Please select your home edition
Edition
Beneteau Australia 2026

Great Whitsunday Fun Race - New date announced

by Corrie Gardner on 26 Apr 2012
Best Dressed Boat 2011 - Great Whitsunday Fun Race 2012 SW
Great Whitsunday Fun Race, hosted by the Whitsunday Sailing Club, is being held on 18th August 2012. One of the special qualities of Airlie Beach is the overall party atmosphere of the town and one the highlights of their event calendar is the Great Whitsunday Fun Race.

This year the race has been moved to the weekend after Airlie Beach Race Week, to continue the fun and give visiting yachties another excuse to stay on in town and party. Not only is it a great day of racing but the after-party has created some legendary stories of its own!

The original aim of this race was to market Airlie Beach as the 'Mecca' for visiting yachts. The first race, in 1977, attracted 69 yachts out of a fleet of 98, including dinghies! The Fun Race has now become a favourite on the sailing calendar and traditions established include decorating decks and costumed crew, the 'Miss Figurehead' contest and the major trophy, an empty bottle of Mount Gay Rum mounted on a block of Mackay Cedar.

People can join in the race in all manner of sailing vessel or just come out on a spectator craft to enjoy the day. After the racing, join in the fantastic party on the shores of Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Sailing Club. Live bands, heaps of prizes, fun competitions and a wonderful atmosphere of mateship combine to make it a memorable day on and off the water.

Join in the regatta atmosphere of Airlie Beach Race Week and the Great Whitsunday Fun Race and create some ‘tall’ stories of your own for Whitsunday Sailing Club website
Sail Port Stephens 2026Maritimo M600Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER

Related Articles

Crunch time for SailGP and the Cup
Outside the Cup teams and Italian politicians, interest in the America's Cup appears to be fading Outside the Cup teams and Italian politicians, interest in the America's Cup appears to be fading fast, and SailGP is foiling into the vacated media space.
Posted on 23 Jan Jules Verne Trophy: Sodebo enters Storm Ingrid
The Famous Project CIC mainsail rips in half Thomas Coville and his time on Sodebo Ultim 3 have just 1,100 nautical miles to go to finish their Jules Verne Trophy record attempt, but Storm Imogen is standing in their way, with 55 knot winds and waves up to 38 feet high.
Posted on 23 Jan IDEC SPORT permanently deprived of its mainsail
The Famous Project CIC sailing under their wing mast and headsails They will now have to do without what remained of this sail and sail exclusively under their wing mast (30m2) and their headsails. So it was under sail that they performed a series of gybes during the night to round the island of Ponta Delgada.
Posted on 23 Jan ALMA Class Globe 580 – Breaking all the Rules?
Circumnavigating the globe is the unattainable dream for most sailors Circumnavigating the globe is the unattainable dream for most sailors, while solo racing around the world is considered extreme at best and too expensive for most? That assumption has now been turned upside down.
Posted on 23 Jan Incredible GLOBE40 Leg 4 Finish
Seconds split Belgium Ocean Racing - Curium and Credit Mutuel After nearly 7,000 miles of ocean racing, Belgium Ocean Racing - Curium and Credit Mutuel finish the stage in the incredible situation with a gap that is counted in seconds.
Posted on 23 Jan America's Cup: Match dates announced
The 38th America's Cup Match will begin on July 10, 2027 from Naples. The 38th America's Cup Match will begin on July 10, 2027 from Naples, and is expected to conclude by the following weekend.
Posted on 23 Jan Sodebo Ultim 3 set for Storm Ingrid
The final massive hurdle in their Jules Verne Trophy record attempt Nearly 1,500 nautical miles (2,778 km) remain to the finish line of the Jules Verne Trophy between Ushant and Lizard Point. However, the team know that these final hours will be extremely challenging.
Posted on 22 Jan ILCA Under 21 World Championships 2026 day 4
Margins at the top of both fleets continue to shrink With the final series now fully underway in Lanzarote, margins at the top of both fleets continue to shrink. A demanding fourth day of racing delivered shifting conditions, decisive moments and further changes in the standings.
Posted on 22 Jan The Famous Project CIC update
Impossible seas, strong winds from the wrong direction, a damaged boat... There is much thinking, pondering, and mentalizing aboard the Maxi trimaran IDEC SPORT from The Famous Project CIC.
Posted on 22 Jan 505, OK & 470 Australian Nationals Days 3 & 4
The fleet woke to a scorching day with land temperatures reaching 40c After four races over the first two days, the OK Dinghy fleet took a rostered day off to go to take the customary photo selfies with the quokkas on Rottnest Island.
Posted on 22 Jan
This site and its contents are Copyright © 2026 Sail-World Sail-World Australia and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved. Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph contact the photographer directly.
If you have any questions about advertising or editorial then please contact our team. If you encounter any technical issues then please email techsupport@sail-world.com
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy