Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2010 by Patrick 'Tenpin' Bollen / The courses – sailing and golf – are all part of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2010.

“We gotta get outta this place, if it’s the last thing we ever do.”
Sung by the great Eric Burdon of the celebrated sixties band the Animals, these words must have haunted the minds of many these past five wet and chilly weeks as the country endures the coldest winter days in almost 30 years.
Renowned as the Vietnam anthem, this song resonated many times during July as crews were preparing their boats for the annual migration north beginning with the Southport race, the forerunner to a host of regattas and races to tropic north Queensland including the Meridien Airlie Beach Race Week and the best yachting series in the country, the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week from 20 to 28 August.
Just the thought of this event is enough to warm the cockles of anyone’s heart especially those poor souls who live anywhere south of latitude 28.
Not since 1983, coincidently the year Race Week was conceived by David Hutchen, has a colder June temperature been recorded, with the mercury plummeting to 4.7 degrees in the city.
Yes, it’s time once again to pack your shorts, tees and boat shoes and head to the 100 Magic Miles* for some seriously hot yacht racing. Bring it on. The sooner the better.
This year ushers in the 27th sailing of what has clearly become the most popular yachting series in, not just Australia but the entire southern hemisphere.
Just what makes this event so great? You’re Hired co-owner Geoff Morgan summed it up so well.
“It’s a combination of many things really. It’s the atmosphere, the distance from the big cities and the idyllic location coupled with a concentrated race week sailed in magnificent conditions on a beautiful water course. Combine all this with the wonderful camaraderie of mates on a stunning island destination and it all makes for a perfect week not just for participants but also for partners and families. It’s fantastic,” Morgan said.
One hundred and forty entries had been received by mid-July and while it is unlikely the record of 225 will be broken, officials are confident of a fleet around 200. Pretty good considering the current global economic atmosphere. But hey, let’s not go there. Enough of that nonsense.
“It looks like a good fleet,” said island CEO Glenn Bourke.
“I’m confident of a good outcome this year. It’s a terrific venue to stage a class event. I’ve attended and competed in some major regattas around the world. Cowes is a great week but doesn’t compare with Hamilton. It’s very popular and still growing and it’s in the tropics.
“Yes, yachting is an expensive sport but I believe race week is affordable. It is a family event with lots for the kids to do and for the grown ups, when not on the water racing there is a phenomenal social calendar this year with fabulous fashion shows by some of the country’s top designers, a host of dining experiences, great music shows and of course everything else the island has to offer including our spectacular new panoramic golf course on Dent Island,” said Bourke.
Biggest boat in this year’s regatta will be the sumptuous Perini Navi design 163 foot, Perseus. Visiting Australian waters from the Med, this stunning yacht is a picture of pure sailing extravagance featuring accommodation for 10 in absolute opulence. And, yes, Perseus is available for charter at the princely sum of US$175,000 per week.
The biggest boat in this year’s regatta will be the sumptuous 163 foot Perseus.This eye popping piece of sailing luxury will compete in the super yacht division but is not likely to cause any upsets against Bob Oatley’s mighty Wild Oats XI or Peter Millard’s Lahana.
Wild Oats XI is likely to blitz. However, Lahana will be on the course to ensure Mark Richards and crew don’t have it all their own way.
Lahana, an acronym of owners Peter Millard and John Honan’s daughters names, is also Hawaiian for “a day at the office”. She will this race week feature well known, now retired sailmaker Bob Fraser as principle helmsman.
Fraser, who has won the Hobart aboard Brindabella as well as the Southern Cross Cup and many other regattas is a well regarded and a highly experienced yachtsman.
“We are fortunate to have Bob on board. He has great big boat knowledge and is a strong influence on the crew,” said owner Peter ‘Pecka’ Millard.
Rocking on in the tropics: The crew of Ross Wilson’s Eagle Rock samples some warm weather upwind sailing at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.“We’ve done a lot of work to Lahana to make her more competitive so it will be good to see how she goes against Richo and Wild Oats,” he added.
The Cruising Division has attracted almost 80 entries including the beautiful classic Tasman Seabird Cherana, winner of the 1959 Hobart. Sailing from the Royal Queensland Yacht Club this gorgeous little yacht is now in the loving care of Euan Macdonald.
Country music’s John Clinton of Wolverines fame has entered his Beneteau 50, Holy Cow. Lachlan Paramor is back again with In The Mood and from Tasmania, Robert Vaughan is bringing his Muir 64, Van Dieman III whose crew includes well known scribe Piers Ackerman and Australian yachting’s Michael ‘Zappa’ Bell.
Just three boats have entered the new Sports Boats Division. Lauren Calder with Audi Sailing Girls will be out to prove a point against Rod Jones and crew on Club Marine Blue and Brett Cooper on Harcourts.
The IRC Grand Prix Division has again attracted a significant fleet including Kiwi James Farmer with his new TP52, Georgia. Farmer has been a regular visitor to Race Week and is keen to take the trophy back to New Zealand. His efforts may well be thwarted as the competition will be resilient.
Stephen Ainsworth is returning with his slick Reichel Pugh 63 Loki and Geoff Ross has once again entered his highly competitive RP 55 Yendys.
Bring to the stage Mr Oatley’s little boat, the RP 66 Wild Oats X, Scarlett Runner (Robert Date) and Terra Firma (Nicholas Bartels) both from Sandringham YC and there’s sure to be some great tussles in the battle for handicap honours.
Iain Murray, arguably one of Australia’s best known sailors, will this year take the helm of Wild Oats X. That said there is bound to be some top shelf racing for line honours in this division; particularly between Murray, Gordon Maguire who will be helming Loki, and of course the very competitive Black Jack from Royal Queensland YC.
The Davidson design near sisterships Aftershock (Michael Hill) and You’re Hired (Geoff Morgan) should also provide some good competition.
2009 Sydney to Hobart winner Andrew Saies from Adelaide has also entered his champion Beneteau Two True in this division and will be out to keep all the hot shots honest.
Thirty boats will be lining up in the IRC Passage Division including regular contenders Eagle Rock (Ross Wilson), Wedgetail (Bill Wild), Onya (Andrew Hurt) from Middle Harbour YC, Espresso Forte (Lawrence Freedman, CYCA) and Bob Southerton’s new Beneteau 50 Bullrush from RPAYC.
“We’re in good shape and I’m very happy with this boat,” said Southerton. “This will be my first series with the boat since bringing her home from Hong Kong. She has a bit of a pedigree having won the Hong Kong to Manila race and while the competition will be ferocious as always I think we can do well.”
Bullrush’s crew will include Rick Hart on mainsheet and the motor industry’s ever colourful Col Crawford.
Great racing and spectacular scenery: two of the attributes that make Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Australia’s most popular keelboat regatta.
Ian Creak has entered his latest boat, Audi Cenral Coast, a Beneteau 47.7 representing the Greenwich Sailing Club on Sydney Harbour.
“Race Week is always fun. For me and my crew it’s a bit like twilight racing every day of the week only better as we are all competing in the premier sailing event in the country and in beautiful warm weather,” said Creak.
“I have a motley bunch who reckon they can sail and be somewhat competitive. The best thing is that I can get people out on the water who don’t otherwise normally get the opportunity.”
Former world champion surf ski paddler from the Cronulla Surf Club, Warren Buchan and fiancée Kristy Edwards have entered their boat Colortile. A highly competitive sailor, the champion surfer has some good advice for everyone taking part in Australia’s most awarded keel boat regatta.
“Pace yourself. Apart from the racing, the social agenda is exceptional but you must make sure you can go the distance.”
To further add spice to this vastly entertaining and colourful week of luxurious self indulgence Audi have offered a stunning new Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Sportsback worth $80,000 as the major prize, making this the richest sailing event in Australia. This magnificent piece of automotive engineering can be won by any of the crews across all divisions.
So now all is in place for another great week of yacht racing in the Whitsundays Australia’s favourite holiday destination. Let the show begin.

*100 Magic Miles by David Colfelt, best guide to sailing the 74 islands of the Whitsundays.