Audi Hamilton Island Raceweek socials - Surf & Turf Dinner

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 18 Aug 2015 Audi Hamilton Island Raceweek is about more than just sailing – if there is such a thing as ‘just sailing’. After two days of good breeze to open the event with style, Monday evening’s onshore draw card was a Surf & Turf Dinner with no less than four world class athletes by way of speakers.

Libby Trickett swam to gold medals at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympics, and is the World Record holder holder in the short-course (25m) 100 metres freestyle.

Ky Hurst competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 10km marathon swimming event and finished in 11th place, after qualifying by finishing fifth at the 2008 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championship. He is now with the Oracle AC team and – according to Tom Slingsby – is the “best grinder on the boat.”

Slingsby himself needs no introduction to sailors. He is the reigning World Champion and Olympic gold medallist in the Laser class and is working for Oracle.

Glenn Bourke is a sailing legend, having been on board One Australia when it “turned into a banana”. He is also a three-times Laser World Champion, an Olympian, America’s Cup veteran, former CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race and present CEO of Hamilton Island.

Romano’s Italian Restaurant turned up the heat with a first class dinner, and the hosts for the evening pushed it up several notches further with tales both entertaining and thought-provoking from their sporting careers. Visitors more used to the Asian regatta programme were delighted to find that there is substantially more to do in the evening at an Australian regatta than sit around playing Sailing Karate.