Abell Point Marina- Airlie Beach Race Week 2013 naming rights sponsor

by Abell Point Marina on 10 Jun 2013 Whitsunday Sailing Club has announced Abell Point Marina as the major naming rights sponsor for Airlie Beach Race Week 2013. With the world-class regatta now in its 24th year, the Sailing Club is proud to be partnering with Abell Point Marina and new owner Paul Darrouzet. Returning to the spelling of the pioneer and original land holder in the area now known as Airlie Beach, Thomas Abell, Abell Point Marina is poised to undergo a major expansion and revitalisation program, comprising investment in dredging works within the marina, and the beautification of the dredge settlement pond along with an extensive upgrade of existing services and facilities to enhance the marina as a tourism and marine lifestyle asset. Whitsunday Sailing Club Commodore and Event Chairman Rob Davis said with Airlie Beach Race Week celebrating 25 years in 2014, the event has proven to be a favourite on the sailing calendar, attracting thousands of people to the local region each year. 'The Club is looking forward to partnering with this expanding Marina and offering a fun, tropical regatta, coupled with serious sailing to competitors, their friends and family from all over Australia and the Whitsunday community from August 9 to 16,' Mr Davis said. 'Abell Point Marina is very strategically placed to provide easy access to the main street of Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Sailing Club. It accommodates a broad range of recreational and commercial vessels, living up to its reputation as the hub of the marine tourism industry and the gateway to the Whitsundays,' he said. Abell Point Marina General Manager Richard Barrett has welcomed the regional event partnership with the Whitsunday Sailing Club and the pivotal role this event plays in the local tourism economy. Richard said, 'Abell Point Marina is committed to involving the community in the future growth of the region and the support of the Airlie Beach Race Week is important to grow as a signature regional event to ensure we are planning for longevity and sustainability in the coming years'. 'Abell Point Marina is uniquely located at the Gateway to the Whitsundays and islands of the Great Barrier Reef and what better way to showcase this beautiful part of the world, than with the 24th annual Airlie Beach Race Week,' he said. Both the Whitsunday Sailing Club and Abell Point Marina plan to bring this year’s regatta to life with an exciting schedule of racing, entertainment and festivities planned over the eight day event.

This year the regatta, in August, is expecting record numbers of competitors and supporters in Airlie Beach, which will also feature the Australian Multihull Championships bringing up to 50 additional boats for the competition. 'Race week is proud to host the national multihull championships which are also a key regatta in Queensland’s Season of Sailing that runs along the coast from March - September. The addition of the multihull championships demonstrates that the Whitsundays is a premier sailing destination and our club is proud of providing this signature regional event,' Mr Davis said. Local businesses interested in supporting the event can contact Whitsunday Sailing Club. The official race week website is www.airlieraceweek.com Abell Point Marina Airlie Beach Race Week 2013 is supported by the Queensland Government through, Tourism and Events Queensland, as part of a growing calendar of sporting, cultural, and regional events throughout the state. More at www.airlieraceweek.com www.facebook.com/airliebeachraceweek2013 www.twitter.com/whitsundaysail1