son, Angus, was on board, so a nice father/son win for them. They won five of the six races, but in today's relinquished first place to Dave Eickmeyer's Rush (Vic) which lifted to third place overall, with John Rae and Gary Smith's Bethwaite 79er, Vivace (Qld) taking second overall.
"It's nice to get a clean sweep," Bethwaite said of winning CBH, PHS and scratch." We were a little complacent at the end today in winds of 2-6 knots. It's fabulous to see a boat like Vivace, which is 20 years old, do so well," Bethwaite said of the boat he also designed.
"It's a great event, we enjoy coming here. It's much better than Hamo. It's a better atmosphere, it's affordable and there's lots to do," said the Sydneysider who also designed the Olympic class 49er.
Cruising Non-Spinnaker Division
Nobody could touch Ainslie Allen's Waterline (Vic), a Beneteau Oceanis 51.1. By the time Race 5 was done and dusted yesterday, Waterline was almost out of reach in the 10-boat division. Fifth place today was enough to secure top spot by five points to local, Terrence Stevens' Matchless. Another local and past winner, Peter Harrison, was third with Awesome.
Boss Hog
The highlight of the night is awarding the Boss Hog Trophy to the competitor/crew that best sums up the spirit of Race Week, displays sportsmanship and stands above the rest. This year it went to Andrew Jamieson, a crew member of REO Speedwagon, for his total enthusiasm on the water and ashore. Andrew was keen to get on the water every day, rain, hail or shine and went out of his way to make friends ashore - the smile never left his face.
A huge thank you to our naming rights sponsors and support sponsors who have amplified the entire event to a new level, highlighting it to the boating world. It was great to see the Mount Gay rum and caps back and our media were most thankful to Ocean Dynamics for the ideal media boats and driver, Tyler Lewis.
Finally, to all competitors, Airlie Beach Race Week would not happen without you. We hope you all had a fabulous time on and off the water, with whale viewing thrown in free of charge. We look forward to seeing you next year.
Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 is held from place from 8-15 August and enjoys continued support from Tourism and Events Queensland, including as a feature on the It's Live! Queensland events calendar. The event also enjoys support from Coral Sea Marina Resort and d'Albora Port of Airlie Marina.
