Three sleeps until the start of a resumed Hamilton Island Race Week
by Lisa Ratcliff 16 Aug 2022 19:52 PDT
17 August 2022
The race is on: Some of the Hamilton Island Race Week fleet heads for the Whitsunday Passage © Salty Dingo
In just three sleeps, the Oatley family will throw open the doors to Hamilton Island Yacht Club at Saturday night’s official welcome party for Hamilton Island Race Week, the 36th edition of the annual sailing series in the Whitsundays that has drawn 224 starters.
On top of the winter trade winds, picture-perfect location, and ability to fly direct from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Hamilton Island is renowned for providing next-level hospitality and Race Week is a chance for the island’s event team to find another gear.
Here are some of the Race Week offerings designed to keep 2,000 sailors and their friends and families well watered, fed, and entertained after a tough day chasing key results or just taking in the world-class scenery with good mates over six days of competition between August 20 - 27:
Eat Street Stalls: For a relaxed dinner, visit Eat Street on Front Street offering pop-up street food stalls with spiced stacked naans, Vietnamese kebabs, gourmet spit roast rolls, and fresh salads. Sausage Sizzle: Enjoy a post-race sausage sizzle at sundown on Front Street, complimentary for all sailors.
Entertainment: Front Street lights up each evening with a fantastic lineup of acts, including the international sensation - Furnace & The Fundamentals.
Enjoy an Island favourite - spice up your morning and visit the Ketel One Bloody Mary pop-up bar at F-Arm from 8.30am to 10.30am on Wednesday 24 August. While you are there, grab some breakfast at the breakfast barbeque stall.
Hamilton Island is excited to welcome Nautilus Marine Insurance as a new Race Week premium partner and sponsor of the daily highlights shown on the super screen outside the tavern, Saturday’s welcome function for skippers, and Tuesday’s Nautilus Classic Long Race.
The popular Tanqueray Garden Bar with its lush, leafy garden vibe, live DJs and dancing will offer a selection of classic cocktails, including Tanqueray’s signature serve, Tanqueray and Tonic. Open 9.00pm – 2.00am daily (6.00pm – midnight on Lay Day).
Geelong-born and brewed Furphy is the perfect, easy-drinking post-racing beer. The Furphy Can Bar will be open daily (except Lay Day) from 4.00pm at the Marina Tavern forecourt.
Visit the Maui Jim pop-up store and experience the latest in premium polarised sunglasses. The team at Maui Jim will ensure you find the perfect pair to enjoy all the fun in the sun at this year’s Race Week. Open daily on Front Street.
The Skin Check Champions clinic will return to Hamilton Island for the fifth year to provide free, quick and easy skin checks. Be sure to book your session well in advance at skincheckchampions.com/hirw.
Mecca Cosmetica will be on hand to make sure your skin is protected throughout Race Week with top-ups of its bestselling sunscreen, To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen. Keep an eye out for the Mecca Cosmetica golf buggies touring the island with deluxe samples on board.
A limited final release of tickets are now available to some of the signature onshore events:
Don’t miss out on Race Week’s new beachside event, Dinner with Will Cowper. Otto Brisbane’s Head Chef, Will Cowper brings his simple yet clever Italian flavours to Hamilton Island using only the freshest of Australian produce.
Experience one of Race Week’s unanimously loved yachtie events, the Surf and Turf-inspired sit-down dinner and a beer with mates while being entertained by one of Australia’s funniest comedians, Cameron Knight.
Join the Wild Oats Wines team for a Hamilton Island Race Week favourite dedicated to ladies and gents who like to lunch, the infamous Wild Oats Ladies Lunch. Guests can expect a long beachside lunch superbly matched to Wild Oats Wines
There are only a limited number of tickets available, to purchase head to www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au
All the usual conveniences and services including free local busses, IGA supermarket, bottle shop, bakery, chemist, chandlery, slipway with lifting capability and fuel and water will be operating.