Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) is pleased to present Jeanneau and 74 Islands Airlie Beach Race Week, as Jeanneau, presented by Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers, joins last year’s naming right’s sponsor, 74 Islands Distillery to deliver an unforgettable program of racing and social activities for the Club’s signature event to be held from 6-13 August.
In a completely different approach to the event in 2026, Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), Jeanneau, presented by Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers, is the on-water sponsor, while 74 Islands Distillery is taking care of the shore-based component, the companies committed to a perfect blend of sponsorship.
Further exciting times are ahead at Airlie Beach too. The Shute Harbour Recreational Boating Facility has been hastened under the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games approval framework, speeding up delivery for the marine project. Development of such will support the Whitsundays' ambition to be the home of Olympic sailing.
The Whitsundays is a mecca for all types of sailing vessels, be it maxis, multihulls, trailable and off-the-beach boats, including Olympic classes. That, along with the weather and sea life, are what attracts the throngs to Airlie Beach Race Week each year.
Only opened last week, entries for ABRW are already near 30, transversing 10 classes.
Kate Leeson was one of the first entries in the Rating Passage division, with her Adams 10, Wazza Red Boat. Among others, she will join the first international entry for 2026, Arnaud Rabatel’s Dufour 40 K, Blue, from New Caledonia.
Leeson has competed at ABRW in the past, but this is the first time here as a boat owning skipper: “We won at Magnetic Island Race Week last year and now I’ll skipper the boat at Airlie Beach for the first time,” said Leeson, a Whitsunday sailor.
“The Whitsundays is notorious for producing some of the best sailors around. We have really good competition with other locals at Airlie Beach too and I love the fact that they (WSC) have a mix of IRC and PHS – the choice is yours and there are so many classes to pick from. It’s also spectacular with whales out on the courses. It’s a pretty good vibe.”
While Leeson is a fan of the racing, she says, “I also love the social aspect. It’s fun back at the Club after racing. You see friends from all around the country that you don’t often see – and flying in from around the world - all share a common passion of sailing.
“And the entire main street is full of people every night. You run into lots of friends. It’s something special to Airlie Beach that you don’t see at other regattas,” Leeson ended.
Richard Fader is a regular. This time it is with an updated boat he shares in partnership with three mates: Stewart Hutcheon, Craig Clifford and Michael Cooper. The Tasmanian foursome bought Crackerjack V, a Swan 82s and entered the Performance Cruising class.
“All four owners will be at Airlie. We have a crew of about 20, including some Whitsunday locals, like Damian Suckling. We’ve got one crew from Singapore and some Poms. We’re all mates who grew up together and have sailed together,” Fader says.
Fader and his three partners previously raced a Buizen 52 at ABRW and in 2022, his last, a Hanse 540e, “in what is always a very enjoyable regatta,” he says.
The latest yacht, Crackerjack V, has five ensuite cabins and a new BBQ amongst its many attributes.
“We’d been looking for another boat for ages, Craig happened to be in Hong Kong 12 months ago, with his dad (Bob Clifford, Founder and Chairman of shipbuilding company Incat, where Craig is Managing Director. The pair also took line honours in the 1994 Sydney Hobart with Bob’s maxi Tasmania). He found it there and got it home in May,” Fader explains.
“We’ve spent the last 10 months refitting it and will cruise it up to Airlie. Race Week should be a bit of fun. I’ve always enjoyed it. We booked The Boathouse Apartments to stay in again. We love it there.”
Mike Peberdy is another who will be at the helm of a new vessel. The Brisbane sailor is best remembered as skipper of the Extreme 40, High Voltage. This time, he will front up with Rare Groove, an Irens designed trimaran entered in the Multihull Racing class.
“It’s a new challenge and different style of boat,” Peberdy says. I love the boat. I imported it from overseas a bit over a year ago. I’m all excited to get back up there (ABRW). I’m looking forward to a rematch with Paul Mitchell (Ullman Sails). I don’t think we can beat him on the water, but we’ll have a go on handicap,” says Peberdy, who missed the event in 2025.
“I heard that Michel (Van Der Zwaard) and Rohan (Veal) will be back with the M32 – they’ll be quick - and Joel Berg will be there with Hooligan. We’re keen to race against him and Paul (Mitchell). They’ll be hard to beat with the modifications they’ve done to their boats, including adding T-Foil rudders.”
Airlie Beach, Peberdy says, “Has fantastic sailing conditions and a good mix of conditions. That’s why we keep coming up. That and the competition.”
Two other classes expected to provoke strong interest this year are the Weta trimarans and VX-Ones – both off the beach classes. In 2025, a record 13 Wetas raced when Glenn Foley (Time Bandit) handled the big conditions best against regulars and newcomers. The VX-Ones were new to ABRW and the field of six is expected to grow in 2026.
No matter what type of boat you sail, there is a class and division for all at Airlie Beach Race Week.
