Hamilton Island Race Week - Third Time's the Charm!!

Australia’s internationally acclaimed yacht regatta - Hamilton Island Race Week - is ‘all systems go’ for 2022.  

With the famous event having been cancelled for the past two years due to COVID restrictions, there is no doubt some 1000+ sailors, their families and friends will be eager to get back to the renowned series this year.

Within days of Hamilton Island Race Week’s Race Director, Denis Thompson, releasing the Notice of Race there were already over 100 entries. This year’s series will be contested on the island-laced tropical waters around Hamilton Island from August 20 – 27, 2022.

“Based on the interest so far, this could be the most impressive fleet ever,” Thompson said. “With us not being able to stage Hamilton Island Race Week for two years, we are expecting a flood of entries from Australia wide over the next few weeks.”

Thompson then delivered exciting news for the more competitive crews, “I can confirm that the Australian Yachting Championships will be decided at Race Week, as will the national title for rated multihulls. Both championships will contribute significantly to the thrill of Race Week.”

And, there was further speculation from Thompson: “I can reveal that the waterfront tom-toms are suggesting there could be two high-performance super-maxis competing this year. That would make Race Week even more spectacular.”

The first entry for HIRW 2022 same from one of the HIRW’s great supporters, Wayne Millar, from Lennox Head in Queensland. He is a veteran of 32 Race Weeks since 1991.

“Hamilton Island Race Week is the best, so why go anywhere else,” Millar said after being told his very competitive yacht, Zoe, was at the top of the entry list.” We can’t wait to be there for the fun on and off the water.”

Hamilton Island CEO, Glenn Bourke, said: “With much of the country being locked down these past two years, we anticipate sailors from all corners of Australia will make the pilgrimage to Race Week this year. We have all missed the excitement, the spirit, the fun and the camaraderie that the Race Week sailors their families and friends bring to our shores.”

It is also an event loved by those who don’t sail but who still want to come and soak up the fun and glamour of an internationally acclaimed regatta in one of Australia’s most spectacular regions, the Whitsundays. One of the greatest accolades for Hamilton Island Race Week came from famous America’s Cup yachtsman, Tom Ehman following his visit to the series a few years ago. “Hamilton Island Race Week is the best-kept secret in the world of yachting. The organisers of any major Race Week should look at how Hamilton Island makes this more than a sailing event: it’s also a social and cultural happening. Through resources, imagination and hard work it has really come into its own.”

The social on-shore schedule will feature the regular crowd favourites including the Skippers Welcome Party at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, the Sailors Surf and Turf Dinner, the highly anticipated Champagne Luncheon and a great line-up of bands throughout the week to entertain the yachtees at Eat Street. Race Week organisers and Hamilton Island Race Week Sponsors are working on a raft of fresh ideas to add to the mix, all to be announced soon, with tickets to social events going on sale 1 June 2022.  

The Notice of Race and all details relating to Hamilton Island Race Week 2022 are on the website: https://www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au/

For more information please contact

Rob Mundle
Promotions Manager, Hamilton Island Race Week
P: 0417 323 573  E: rob.mundle@bigpond.com