(Hamilton Islands, Australia)- The Audi 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 descend upon Hamilton Island for “the
week”- Australia’s largest offshore keelboat regatta.
Perfectly
situated on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, amongst Queensland's
seventy-four 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.Hamilton Island’s CEO, Olympic and World Champion sailor Glenn Bourke, said Race Week organizers were justifiably proud of the fact that 202 yachts had entered this year. “This great fleet confirms that Audi Hamilton Island Race Week continues to stand as Australia’s premier offshore regatta, and undoubtedly one of the best sailing events in the world,” Bourke said. “From our
side,
we are well aware of the effort all participants, their families and
friends, put in, just to be with us each year. It’s this commitment on
their part that causes us to work even harder so every Audi Hamilton
Island Race Week is bigger, better and more fun.”Brilliant sailing conditions on day one of the IRC Australian Championship inflated adrenaline levels and threw the less practiced straight into the deep, briny end of the fleet, whether they wanted to be there or not. Cool 20-knot SSE tradewinds and breeze against tide for the Dent Passage spinnaker start on Sunday, August 16 put the sail trimmers on high alert and the photographers in a clicking fury.
Two
of the larger J models are participating in this year’s fabulous
event. One is the J/130 RAGTIME sailing in IRC 4 Class- the owners,
Chris & Bernadette Morgan, acquired her and base her at Royal
Queensland Yacht Squadron. Since then, RAGTIME’s first major win was
the 2014 Brisbane to Keppel race. At this stage of the regatta, RAGTIME
is lying mid-fleet.The other team sailing is the J/133 EUPHORIA, skippered by Anthony Coleman, in EHC Racer-Cruiser class. EUPHORIA had raced extensively in both the USA and United Kingdom. She arrived into Australia in 2009 and races regularly with the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron on Sydney Harbour. In 2011, she won Performance Racing 2 Division at Hamilton Island Race Week. With a solid crew on board, EUPHORIA is currently sitting tight on her 2nd place position and hopes to improve that to #1 soon! For more AUDI Hamilton Island Race Week sailing information.
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