Airlie Beach Race Week organisers look for local support

by Corrie Gardner on 3 May 2012 Airlie Beach Race Week 2012 dates have been confirmed for 10th to 16th August. The Whitsunday Sailing Club is calling for the local community to get behind Airlie Beach Race Week to ensure its survival. The event is going ahead this year without a major sponsor after the demise of Meridien Marinas. The Whitsunday Sailing Club is now looking for additional smaller sponsors to support the event.

The Airlie Beach Race Week Committee has this week been meeting with Denis Thompson, Race Director, and working out the logistics of this year’s event. Denis says, 'this is a major event for the area and the whole community needs to take ownership of it. We are fortunate to have funding from Queensland Events Regional Development Program (QERDP) for this year but there are still a lot of costs involved in putting on such a major event.'

Commodore of the Whitsunday Sailing Club Rob Davis says, 'we are looking for support from local businesses as the event brings a lot of business to the region and gives many businesses an opportunity to promote directly to the over 1000 competitors, family and friends. People have been coming to Airlie for years and years and the friendship and relaxed attitude makes it one of the most popular regattas on the sailing calendar. This is the very best audience you can find to promote your tourism, retail and marine products to.'

Airlie Beach Race Week is a flagship event for the Whitsunday and has grown over the past 22 years to become the largest keelboat sailing regatta held on the Queensland mainland coast. The world-class regatta reinforces Tourism Queensland 'Where Australia Shines' and Tourism Whitsundays '74 Island Wonders' messages and assists in promoting the Whitsundays to a state, national and international audience. The event gains extensive cover on TV and in sailing, regional and lifestyle media.

If you are interested in being involved in the event please email the Whitsunday Sailing Club at Airlie:Beach Race Week website