2023 Hamilton Island Race Week does not disappoint
by Nautilus Marine Insurance 24 Aug 2023 08:06 BST
19-26 August 2023
Spectacular sailing - 2023 Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo
Nautilus Marine Insurance is once again a proud partner of Hamilton Island Race Week and the team is on the island for the week both in support of the competitors and the event, and as sailors themselves.
The 2023 Race Week was officially opened at the Nautilus Marine Insurance Yacht Owners and Skippers Cocktail Party on Saturday evening. Then Tuesday was an extra special day of competition with the Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Extra Long Race, the Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Long Race, and the Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Medium Distance Race.
Winner of IRC Division 3 in the Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Medium Distance Race was the 33ft The Red Boat. The Red Boat, an Adams 10, lives at Airlie Beach but is crewed by a group of friends from Cronulla Sailing Club and Royal Motor Yacht Club Port Hacking in Sydney's South. Skipper Jared Macquart is well known as the owner of Macquart Marine and was very pleased with Tuesday's results. "Hamilton Island Race Week is a must do regatta, very well organised. I've been here five times now" he said. "We had so much fun last year taking a fourth place, we figured it would be great to come back and have another crack at it!"
Finishing with a third place in IRC Division 2 on Tuesday's Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Long Race was the only Queensland TP52 entry, Maritimo 11, owned by Bill Barry-Cotter. The other five TP52s are from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney, and Maritimo's podium on Tuesday has them placed second overall.
"Hamilton Island Race Week is just one of the great yachting events in Australia and the world, so it's just fantastic for everyone to do it whenever you can" said Kendal Barry-Cotter, Bill's brother. "This week we're hoping for a little more performance and a little more learning, it's a fairly new boat to us so we're always trying to get better."
Skipper of Maritimo 11, Michael Spies, is also always pleased to be at Race Week. "It is a special place. I've been fortunate to sail all around the world and here we have the privilege of sailing around what I believe are some of the best islands in the world. The backdrop, the camaraderie, the competition, the fact it's been running for nearly 40 years now, the event is certainly etched in Australian yachting history."
Nautilus Marine Insurance CEO Lyndon Turner is attending the regatta and hosted the opening night owners and skippers cocktail party, and the prize-giving for the Tuesday races. "Hamilton Island Race Week never fails to impress. World class racing and world class entertainment in one of the most perfect locations for anyone who loves sailing. It is such a pleasure to be involved and to use this opportunity to meet and support so many people" he said.
The whole Nautilus Marine Insurance team are pleased to once again be a supporter of Hamilton Island Race Week. Being a major sponsor of such an event is integral to our underlying philosophy of supporting sailors all over Australia.