Airlie Beach Race Week 2006
Racing at the 17th annual Airlie Beach Race Week starts on Friday 10th August in Pioneer Bay and climaxes on Thursday 17th 2006. The Whitsunday Sailing Club event will feature 93 monohulls racing in IRC, IRC Cruising, Premier Cruising, Performance Handicap, Sports Boat and Cruising classes.
The IRC fleet is strong with two high tech New Zealand built boats vying with some of the cream of Australia’s offshore racing fleet. The clashes in the Sports Boat fleet will be followed world-wide, with champions from past year’s trying to hold off the latest high tech crop.
Race Director Denis Thompson is anticipating great sailing. ‘The south easterly trades are blowing strongly already and its definitely tropical shirt weather, so there will be fun and action aplenty in all divisions.’
Airlie Beach Race Week is one of the largest regattas on the Australian circuit and it‘s the pre-cursor to Hahn Premium Race Week at Hamilton Island from August 19th to 27th.
‘Race Week is a major attraction within Australia and Whitsunday Shire Council is proud of the long history of the race. It’s a highly popular event on the Whitsunday’s social calendar,’ says Mayor Mario Demartini.
Stewart Keys, Vice President of the Airlie Beach Chamber of Commerce; ‘Airlie Beach Race Week provides a gateway for enjoyment and relaxation in the Whitsundays and you can combine that with the majesty of eight days of great competition.
‘Airlie Beach is already buzzing. For locals, the benefit of that race week is immeasurable. It lifts most of the accommodation to the maximum; it generates a lot of the carnival feeling.’
More information at www.airliebeachraceweek.com