Starter’s orders
Sixty boats across eight classes are set to line up when the start gun fires for 2020 Airlie Beach Race Week.
Photography by Andrea Francolini
03 August 2020
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Crews are ready to face starters orders this Friday for the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Airlie Beach Race Week regatta.
Boats of all kinds from across Australia and some from overseas usually take part in this much-anticipated Race Week in Queensland, the first of the northern circuit of regattas held annually. And despite COVID-19 and the Queensland border being closed to her southern neighbours, numbers have exceeded all expectations.
“We’re thrilled to see the numbers and calibre of entries the 32nd running of Airlie Beach Race Week. Entries were still filtering in yesterday,” Race Director, Ross Chisholm said.
Chisholm also stressed that the welfare of competitors, volunteers and officials was paramount and that comprehensive COVID-Safe procedures had been put in place. Onshore events have been scaled down to involve no more than 150 guests each night at the club.
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“By limiting numbers in attendance at club presentations and dinners we can ensure social distancing and keep everyone safe,” he ended.
Competitors are also excited to get back on the race track for some serious competition, the first for a while. The week will kick off with a mass start for the opening race day, meaning all classes will start at the same time, from 10 am, weather dependant.
It will make for a stunning sight as some of Australia’s best offshore racing yachts line up and race with the fast multihulls, sports boats, cruisers and trailable yachts in the beautiful Whitsunday Islands.
John Fowell, owner of Anka’s Away, a Ross 780 Mk2, commented: “We sailed this boat for the first time at last years’ Airlie Beach Race Week and are looking forward to another fun-filled week with hopefully a better result.”
Fowell continued, “The year before we won with my previous boat, First Born. This time I’m hoping the boat is better set up and we get a better result. We have three other Ross boats to race against, so we’re calling it the Ross Intergalactic title.”
He went on to say, “The boys that now own Revival (Ian Vonk and co) used to own Anka’s Away. We definitely want to beat them. There is a point to prove there, especially as that boat is a Ross 780Mk3.”
Fowell and his crew are entered in the Trailable Yachts division and among their quarry is last year’s winner Masquerade, a Masrm 750 owned by Tom Vujasinovic. However, it was a close series with just one point separating the top three.
Airlie Beach Race Week registration will take place on Thursday 6 August, with the event coming to a conclusion on Thursday 13 August when winners will be announced early in the evening.
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