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.
On another course area, the F16/F18s, Extreme 40s and Wetas sailed windward/leeward races and they went ahead. All other racing was cancelled, bar IRC/ORCi Division 1.
IRC/ORCi Racing
Andy Kearnan steered his TP52 Koa (NSW) to a win from Phillip Turner’s Alive (Tas) skippered by Duncan Hine. Ray Roberts Team Hollywood (NSW) placed third, but her two wins of previous days mean she still leads the series by two points from Koa and a further two points to Alive, a RP66.
Extreme 40s
Joel Berg (Hooligan) and Mike Peberdy (High Voltage) have gone where some fear to tread, taking over first and second place in the Extreme 40 division with five races put to bed. Berg has two wins in his tally, Peberdy one, with Paul Mitchell (Ullman Sails) now in third place, with one win. All are from Qld. There is still plenty of racing left.
Wettas
Andy Duffield (Wee Tri) took over the lead yesterday and has maintained after one race on the windward/leeward course today, however, it is on countback to last year’s winner, the crafty Ryan McVey (The Other Office). McVey won the race from Duffield and Joanne Chetwynd (Three Amigos) who has taken up residence in third place overall.
F16/F17 multis
Three races now done and Eli Henebury (Bolt Racing) won Race 3 to take the lead from Emma Rankin (Goodall Design) whose unusual 11th of today drops her to second place. Mal Gray’s Wild Cat moves up onto the podium in third place after a second place today.
Queensland Trailable Yacht & Sports Boat Championships
Although they did not race today, there is a lot on the line for those contesting the Queensland Trailable Yacht & Sports Boat Championships. After two races and coming into Day 3, high-profile boat designer, Julian Bethwaite, leads Division 1 with his new self-designed and built 89er, Don’t Panic.
However, Bethwaite (NSW), leads on countback from one of the event stalwarts, Leon Thomas with Guilty Pleasures X, an 11-year-old Shaw 650.
New boat versus the more mature and we will have to wait until Tuesday to see what transpires.
Thereafter, on seven points apiece, are Vivace (Qld) the John Rae/Gary Smith owned Bethwaite 79er and Sandor Tornai’s Bethwaite 8, Skeeter (NSW), so the pressure is on Bethwaite not only to beat the competition, but to beat his own designs!
“The boat is performing to perfection, the CBH (rating band) seems to be working well,” Bethwaite said. The Skeeters (Sandor Tornai) and Yorkies (Andrew York with Like Oxygen) have been sailing reasonably. And here we are in the sunshine, not in cold Sydney, so we can’t complain.”
Bethwaite agrees too, that “Skeeter and Vivace are always going to be our main competition. We have to beat them by five minutes in a three hour race and that’s not easy, they are both well sailed. It’s all tight, but also fun,” he ended.
In Division 2, Goggles (sometimes known as Jason Ruckert) has primed his Thompson 7, Mister Magoo (Qld), to perfection, winning both races in the last two days. Two points separates Goggles from Fletch Creedon’s Thompson 750, Mustard Cutter (Tas). The latter has 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart winning crew (Celestial), Troy Grafton aboard.
Mini Mako (in deference to Mako, the Newcastle based Sydney 40 Tim Dodds owns shares in, that is also racing here in PHS Cruising), as well as Fuzzy Logic, owned by Simon Flitcroft (who defected from NSW to Qld), are waiting in the wings…
Goggles: “We’re leading on CBH for the State titles. Yeah, we’ve had a couple of good races. The windy one suited us. We had a nice run down to the Cones. It was quick, we clocked at 16 knots, it was quite lumpy.
“Yesterday was a lot lighter and obviously the light suits the Magoo. We caught up to the Mustard Cutter down near the Bluff and that’s probably what got us the win. We had our esky on board today, which was handy…”
On who to watch out for, Goggles states: “Mustard Cutter is the one we’re keeping any eye on, we haven’t been able to get them over the line at all. They’re a Thompson 750, the size up from us. Fuzzy Logic might do well if it stays light.”
“We are for sure happy to be up there for the State title. We’ve managed to beat the other Thompson 7 (The Stig) so that’s good. This is our 14th Airlie Beach Race Week on Mister Magoo and I’ve personally done 18. We’ve had a good run out of this boat,” Goggles ended.
Lay Day tomorrow, with racing resuming from 10am on Tuesday.
Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and is a feature on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
For full results in all classes, please visit: www.abrw.com.au
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Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 goes green
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.
Presenting Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week Dates for 2024
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week: Victors reap the spoils
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.
Final races to decide trophies in tight pointscores
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.
Déjà vu as racing delayed
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.
Two classes get racing in
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.
Will conditions play ball at all on Day 4?
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.”
A search for light breeze on Day 3
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.
High achieving athletes set to race with family trio at Airlie Beach Race Week
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).
A light breeze day - with tide
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week - Racing away!
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.
Spectacular mass start on a perfect day
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.
Light winds expected on Day 2
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.
Fast boats ready for take-off at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Quality comes to Airlie Beach Race Week 2023
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week 2023: Early entries reach 100
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.
First in best dressed for Airlie Beach Race Week 2023
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.
Kerrie in F18 ‘Driver’ seat at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Team Hollywood makes it two from two
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.
Final day at Airlie Beach Race Week a glamour
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.
McVey versus McVey for Weta title
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.
Two days left to make a difference
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.
It’s come down to ‘take no prisoners’
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.
Olympian ‘home’ at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Families soak up sailing and celebrate at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week: Record fleet as onshore entertainment hits new high
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
Airlie Beach Race Week: Wind gods make call - racing abandoned
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.
Queensland Trailable Yacht & Sports Boat Championship
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.
Lure of Airlie Beach Race Week in winter
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week 2022: Entries breach 100
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week Berthing
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.
First entrant fired up for Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
2022 Airlie Beach Race Week Dates Announced
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week: Final Day and all to play for
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week concludes on a high note
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week reaches halfway point
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.
Hairy blokes have their day at Airlie Beach Race Week
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
Airlie Beach Race Week’s penultimate day
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week: Another wind filled thriller
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.
Good times keep rolling at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Day 2 dawns bright at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.”
Airlie Beach Race Week: Just another day in paradise
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.
Capsize and dismastings in Airlie Beach Race Week opener
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.
Adventures of an Ocean Racing Navigator - Will Oxley
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week is ready to roll
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.
Information Session with Will Oxley
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week still Full Steam Ahead
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.
Mass exodus as boaties head to Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Record tumbles as cool cats and tris join in for Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Heavy hitters heading to Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week: Fast boats quick on the draw with early entries
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week 2021 entries open
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.
Famous golden oldie scores division win at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Final race decides winners
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.
Desperado and G’Nome slay the giants
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).
Airlie Beach Race Week debut for Black Diamond
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.
Competitors ready for another day of racing
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.
Back in Black and Team Hollywood in control
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.
Stakes raised as Airlie Beach Race Week approaches halfway mark
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.
Another day for the light air specialists
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week – Light on for breeze again today
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.
Winds arrive and ORMA 60 makes it two from two
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.
COVID 19 Crew Declaration
It is a requirement that ALL crew members complete the attached declaration and lodge with the Organising Authority.
ABRW - Covid-19 Update
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.
Safety and Sea Survival Course 14th August
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week ready to roll - on and off the water
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week prepares as Queensland border opening announced
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week 2020: Full steam ahead
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week - The Rounding Mark on a Distant Horizon
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 open for Airlie Beach Race Week 2020
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.
Grand finale at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Ullman Sails and Evil Gnome win Australian Multihull title at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Winners named at another successful Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Competition heats up with one day remaining at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Ullman Sails all the way at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Power and the passion at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week: Another spectacular day expected
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.
The diamonds and the dusty at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Glamour and glitz at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week Day 2 - another hot day on the track
While south of the border the weather is anything but warm and sunny, competitors at Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sails 2019 are being spoilt rotten with warm sunny waters and a light breeze – and more of the same is on the cards for Day 2.
Airlie Beach Race Week: Fun for all on Pioneer Bay
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.
Family pride on the line at Airlie Beach Race Week
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.
Airlie Beach Race Week: Light breeze sets the tone in opener
Racing was delayed for a couple of hours, but finally got underway at the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s 2019 Airlie Beach Race Week, with 5 knots starting the day off and the entire fleet headed from Pioneer Bay and up past Double Cone Island, conditions peaking at 12 knots before dying out again.
Nine days to start of Airlie Beach Race Week
Fast forward nine days to 8 August, and it will be on for young and old at Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing, Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) signature event, which continues to bring more tourists to the region than any other major event on the calendar.
100th entry sends Airlie Beach Race Week into ‘Overdrive’
Whitsunday sailor Rupert King is the 100thentrant to the 2019 Airlie Beach Race Week, with his performance cruiser Overdrive. Deciding he was “over” driving, the former truck driver built the Richard Edlin-designed 10.6 metre trimaran after falling in love with her sister ship.
Airlie Beach Race Week: Entries shaping up - prize winner announced
Entries across all classes and division are shaping up well for Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing as the organiser, Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC), announced the winner of the early entries prize draw which offered the full value of the event’s entry fee in food and drink vouchers at the Club.
Change at the helm for Airlie Beach Race Week
The Airlie Beach Race Week organising committee is saddened to report that long time Race Director, Denis Thompson, has withdrawn from this year’s event due to personal health issues.
Warm Northerlies welcome for Airlie Beach Race Week
Whatever direction the wind is blowing on Tuesday, August 13, Northerlies will be the flavour of the month for sailors competing in Airlie Beach Race Week.
Airlie Beach Race Week: Re-match on the cards – prize draw for early entries
TP52 racing by any standard is a thrill to watch, particularly when it involves the current top two Australian players in Ichi Ban and Hooligan, with the two heavyweights of yachting returning to Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing to battle it out for the top spot in IRC Racing again.
First local entry to Airlie Beach Race Week no longer a ‘Mistery’
When Bill Hopton entered his Swarbrick S99 into the 2019 Airlie Beach Race Week, he wasn’t expecting to be the first local in the Festival of Sailing’s fleet.
Australian Multihull Championship slated for Airlie Beach Race Week
Some of the largest and fastest multihulls, both catamarans and trimarans, will descend on Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing to compete in the 2019 Australian Multihull Championship, to be held from 8-15 August.
Hollywood comes to Airlie Beach Race Week 2019
Entries have opened for Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing 2019, and Ray ‘Hollywood’ Roberts was the first to take advantage, putting his name to paper for the Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) hosted Festival of Sailing to be held from 8-15 August.
Another successful Airlie Beach Race Week ends
Whitsunday Sailing Club’s 30th Anniversary Airlie Beach Race Week surpassed expectations – anyone would be hard put to remember better weather at a regatta, accentuated by the variety of winds, courses and the sunny days.
More fabulous conditions forecast for Airlie Beach Race Week
Whoever is in charge up there is certainly favouring Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Airlie Beach Race Week, this week, as Race Director Denis Thompson reports, “more trade winds, but lighter than yesterday – probably in the 15 knot range.”
Somebody up there loves the 30th Airlie Beach Race Week
Day 5 of Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing and conditions during the morning were above and beyond the forecast 15 knots, the wind whipping seas up quickly and crews had to stay on their toes, then winds eased after lunch – another great day in paradise.
Airlie Beach Race Week to serve up windy conditions today
Another day, at the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s 30th Anniversary Airlie Beach Race Week and the wind gods pulling out all stops with a 22-23 knot south-easterly breeze on order – different again to the previous three days of racing.
Trimaran flips at Airlie Beach Race Week – all aboard are fine
Queenslander Dennis Lehany’s Jim Brown 6 metre trimaran, Billy the Kid, flipped while racing in shifty and gusty 25 knot winds at Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing today.
Spills and thrills – Ichi Ban in control at 30th Airlie Beach Race Week
A sports boat limped home under motor after breaking its rudder, while other boats broached in up to 25 knots wind with gusts, their crews finding it difficult to control their rides – all part and parcel of the forecast superb windy conditions that arrived in time for Day 4 of Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing.
Racing delayed as wind gods procrastinate at Airlie Beach Race Week
Could be too much of a good thing in one place and after two great and very different days of sailing at Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Airlie Beach Race Week, Race Director, Denis Thompson, was looking at a weak and fading westerly land breeze and keeping competitors ashore while he monitored the situation.
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