A festival at sea
The 40th anniversary of Hamilton Island Race Week closed in style, its final sails lowered after seven days that captured everything special about the regatta. There were light-air shuffles and champagne-trade wind battles, line-honours duels and handicap upsets, but above all, there was the unmistakable hum of a sailing festival.
Founded in 1984, Race Week has become a benchmark for winter sailing in the Southern Hemisphere. Its enduring charm lies in the mix of grand prix competition and laid-back island camaraderie — a combination that keeps sailors returning year after year. Bob Oatley’s legacy, inspired by his love of Race Week and cemented when he bought Hamilton Island in 2003, was ever present in the 40th edition.
Anticipation and fresh features
This milestone regatta attracted both newcomers and familiar stalwarts. Rod Appleyard’s Moneypenny (RP69), Dara Johnston’s futuristic Slingshot (Gunboat 68), and Grant Poklington’s Anarchy joined seasoned campaigners such as Holy Cow!, Coconuts, and Wayne Millar’s Zoe, a divisional winner in 2024.
The anniversary also brought new energy. The Palm Beach Motor Yachts Trans-Tasman 49er Exhibition Series introduced Olympic-class skiffs to Dent Passage, while wingfoil demonstrations and an AC40 simulator gave the public a taste of cutting-edge performance. It was a reminder that while Race Week is steeped in tradition, it is never afraid to reinvent itself.
Palm Beach Motor Yachts founder Mark Richards called the debut “a spectacular success,” as 13 Olympic teams battled over three days in front of packed balconies at the Yacht Club. New Zealand’s Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush claimed the men’s 49er title, while Australia’s Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot thrilled local supporters with victory in the 49erFX. Streamed live and shared worldwide, it was billed the “Wetisloe Cup” and offered a glimpse of Brisbane 2032.
Slow start, bright spirits
The regatta’s opening day reflected the patience of sailors. Dent Passage lay calm, crews nursing coffees as humpback whales breached offshore, before a light afternoon breeze allowed only shortened courses. Many divisions treated it as a gentle shakedown, though Ron Epstein’s Bacchanal (JPK1180) seized the moment with a first win in Rating Division 2.
That evening, the Yacht Club came alive at the official welcome. Hamilton Island CEO Nick Dowling reminded the crowd that it was during Race Week 2003 that Bob Oatley was inspired to buy the island — a decision that reshaped the event’s future.
Divisional battles take shape
By Day 2 the trades had arrived, filling spinnakers as fleets converged off Denman Island in a kaleidoscope of colour.
In the Super 40s, Gerry Hatton’s Bushranger grabbed the early edge. In Rating Division 1, Marcus Blackmore’s Hooligan, with Kiwi Gavin Brady on the helm, edged out Highly Sprung. Brady noted close ties with Karl Kwok’s Beau Geste, fresh from the Admiral’s Cup, calling it “good cooperation” between sisterships.
Race Week also thrives on character. Chris Noble’s Obsession, a Ufo 34 Mk II sailing in Orange Division, became known as the “other red shirts” — a nod to the crimson-clad Wild Oats X crew. With most of their own sailors nursing injuries and only one fully fit, they hoisted a 1970s “blooper” sail to roars of laughter and phone cameras from competitors. It was a reminder that Race Week is about personality as much as podiums.
Midweek climax: glamour yachts and long races
Tuesday’s Nautilus Marine Classic brought the long island passages that define Hamilton Island Race Week. Grant Wharington’s Wild Thing 100, fresh off line honours in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Race, stormed to another gun. On corrected time, however, it was Hooligan again, extending Blackmore’s march toward a sixth Race Week crown.
In Rating Division 2, David Hamilton’s Seeking Alpha claimed another win by a mere seven seconds, while in the multihulls, Slingshot hit 19 knots across Whitsunday Passage, showcasing both speed and style. First-time entrants Terry and Amy Robinson celebrated line honours in their new Cure 55 Miyu, while Tasmanian sailor Ben Davidson’s Sea Fever, delivered 1,400 nautical miles from Hobart, rewarded the journey with a divisional win.
Super 40 racing intensified as Sam Haynes’ Celestial climbed the Cape 31 one-design standings, though Ray Roberts’ Team Hollywood remained the boat to beat.
Explainer: what is a Super 40?
“Super 40” isn’t a single design but a collective class for high-performance yachts around 40 feet. The fleet brings together designs like Fast 40s, IC37s, MC38s, and custom one-offs, racing under handicaps such as IRC. This variety creates some of the most exciting contests on the course, with older designs often challenging the latest builds.
The business end: trophies, tides, and theatre
By Thursday, the regatta had entered its decisive phase. Stronger trades of 13–18 knots tested crews in short courses and island passages.
Hooligan extended its Rating 1 lead, while Seeking Alpha cemented control of Rating 2. Airlie Beach’s Wazza Red Boat, with six women in its eight-person crew, surged into second overall with a win and a third — proof that teamwork and culture can be as valuable as speed.
Passage winners included Fidra (Hanse 370e), Popeye (Beneteau First 47.7), Merit (VO60), and Thylacine One (Beneteau Oceanis 43).
Onshore, the Prix d’Elegance stole headlines. From Barbie and Ken to storm troopers and togas, crews paraded in full costume past the Yacht Club judges. Neil Young’s Carbontest.au embraced the Barbie theme, while Gary Donnellan’s Matilda V featured a SheSails-inspired female crew. It was Race Week at its most playful.
Leaders and nail-biters
Friday’s lighter breezes confirmed some champions but left others hanging. Hooligan secured its sixth Race Week victory, while Seeking Alpha proved untouchable in Rating 2. In the Multihull White division, Graeme Etherton’s 36-year-old The Boat tied with the modern Mololo (Gunboat 48), underlining the fairness of handicap racing.
In Super 40s, Team Hollywood held firm, though Celestial led the Cape 31 fleet. And in Hamilton Island Pink, Bobby’s Girl and Zoe were locked on points, with Kerazy just behind — setting up a thrilling finale.
A marriage proposal on the Bommie Deck added a touch of romance to the penultimate evening.
Final day: magic finish
Saturday delivered perfect 11–15 knot south-easterlies for the last blast around the islands.
Rating Division 1
Hooligan sealed the crown with a commanding series of firsts and seconds, ahead of First Light and Highly Sprung. Wild Oats X placed fourth, while Kiwi entry V5 was eighth.
Rating Division 2
Seeking Alpha, campaigned by David and Theresa Hamilton, triumphed with only firsts and seconds across the week. Bacchanal and Wazza Red Boat completed the podium.
Super 40 / Cape 31
Roberts’ Team Hollywood dominated the overall division, while Haynes’ Celestial claimed the Cape 31 one-design title with six wins from eight races. Trex and Game On31 followed.
Multihulls
Cut Snake (Stuart Cox) emerged champion of the racing fleet, ahead of Slingshot and Coconuts. Social Platform took Multihull Black, while Mololo secured Multihull White.
Other divisions
GCCM Arctic Blond (Yellow), Triton (Light Blue), Salty (Orange), Kerazy (Pink, on countback over Zoe), Karma Kaze (Trailer Yachts), and Thylacine One (Non-Spinnaker) all claimed silverware.
Forty years on
Regatta director Denis Thompson, who has overseen Race Week since 2007, reflected that the week began light but ended in classic Whitsunday trades. Handicapping held firm, protests were minimal, and results across the board were close — the hallmarks of a successful regatta.
From Olympic skiffs to trailer yachts, from Hooligan and Team Hollywood to The Boat and Karma Kaze, Hamilton Island Race Week once again proved it is more than just racing. It is camaraderie, theatre, and celebration in equal measure.
Forty years after its founding, Race Week remains a festival on water — a living legacy of competition, community, and the magic of the Whitsundays.
