Over 150 boats are ready for a week of action on the water and ashore when Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) kicks off on 8 August, 2024 and there is a surprise or two among the 150-strong fleet taking part in the 36th running of this popular event.
For instance, George Owen is known for sailing larger catamarans, such as Charleston, a Formula 28x in the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) event. Not this time. Owen will arrive with a Weta trimaran called Tamasha, measuring just 4.4 metres and sailed off the beach! At Airlie, he will sail in the largest fleet seen there, as a dozen boats are entered.
Owen, from Queensland, explains: “I don’t have a big boat to play with anymore. Tony Considine, who I skippered boats for over so many years, sold Charleston. But as they say, when one door closes, another one opens.
“The Weta is a really good design. Three sails, good for old blokes,” the 73-year-old says, laughing. “There’s lots of advantages to the Weta. I hook the boat on the back of the car and head off. There’s no big planning, it’s much simpler. It’s easy to rig and pull up on the beach after racing.
“The other attraction is that it’s one design, so no handicaps. I’ve had the Weta for a while. Tony and I went partners and I’ve been racing it for about three years. I was hopeless at first. There’s a little kid, Arlie at Lake Cootharaba, who’s had to rescue me a few times,” says Owen, who went on to win the 2023 Nationals at Paynesville aged 72. “I needed an ambulance by the last race!
“We’re going to have a good time at Airlie. Maz (his wife) does the starts on Miss Polly. We’re really looking forward to having a good time this year. We always have a good time at Airlie, it’s just different with the Weta.”
Secret Weapon (left) and Team Hollywood last year – photo by Andrea Francolini
In other news, Phil Simpfendorfer has entered his Melges 40, Veloce 4, in the Rating Passage division. Veloce 4 was bought via New Zealand and had been campaigned on the European circuit. The high performance lightweight carbon fibre yacht now resides in Melbourne and should arrive ready for the likes of Ray Roberts’ Botin 40 Team Hollywood (NSW), winner of every race last year.
Sydney Hobart TP52s, Zen owned by Gordon Ketelbey (NSW) and Ocean Crusaders J-Bird (Annika Thomson, Qld) are also among the competition, along with Rob Appleyard’s Extreme 40, Secret Weapon, all the way from W.A.
“This is my first time at Airlie Beach,” Simpfendorfer says. “New regatta and a new boat. I bought it around a year ago and I’ve only club raced it and done the Festival of Sails in January where we found Team Hollywood quicker upwind and us faster downwind. I think we’ll be pretty quick, but our rating might not reflect that.
“We trucked the boat up to Airlie Beach already and put it together in the nice weather there, so we’re looking forward to racing Hollywood and the others and to enjoying our time there,” the Victorian yachtsman said.
Night-time fun at Whitsunday Sailing Club post racing – photo by Vampp Photography
WSC has loaded lots into the onshore program this year. The Club is open all day for lunch and dinner, with a presentation held post racing each day, followed by evening’s musical offerings. Food vans and a bar are onsite for those who wish to remain downstairs to enjoy a dance or ten.
An art exhibition will be held daily, inclusive of a guided tour; Sunday and Monday feature a ‘sip and paint’ segment, and Friday night is Movies in the Park night behind WSC – great for the kids.
On layday, there are two great ticketed events, the Ocean Dynamics Whitehaven Beach Tour and the much touted Long Lunch at WSC. Enjoy live music in the evening, or do your own thing on that day, as Airlie Beach has so much to offer.
On the last evening following racing, the overall Series Presentation will be held at WSC and will be followed by the grand dance band, The Lyrical along with fireworks.
Rocking to the band on the last evening of ABRW – photo by Vampp Photography
Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 enjoys continued support from Tourism and Events Queensland and is a feature on the It’s Live! Queensland events calendar. The event enjoys support from Coral Sea Marina Resort and d’Albora Port of Airlie Marina too.
To enter ABRW and for all information, visit the new official website at: www.abrw.com.au
By Di Pearson/WSC media