Please select your home edition
Edition
Armstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - TOP

Great racing and camaraderie for all at the 2024 Hamilton Island Race Week

by Hamilton Island Race Week Media 29 Aug 2024 09:07 PDT 17-24 August 2024
Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Medium Race entrants - Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo

Hamilton Island Race Week never disappoints, and this year's Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic races provided a thrilling day of racing for competitors.

As a proud partner of Hamilton Island Race Week, Nautilus Marine Insurance has been delighted to join competitors and organisers in celebrating the 39th running of the prestigious regatta.

Hamilton Island Race Week officially opened at the Nautilus Marine Insurance Yacht Owners and Skippers Cocktail Party on the Saturday evening, and quickly got into full swing with 164 vessels taking to racecourses in idyllic Whitsundays conditions. Overall, six days of racing make up Hamilton Island Race Week. On Tuesday many of the yachts stretched their legs as the popular Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Long Race and the Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Medium race tested crew work and tactics.

Winner of IRC Rating Division Rating Gold in the Nautilus Marine Classic Long Race was the 2006 Reichel Pugh 66 Alive from the Derwent Sailing Club in Tasmania.

"It was a phenomenal day," said Justin Ferris, Alive's tactician. "Over four and a half hours racing, and we were never more than four boat lengths away from Wild Oats X. We were bedding in some new crew, preparing for the future, and they worked extremely hard. They all enjoyed themselves though, especially with the result. I sail in about 20 regattas a year and Hamilton Island Race Week is easily one of the best."

The Reichel Pugh 52 Virago made the trip to Queensland from Sydney by road and the crew then wasted no time in getting things ready for the week of competition. Tactician Andrew Parkes has competed in over 20 Hamilton Island Race Weeks.

"It's always interesting racing. The islands and the tides make it quite tactical, and the scenery makes it an absolute pleasure. This year we had quite light conditions, Virago prefers a bit more pressure and we got some towards the end of the week."

Taking home a divisional third place after a week of racing was Toybox 2, owned by Ian Box, Chairman of Special Events at Middle Harbour Yacht Club which is host of the popular Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta. Including crew, partners and families, the whole Toybox 2 team amounted to 20 people. "My first Hamilton Island Race week was in 1998 when I was convinced to enter. I was glad I did as we won the cruising division that year," said Ian. "We all had an absolute ball this year as well."

"Hamilton Island Race Week is special," said Mark Richards, skipper of Wild Oats X, which placed second in the Nautilus Marine Classic Long Race. "For the regatta to be in its 39th year is testament to the event. On behalf of all the sailors who attended Race Week I also want to thank Nautilus Marine Insurance for their amazing support."

Nautilus Marine Insurance CEO Lyndon Turner and his team were on Hamilton Island for the regatta, supporting the sailing community. "The 2024 Hamilton Island Race Week was a resounding success. Many of our Nautilus Marine Insurance customers competed in Race Week this year, and I would also like to pay tribute to the organising committee and the Hamilton Island team. This is our third year of partnering with Race Week and I know how much work goes into ensuring that the week is a success both on and off the water."

Following on from Hamilton Island Race Week, Nautilus Marine Insurance continues its support of North Queensland racing as a proud partner of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (29 August - 4 September). This year marks the 17th edition of Townsville Yacht Club's well-loved regatta, which always provides a unique atmosphere and a great end to the Queensland regatta circuit.

Related Articles

40th Hamilton Island Race Week overall
Magic end to the 40th anniversary event Sails are packed away and results tabled for the more than 155 Australian and international boats contesting the pinnacle 40th anniversary Hamilton Island Race Week, presented by AMEX. Posted on 23 Aug
40th Hamilton Island Race Week day 5
Success comes in different forms The front-runners are comfortably out of reach in several divisions while in others, Saturday's final island passage race will decide the victors and the spoils at the 40th anniversary of Hamilton Island Race Week, presented by AMEX. Posted on 22 Aug
40th Hamilton Island Race Week day 4
Storm troopers and trophy hunters At the business end of the 40th Hamilton Island Race Week, presented by AMEX, is the consolidation of first-half regatta points by the trophy hunters Posted on 21 Aug
40th Hamilton Island Race Week day 3
Trans-Tasman showdown Day three of Hamilton Island Race Week, presented by AMEX, produced classic Whitsundays racing - glamour yacht debuts, steady trade winds and tight contests across the divisions - before a spectacular Olympic-class finale. Posted on 19 Aug
40th Hamilton Island Race Week day 2
Divisional duels to Trans-Tasman clashes; Race Week 2025 hits its stride Today's Dent Passage starts for HI Yellow, Orange and Pink divisions, Trailer Yachts, and both Hamilton Island Multihull Divisions were postponed until the trade winds were established, shortly after midday. Posted on 18 Aug
40th Hamilton Island Race Week Day 1
Calm seas and close rivalries open 40th edition A sparkling Queensland winter's day gently opened the starting gate for the 40th Hamilton Island Race Week, presented by AMEX, on-water program. Posted on 17 Aug
40th Hamilton Island Race Week starts tomorrow
The fleet of more than 155 entrants making final preparations for racing Festivities marking the 40th anniversary of Hamilton Island Race Week presented by AMEX are about to get under way, with the fleet of more than 155 entrants making final preparations for racing to commence tomorrow, Sunday August 17. Posted on 16 Aug
39th Hamilton Island Race Week Comes to a Close
Match racing finishes pushing right to the end in multiple divisions The final day of on water action at Hamilton Island Race Week 2024 pushed all the way to the wire, with match racing finishes pushing right to the end in multiple divisions as placings remained in contention across all divisions. Posted on 25 Aug 2024
Women at the top at Hamilton Island Race Week 2024
Rhumb Runna competing in the Trailable Yacht Division, features an all female crew of locals The 39th Edition of Hamilton Island Race Week has marked an increase in female representation in key roles on boats, from skippers to navigators and plenty of female crew out on the water. Posted on 23 Aug 2024
Hamilton Island Race Week Prix d'Elegance
All styles and sizes on show ahead of day four racing Day four of racing started in style this morning with the annual Hamilton Island Race Week Prix d'Elegance. Posted on 22 Aug 2024
Allen Dynamic 40 FooterMcDYachts_Pyewacket-for-Sale_1456x180 BOTTOMV-DRY-X