Hamilton Island Race Week turns 40 this August, and New Zealand sailors will be right in the thick of it — both in the Olympic-class skiffs and offshore divisions — as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most iconic regattas celebrates four decades of racing, revelry and reaching across turquoise waters.
Running from 16–23 August 2025, the milestone edition is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet. A bumper fleet is expected, with entries rolling in from across Australia and overseas, including strong New Zealand representation. Among the early international confirmations is V5, a first-generation TP52 from New Zealand, returning from its successful outing at the Groupama Race around New Caledonia.
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Their post-race debrief captured the spirit of offshore competition: “The downwind leg was what sailors dream about… the upwind leg, not so much — but exactly the tactical and physical challenge that makes offshore racing so rewarding.” Fresh from claiming line honours, the V5 crew now turn their sights to the Whitsundays, joining more than 160 expected yachts across multiple divisions at Hamilton Island.
From IRC and TP52 racing to cruising, multihull and non-spinnaker classes, Hamilton Island Race Week caters to all levels and styles of offshore sailing. It’s also one of the rare regattas that offers world-class competition and resort-grade hospitality in equal measure — a sailing holiday wrapped in a serious race programme.
The event is hosted by the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, with the marina serving as a social hub throughout the week. The regatta combines a diverse race schedule — including passage races, short-course sprints and windward-leewards — with an impressive shore-based line-up: think long lunches, fashion shows, celebrity chefs, wine tastings and golf tournaments. The lay day midweek is practically an institution, designed for sailors to recover, connect, and enjoy the island lifestyle.
To mark the 40th anniversary, organisers have planned commemorative displays and retrospectives honouring the individuals who made the first regatta happen in 1984. That inaugural event saw 93 yachts converge on Hamilton Island — a strong start that’s grown into one of the world’s top destination regattas. The move from April to August in 1992 — to take advantage of stable tradewinds and dry weather — was a game-changer. These days, Race Week regularly attracts boats from every corner of Australia and beyond.
For many crews, the 40th edition will form part of a broader East Coast campaign. South Australian skipper Scott Mutton, for example, is marking his 60th birthday year by racing 3 Cool Cats, his Austral Farr 42 IRC, all the way from the feeder races up to the Sydney Hobart 80th anniversary. “When you mention Hamilton Island Race Week and Sydney Hobart, two of the biggest sailing events in Australia, suddenly acquaintances become best friends,” he joked.
Adding a new dimension in 2025 is the debut of the Palm Beach Motor Yachts Trans-Tasman 49er Series, also known as the Wetisloe Cup. This Olympic-class skiff event will run from 17–19 August, featuring daily 4pm exhibition races that pit Australia and New Zealand’s best 49er and 49erFX sailors against each other just off the marina — a spectacle designed to capture attention and bring Olympic sailing up close for spectators.
The New Zealand line-up includes Olympic silver medallists Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie, recent European champions Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush, and several fast-rising duos such as Mattias Coutts/Oscar Gunn and Nicola and Rebecca Hume. With Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, the Whitsundays is becoming a proving ground — and the trans-Tasman skirmish adds flavour to an already rich race week menu.
“This is a fantastic initiative that brings together the strength and depth of the Australian and New Zealand 49er fleets,” said Ian Stewart, Yachting New Zealand’s high-performance director. “Hamilton Island is an exceptional place to sail, and this adds real momentum as we build toward Brisbane 2032.”
The Australian roster includes Olympians Evie Haseldine and Shaun Connor, Women’s America’s Cup sailors Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot, and Youth America’s Cup talents Max Paul and Jack Ferguson — creating a line-up worthy of Olympic preview status.
Meanwhile, Sandy Oatley will continue the family’s deep association with the event, racing aboard Wild Oats X. With over 20 Race Weeks under his belt and multiple wins to his name, Oatley and longtime helmsman Mark Richards are firm fixtures of this regatta. As custodians of Hamilton Island, the Oatley family’s influence has helped transform Race Week from a tropical curiosity into a premium offshore spectacle with international prestige.
“Hamilton Island Race Week has long been a highlight of the Australian sailing calendar,” said Nick Dowling, Island CEO. “As we celebrate its 40th year, it’s fantastic to see such a strong response from sailors both here and abroad.”
For Kiwis thinking of making the journey, connections from Auckland to Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne make it a viable and rewarding winter escape. With sailing conditions that rival the Hauraki Gulf in summer — but wrapped in palm trees and piña coladas — it’s not hard to see why Race Week has become a bucket-list event for many.
Whether it’s Olympic skiffs in the Wetisloe Cup, offshore stalwarts like V5, or simply soaking up the sunshine on lay day — Hamilton Island Race Week 2025 looks set to deliver its most memorable edition yet. And for Kiwi crews, it’s a chance to celebrate, compete, and maybe even bring home a trophy or two from across the ditch.
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