Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2014 - A trophy for any crew to win

by Rob Mundle on 4 Aug 2014
Following Clive Palmer’s lead, John and Kim Clinton got into the spirit of the Prix d’Elegance at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2013 with the launch of their mock “Holy Cow” political party. Andrea Francolini / Audi http://www.afrancolini.com
2014 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - As the fleet size for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week climbs towards the impressive mark of 180, it has been confirmed that this year there will again be two trophies on offer that any competing crew can win.

These stylish trophies will go to the winners of the Prix d’Elegance, the event where crews go to great lengths to display their creative genius in one of the two categories:

The best-presented yacht: the yacht perfectly presented, and the crew in matching uniforms lining the deck etc. Yacht can be subtly themed.

Best-themed yacht: We’ve had political satire, tropical island settings, bubble baths and even Michael Jackson as themes for this section.

The Prix d’Elegance will be staged before the start of racing on Friday, August 23.

Over the years this all-in event has proven to be a boat-load of fun for competitors, and high entertainment for the spectators watching from the shore.

One of the leading contenders in the 'Best Themed' category will no doubt be Holy Cow, owned Race Week stalwarts John and Kim Clinton (John is the high-profile leader, drummer and vocalist for Australia’s legendary southern-style band, The Wolverines). This year they will be out to win the trophy for an unprecedented third time. Two years ago their theme was 'Fifty Shades of Green', while last year they decided to follow Clive Palmer’s lead and form their own political party, 'The Holy Cow Party'.

Judging takes place from the Flag Deck at Hamilton Island Yacht Club. As each themed yacht departs Hamilton Harbour and heads out to racing that day, they cruise past the yacht club so their efforts can be considered by the judges, and applauded by the spectators. 'The Prix d’Elegance is an integral part of the fun everyone enjoys at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week,' said Race Director, Denis Thompson. 'Every year it’s amazing to see what lengths crews go to in their attempt to win these two trophies.'



With the number of entries for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2014 confirming the continuation of the upwards trend of recent years, Denis Thompson added that this year’s fleet represented a true cross-section of the sport. In particular, he was pleased to note that the fleet of large multihulls this year, numbering 20, was a 75 per cent increase on last year.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week will be staged from August 16 to 23. The Notice of Race, entry form and regatta information are available on the regatta website.

German luxury brand, Audi, is back for the ninth year at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week in 2014. Audi and the sport of sailing go hand in hand, thanks to a shared passion for winning performance, the use of lightweight and progressive materials in construction, and a love of spirited competition. In Australia, the Audi brand closed 2013 with its ninth consecutive year of growth, supported in part by the Australian sailing community. Throughout Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2014, the brand will host a range of events and activities on the island for yacht owners, yacht crews and guests to enjoy.

Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastBarton Marine Pipe Glands

Related Articles

Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 2
Philip Köster triumphs again in Pozo Izquierdo The 37th edition of the Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup delivered a thrilling second day this Sunday, once again marked by strong winds and the talent of the world's best windsurfers.
Posted on 6 Jul
A perfect start to the 5th annual AEGEAN 600
Cloudless blue skies, crystal clear waters and perfect 12-15 knots of northerly wind At the very southern end of the Greek mainland at Cape Sounion in Attica, today's start to the 5th edition of the AEGEAN 600 was perfect: cloudless blue skies, crystal clear waters and perfect 12-15 knots of northerly wind.
Posted on 6 Jul
29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 4
One race, one storm, and one big lay day vibe With qualification wrapped and the fleet now split into six groups—Gold, Silver, Bronze, Emerald, Purple, and White—Day 4 of the 29er Europeans kicked off with early optimism and an earlier-than-usual launch in pursuit of the morning breeze.
Posted on 6 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 1
Full foiling conditions launch the World Championship with four high-intensity races for both fleets The iQFOiL World Championship kicked off today in Aarhus with dynamic and demanding conditions that truly tested the world's top foiling windsurfers. The wind was anything but steady, shifting in both direction and intensity throughout the day.
Posted on 6 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais overall
American Magic Quantum Racing win Rolex TP52 Worlds after breezy week in Cascais. Doug DeVos' American Magic Quantum Racing crew were crowned 2025 Rolex TP52 World Champions today in Cascais, Portugal.
Posted on 6 Jul
Red Bull Sailing Academy Opens
A new hub for current and future superstars to reach the top of their sport Marina Monfalcone, North Italy, made waves yesterday, as sports superstars gathered to open the Red Bull Sailing Academy, marking the beginning of a new era in the sport.
Posted on 6 Jul
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 1
Philip Köster edges out Marcilio Browne in one of the closest finals ever Philip Köster edges out Marcilio Browne in one of the closest finals ever as Pozo delivers 50 knot winds and waves.
Posted on 6 Jul
America's Cup: French give the Brits the "Hurry-up
Frustration builds between Cup factions over lack of progress with Protocol. Last weekend's missive from the French America's Cup challenge team is further evidence over the building frustration with progress towards the 2027 America's Cup in Naples.
Posted on 6 Jul
The oldest video footage of Moth sailing
A look back into our video archive, to when the name of this class first settled down We delve into our video archive to find the oldest possible videos that show Moth racing. Are these International Moths, British Moths... or was the name still Olive, Inverloch 11ft, National Moth or Brent One-Design?!
Posted on 6 Jul
GKSS Match Cup & Nordea Women's Trophy overall
It is the first time the Match Cup Sweden title has been won by a Danish Skipper Denmark's Jeppe Borch/ Team Borch Match Race, and France's Pauline Courtois/ Match in Pink by Normandy crowned the new champions of Marstrand in a day of fierce weather for the final of 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy in Marstrand.
Posted on 6 Jul