SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week: Expanding horizons

by Di Pearson/SMIRW media 29 Jun 19:34 PDT 27 August - 2 September 2026

The main event for visiting yachties to Far Northern Queensland is SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW) - but Magnetic Island is also the pivot for owners and crews who like to expand their horizons while away from home - before, during and after the regatta held annually in late winter through to early spring each year.

'Maggie Island' is touted as the 'go to' event by competitors at Townsville Yacht Club's (TYC) regatta, to the point where the majority of those from outside Queensland opt to arrive early or stay on the Island afterwards. It's an ideal holiday destination - timed perfectly as the final regatta on the Northern Queensland calendar at the perfect time of year.

Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell MP, said Magnetic Island Race Week was set to once again put Townsville and North Queensland in the national spotlight and continue to firm up Queensland's status as Australia's events capital.

"Magnetic Island Race Week has become one of the country's standout sailing events, and it's exactly the kind of major drawcard that's helping cement Queensland as the events capital of Australia," Minister Powell said.

"We're backing events like this because they deliver more visitors, more jobs and more opportunities for local businesses right across North Queensland.

"With more than 4,000 visitors and close to 17,000 visitor nights expected, this is a major win for Townsville and Maggie Island including for our hotels, restaurants, tour operators and the broader community," the Minister ended.

There is so much to do and see - on and off Magnetic Island. Sightseeing, bush walking, swimming, diving, cruising relaxing, eating and so on.

Gordon Beath lives in NSW, but is originally from Queensland. He owns a 14 metre cruising catamaran named Roamance. With it, Beal is able to enjoy the best of both worlds - Maggie and beyond - with a rather soft spot for Magnetic Island and the region in general.

"In the past I've loaned the boat to two of my crew to do Townsville Yacht Club's GaLS Regatta after Maggie Island Race Week. This time, I'm taking the boat to Brisbane for maintenance on the 1st of July. It should be finished around the 7th when I'll be spending money in Queensland for the next four to five months," Beath explained.

"Around the 15th to 20th of July, we're going to cruise up to the Whitsundays and then cruise to Magnetic Island for Race Week. We're cruising home too, with stops on the way. There are so many beautiful places to look at in and around Townsville and Magnetic Island.

Beath says Roamance has allowed he and his wife to sail and cruise where they like. That includes winning the Groupama Race around new Caledonia, cruising Fiji and more. He says, "But we love cruising Northern Queensland, because it has so much to offer.

"I can't wait to get to Magnetic and enjoy the atmosphere again," says Beath who has been visiting the quaint island since 1988.

"I was the original architect for the Nelly Bay resort (it became Peppers Blue on Blue), but I didn't end up building it. I've had history at the Island. I love the wilderness and I love Horseshoe Bay. The Island has nice geography and geology - it has a rustic feel and it takes you back to nature.

"My sister stayed in an Airbnb on Maggie last time. It was near the bush and she loved it there, enjoying seeing koalas, wallabies and other wildlife."

Hughie Lewis is one of the Tasmanian entrants who likes to come in from the cold - and SMIRW provides the perfect vehicle for him to do so. Lewis has been competing at the regatta for years, most recently with his 46-foot yacht, Hartbreaker.

"The boat's on the hardstand at Townsville having work done to it at the moment. We prefer to get it done there," the Tassie yachtsman said. "We're going up to Townsville on the 22nd of June and Julie (his partner) and I will stay and tour Townsville and its outer regions for ten days."

On Lewis' crew are Tasmanian husband and wife, Simon and Gail Desmarchelier. "They're coming up north late July to cruise the boat to Airlie Beach and then spend a week cruising up to Maggie Island.

"While they're cruising the boat, Julie and I are touring around Townsville and its outer regions for around ten days," Lewis said.

Wayne McNee is among the throngs who find the virtues of competing at SMIRW. After competing last year, the Victorian loaned his yacht, Celebrity, for the GaLS regatta afterwards, but has different plans for his 11 metre yacht this year.

"This time we're going cruising after Maggie Island for a couple of weeks. I have crew coming from Melbourne and Sydney, so we'll take the opportunity to sail the Palm Group (an archipelago of 16 tropical islands located about 70-80 kilometres north of Townsville).

"Orpheus and Dunk islands are just two we'd like to look at and we're also going to the outer reef. We'll probably spent two weeks to a month cruising before going home," McNee said.

The Victorian is effusive about Magnetic Island too: "I love the atmosphere of Maggie Island. It's the best event on the east coast of Australia. It sets people up to enjoy the Island and the local areas during and outside of the event. I love the camaraderie of Race Week and the friendliness of the people on the Island."

Mary Ann Harvey, a South Australian and co-owner of the Sydney 38, Clockwork, is counting the days till Race Week after enjoying the delights of Race Week and the Island for the first time last year.

"We're doing Maggie Island and then the GaLS regatta. Six women from different parts of Australia who raced at the 2026 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (in Melbourne) are joining me at Maggie and four others are flying in to join us for the GaLS regatta. Then we're heading to Sydney, stopping at a few pretty spots on the way."

Harvey says, "Magnetic is my favourite regatta and I love the Island. We travelled around on Lay Day (a day off at the regatta) and went to look at the historic parts and then went the other way around - the transport around the island is great. We love the geography, the coffee shops, the food - it's all fantastic."

Joker X2's co-owner, Peter Dowdney is sold on the entire region. "Sallie (his wife) and I fell in love with Maggie Island and hanging out at the marina there," he said.

"We've been there two or three times since Grant (Chipperfield, co-owner of Joker X2) and I finished the double-handed Melbourne Osaka race (2025) and we arrived at Maggie on late June after clearing customs in Townsville. We left the boat at Maggie for six months then and we'll probably do that again this year, then we can use the yacht when we want."

Like others, Dowdney has pre-Maggie Race Week plans for his 13.3 metre yacht that is well set up for short-handed sailing and cruising. "Sallie and I will take a tour to Orpheus and other islands. We'll cruise down as far as the Whitsundays, then cruise back up to Townsville and have the boat cleaned ready to race at Maggie."

"One of the best things about cruising near Magnetic Island, Dowdney says, "is the public mooring system. You arrive at a place like Orpheus Island and pick up a mooring easily - all within five or six miles of Magnetic Island."

While the boat is being cleaned up in Townsville for around five days, Dowdney says, "We'll book into accommodation and spend time having a play around Townsville. We like it up there. There's always lots to do and see."

Magnetic Island, he says, "Was the best kept secret on the north coast - until competitors let the cat of the bag! It's a really cool place with a nice vibe. We can be on the Island in four and half hours from where I live in Hampton (Melbourne), because the transport (plane, shuttle bus to the SeaLink ferry terminal and ferry) all lines up. That makes it easy and appealing to keep coming back," Dowdney ends.

SMIRW is the much loved swansong of the tropical Northern Queensland circuit of regattas - and the regatta that opens the gateway to staying and playing in the region.

SMIRW is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise and all information can be found at: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

To discover tropical winters in Queensland, visit: tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au