Just a short time from entries opening for Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) 2025, keen competitors started committing to the fun event and with 60 entries received to-date, it is a good start to what is sure to be another great week of racing and where fun doesn't set with the sun from 7-14 August.
Entries have been received across the various classes. Looking healthy at this early stage is the Trailable Yachts & Sports Boats division and the boats are coming from far and wide.
Tom Griffiths is bringing Shaw Thing, a Shaw 650, from the Northern Territory via a long road trip. Other competitors include fellow Shaw 650, Situation Normal, owned by Barry Berndt (Qld) and the new Australian Sports Boat champion, Andrew York's REO 850, Like Oxygen (NSW).
"I'll be towing my boat through the Barkly Tableland (Northern Territory to Western Queensland). I did that the first time I came to Airlie Beach (Race Week) in 2022," shared Griffiths.
It's a long way to Airlie from Darwin (2761 km), but as Griffiths explained, "Until recently, there weren't many sports boats in the Territory. Airlie Beach Race Week was the nearest I could go to compete!
"There's another Shaw 650 up here and I believe they are coming too. I'd love to see as many 650s as possible at Airlie this year. It was really good when I was there three years ago, we had a fantastic time, so we're looking forward to returning," he said.
Performance Cruising competitors are always best at getting their entries in early and have lived up to their reputation, with 22 entered. One of them is Seachelle 2 from ACT, David Warren's Jeanneau 44 DS.
Warren's brother Peter sails the boat with him and said, "We like everything about Airlie Beach Race Week - what's not to like - that's why we come up there! Last year was the best managed event I've been to.
Peter, who lives in the ACT, continued, "I've sailed at the regatta around 11 times now, going right back to when it was Hog's Breath Race Week, on our own and other people's boats.
"With Seachelle 2, I look after all the details, while David, who lives in Tasmania, gets the boat up to Airlie Beach and back. It's (Jeanneau 44 DS) a floating caravan and last year we loved every minute. We'll leave the boat at Airlie after the regatta and David and our wives will come back and cruise to Outer Reef," he ended.
Performance Racing is well on the way too, with a good spread of boats representing Victoria, South Australia, NSW and of course, Queensland.
Weta 4.4s are expected to be out in force, after a record dozen competed in 2024. George Owen, noted for sailing big cats, stormed to a Weta win with Wetasashag last year, scoring bullets in all but one race. The rest will have to be on-song to put a dent in the Queenslander's score card.
"There's lots of advantages to the Weta. You just hook the boat to 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 74-year-old maintained.
New to Airlie Beach Race Week is a VX-One division. Terry Archer said, "This is a light and fast one-design boat and a number from Victoria have said they will be here, throwing down the gauntlet to those from other states to come and join them.
"The VX's are gaining in status among the newer sports boat designs in the country. We feel they will be a great addition to our event and the Whitsundays offer the type of conditions they sail best in."
A fun social program is also a magnet for ABRW. Live Music and food stalls at the Club nightly, a Long Late Lunch for those ashore, not to mention all the other delights on offer in the region, both on the water and shoreside. So much to see and do, why wouldn't you want to join in?
No matter what type of boat you sail, there is a division for all at Airlie Beach Race Week.
