Day 1 of Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 is set to be a cracker for the 150 competing boats across 14 divisions, with a spectacular mass start from two lines on Pioneer Bay the order of the day - and the weather is looking perfect for the opener of Whitsunday Sailing Club's signature event.
Principal Race Officer, Kevin Wilson, told the on water race management team the fleet could expect lovely south to south easterly winds of 17 to 24 knots – a sailor's dream come true.
As sailors rushed around attending to last minute details this morning, news came that the MC38, Mobile Power Trailers (a support sponsor of ABRW), had a broken rudder and skipper, Adam Janczyk and crew, were racing the clock to repair in time to start the opening race.
One of the highly fancied boats in IRC Passage Rating class, Janczyk has co-opted a gun crew, including 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart winning navigator from URM, Alice Parker, along with Gary Holt, a serial winner at major Australian yachting events with his 'Let's Get It On' yachts.
Racing got underway from 11am and although the entire fleet start of the same two lines, from there, depending on the division, there are four courses.
IRC/ORCI Rating Passage Division 1 and Multihull Racing, Trailable Yachts Division 2 and the F18's are doing a 30 nautical mile course to Double Cone and Olden Islands, Grimston, then to the finish. Multihull Passage and the Non Spinnaker division's course is to Double Cone and Gumbrell Islands, Grimston then the finish and others are variations of these.
Late yesterday, WSC president, Terry Archer, warned crews to watch out for whales, as these magnificent creatures are already cavorting with their calves throughout the Whitsunday Islands. We spotted two coming across on the ferry to Port of Airlie yesterday.
Meanwhile, the wee Weta trimarans were on a 10.5 nautical mile course taking in Bluff, Abell Point, Bluff and finish.
Airlie Beach Race Week volunteers, as normal, were already working hard this morning and as can be seen the one of the photos, their crew shirts were kindly provided by McDonalds Airlie Beach, Cannonvale and Bowen.
This week, competitors will have opportunities to win some lucky door prizes at Whitsunday Sailing Club. Twenty 16 Communications have donated a Ray Marine prize package worth $3000, while Betta Electrical has donated a Weber BBQ valued at $800.
What a week it's going to be on and off the water!
Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 is held from place from 8-15 August and enjoys continued support from Tourism and Events Queensland, including as a feature on the It's Live! Queensland events calendar. The event also enjoys support from Coral Sea Marina Resort and d'Albora Port of Airlie Marina.
