Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Review
Sun 29 Aug 2010
Its little wonder that Hamilton Island Race Week is regarded as the premier yacht racing event in Australia and highly regarded through out the world. This year's event was further proof of what happens when you transform a island resort “town” in a sailing mecca for 9 odd days of full on sailing and socialising.
Before a single sail had been hoisted in anger, the stage had been set. Private jets coming into land over a Dent Passage mooring zone chock a block with the some of the world's most luxurious yachts, including the stand out Kokomo at 58 metres of billionaire appeal. On shore there were soon fireworks as a backdrop to an opening that included Australian rock stalwart Diesel in a high energy performance which included a raft of his 80's originals that have not lost their shine.
Racing over the slightly extended week was once again affected by light conditions on some days, but nothing so disappointing as the “no wind for days” 2009 event. This year, the well thought out courses put most boats over the finish lines with time to spare with due consideration for tide and wind conditions. This contrasts with many years past where a gunwhale to gunwhale raft up would form at the Southern entrance to the Dent passage as 200 boats tried to finish against a 2 knot tide in NO WIND. That indelible memory seems funny now, but no so on the day.
The most significant IRC boats in Australia including winner Loki showcased sailing performance later in the week luckily providing more photogenic appeal than the whales that featured in a few too many photo stories in the first part of the week. Amongst the fleet winners was local “Explore Whitsundays” backpacker boat “Condor” skippered by David Malloy. Seen so often amongst the islands racked up with international travelers, it was great to see the ocean racing classic still able to put on a winning performance despite having racked up a “few summers”.
Its seemed that everywhere you looked there was racing, including the SB3 fleet racing just to the North West of Hamilton Island. Watching the orchestration of the week, there is little doubt that the support for the yacht racing extends well beyond turning a dollar. The continuous investment of the Oatley family in the sport and development of yacht racing is clearly evident....
... and little wonder that the state of Queensland have jumped on board with the “Season of Sail”, which brackets later year Queensland sailing events in the name of tourism. Going one step further, press were gathered for an announcement that included lately-returned-from-the-around-the-world sensation Jessica Watson. At the call of Jessica's “next big thing”, there was an expectation that she would announce an Antarctic adventure or tunnel to the centre of the earth. Instead we find that she will be soon feature in hard hat wearing photo opps and jetting across the world with our premier Anna Bligh as the crowned Queensland Ambassador for Sailing. One wonders if the pocket sized sailing dynamo fits the carry on baggage template or will be checked into the hold..... perhaps she will get to sit on Ben Southalls' knee when the full swag of Queensland “ambassadors” are required at overseas promo opps.
Quips aside, its great to have Jessica as a Queenslander and rightfully recognised with the state posting proving again that “determination breeds success” and “success breeds success”.
Whitsundays, Queensland is unquestionably the sailing centre of Australia, if not the world . Ask anyone that attended Hamilton Island Race Week, anyone that has enjoyed a bareboat holiday amongst the Whitsunday islands, or any of the thousands of (early) retirees that call the “Queensland coast” home in their live-aboard versions of endless summer.
Related Links:
Hamilton Island Race Week Photo gallery 25th August Photo gallery 27th August Photo gallery 28th August
