Just the right amount of breeze meant no ruffling of feathers on Day 3 of Jeanneau Yachts presented by Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers and 74 Islands Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) 2026, the up to 15 knot sea breeze making it pleasant sailing for all ahead tomorrow’s lay day.
Competition in the three Performance Cruising Divisions and two Cruising Non-Spinnaker divisions are heating up at Whitsunday Sailing Club’s (WSC) 38th running of the regatta.
In Division 1, Julian Bell’s Beneteau First 50, 51st Project (NSW), took top place. He said, laughing, “I think the handicapper was nice to us! Actually, we had a very good start. We got away cleanly, which played a big part and that gave us some clean air.
“The team did a good job. They all sailed well. It was champagne conditions out there – which is what Airlie Beach is all about,” said Bell.
Last competing here two years ago, Novocastrian Bell said, “We jumped at the opportunity to come back this year.” He knows he has a big job ahead, currently seventh placed overall on a tight top of the leaderboard, it will all come down to who performs best in the forecast lighter conditions ahead.
The overall leader is Ian Frankhanel’s Solaris 50, Salt (Vic), but only five points separates the top five.
“Yes, it’s a very narrow lead – it’s us - just,” Frankhanel admitted. “It’s very competitive in our division. We’re happy with light breeze and flat water, but the boat’s performed very well the last three days.
“This is the first boat I’ve owned, I bought it in June 2021 and this is our first time at Airlie Beach. We’re really enjoying it, it’s fantastic. The regatta has a great feel,” the Victorian said.
In Division 2, local, Charles Wallis, with his MBD41, Reignition had the goods today, scoring an eight minute win over Sean Gartner’s Seremisa (NSW) and Stuart Richardson’s Solera (Vic).
Division 3 went to local, Sam Woodward with the Robertson 950, Corrobboree. Familiar name and design? She was originally owned by a top yachtie from the past, Robert ‘Robbo’ Robertson. Phil Bennett’s beautiful wooden boat, King Billy (NSW) was second and Andrew McConaghy’s local boat, Dragonfly, slotted into third place.
“My fiancé Sarah have owned the boat for six years and we live aboard,” Woodward explained.
“We had a great day on the water,” the Airlie Beach yachtie said. “It felt like we had a great start and we played the tide upwind,” he said, explaining their win.
“For the whole day we were tussling with King Billy. It was fun tacking with them coming home to the finish. We were a good match with them.”
In Non-Spinnaker Division 1, Paul Commins took note of his boat’s name ‘Carpe Diem’ and seized the day to win from Victorian Remco Pen’s Bigger Day Out (which leads their close series) and Tony Hennessy’s Joan Ellen (Vic).
“Perfect sailing, that’s why we come to Whitsundays, flat water, blue water, we saw a whale, sun was out, we won…,” he said.
“We got the boat going well today, it wasn’t close, not like yesterday, which was very exciting,” Commins ended.
Non-Spinnaker Division 2 was won by Grant Ford’s Ford Play (Tas), by a good margin to Melanie Curry’s local boat, Alwyn and Mark Strobel’s Krystal from Hamilton Island. However, Alwyn leads the series by one point and those behind are breathing down the two’s necks.
Ford Play’s Peter Wadley described their race: “It was one of those days when everything went right. Had a really good start, went round the first buoy well, got a nice sea change and picked up a couple of very good wind shifts. We only had four on board today, but four of our regulars and everything just gelled.”
Challenge though they may, Barracuda, the marauding Thompson T30 owned by Tim McCall (Qld), would not be beaten. However, it was good to see Hughie Lewis’ Heartbreaker (Tas) not only back on the water, but finishing second, after hitting a reef yesterday. Host Club entry, Smooth Operator (Iyas Shaheen), took third place, so is second overall.
There are two divisions in the Trailables & Sports Boats class. Don’t Panic!, the Bethwaite 89er owned by David Davenport/Ken Stevenson from WA is the Division 1 boat to beat, having clean-swept all three races. The rest are still trying to make an impression.
Greg Hammon’s Rossgo from the host club won today to hold the overall lead in Division 2 on countback to Burke Melia’s No Mercy (NSW), which placed second today, while Alan Grant’s Loose Cannon (NSW) completed the podium.
“We had a lovely day because we were going for a long cruise downwind, while the others had to gybe back and forward, good race back up from Grassy to the finish line. We have a fitting on our spinnaker pole that we push out, so we can go straight downwind, so don’t have gybe,” Hammon said.
“We were mostly in 12 knots all day – perfect conditions for Rossgo.”
Hammon said the light weather expected for the rest of the week, “suits us. We’re a displacement boat, most the others in our division have sail the angles and plane.”
Of the four VX Ones that made it up to Airlie Beach this year, Rob Douglass’ Dollop is top placed, counting four wins from six races in his tally, including two today from three windward/leeward races. Scott Day’s Xcape is in second having won the opening race and scoring 2-3-2 in the day’s races. Both boats represent from NSW.
This morning, Principal Race Officer, Kevin Wilson, told his team: “We’re sending the fleet north today. The shorter course will take the boats around Grassy Island, while those on the longer course will go around Gumbrell Island and Grimston. They will be reaching down the course and then beating back.”
Wilson said the wind would be lighter than the previous two days, most likely a south-easterly sea breeze in the 10-15 knot range. The sun is out in full force after a downpour last night and early this morning. About as ideal as it gets in the tropical Whitsunday islands.
Tomorrow is lay day – a day of rest for all. Racing will resume on Tuesday.
