Lovely trade winds forecast for Day 1 at Airlie Beach Race Week

by Di Pearson on 12 Aug 2016 2016 Airlie Beach Race Week - It’s a beautiful morning at Airlie Beach as the record 131 entries for the 2016 Airlie Beach Race Week gear up for their opening races starting from 11am this morning after registering at Whitsunday Sailing Club yesterday.

Officials are ready and raring to go too, along with the many volunteers who help make this event, which first started 27 years ago.

Race Director, Denis Thompson, commented this morning: “The first day looks like being perfect conditions in the Whitsundays, with a 15 knot easterly forecast.

“With a nice trade wind blowing, a sparkling sea and the sailors smiling, it’s a great way to kick of the regatta,” Thompson commented.

In IRC Racing, Karl Kwok’s TP52 Beau Geste will go head-to-head with Phillip Turner’s RP66, Alive. Gavin Brady has taken charge of the Hong Kong entry representing Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, while Duncan Hine is skipper for Tasmania’s Alive. Nick Bartels' Cookson 59, Terra Firma from Victoria, completes the picture.

A strong field in IRC Passage features the likes of Sydneysider Ray Roberts, who has chartered the Sydney 38, The Goat, renaming her Team Hollywood, and Trevor Bailey’s Beneteau F45, Carbon Credits. Bailey is keen for redemption after missing the podium by one point last year. Victoria’s Rob Date has skipped from grand prix racing to an Adams 10 cruiser and will try his luck in this class.

But the pundits can’t wait to see the multihulls in action, with Julian Griffiths’ Extreme 40, The Boat Works (Qld) and Simon Hull’s GC32, Frank Racing from New Zealand set to take on the likes of Darren Drew’s Crowther 50 cat, Top Gun (NSW) and the likes of South Australia’s Carbon Credit, the F32 owned by Peter Hawker. Racing in this class will keep all enthralled.

The Trailable Yacht Nationals are being hosted by the Tropical Festival of Sails this year and 19 of the best, from Queensland, Victoria and NSW, will be on the start line. Queensland has a mass entry, so is expected to shine.

Cruising division can again lay claim to the largest numbers, so of course will make the most spectacular sight, while the sports boats will be back in action.

Courses nine, ten and eleven will be utilised today, all taking in Double Cone Island, making a spectacular sight. IRC Racing is away first, and will be followed at five minute intervals by the other nine divisions.

Daily winners will be acknowledged for the first time this evening at WSC and the presentation will be followed by entertainment from Jan Arns, who will play all the favourite hits from the ‘80’s and ‘90’s.

For more information about Airlie Beach Race Week visit website.