Great racing and camaraderie for all at the 2024 Hamilton Island Race Week
by Hamilton Island Race Week Media 30 Aug 04:07 NZST
17-24 August 2024
Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Medium Race entrants - Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo
Hamilton Island Race Week never disappoints, and this year's Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic races provided a thrilling day of racing for competitors.
As a proud partner of Hamilton Island Race Week, Nautilus Marine Insurance has been delighted to join competitors and organisers in celebrating the 39th running of the prestigious regatta.
Hamilton Island Race Week officially opened at the Nautilus Marine Insurance Yacht Owners and Skippers Cocktail Party on the Saturday evening, and quickly got into full swing with 164 vessels taking to racecourses in idyllic Whitsundays conditions. Overall, six days of racing make up Hamilton Island Race Week. On Tuesday many of the yachts stretched their legs as the popular Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Long Race and the Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Medium race tested crew work and tactics.
Winner of IRC Rating Division Rating Gold in the Nautilus Marine Classic Long Race was the 2006 Reichel Pugh 66 Alive from the Derwent Sailing Club in Tasmania.
"It was a phenomenal day," said Justin Ferris, Alive's tactician. "Over four and a half hours racing, and we were never more than four boat lengths away from Wild Oats X. We were bedding in some new crew, preparing for the future, and they worked extremely hard. They all enjoyed themselves though, especially with the result. I sail in about 20 regattas a year and Hamilton Island Race Week is easily one of the best."
The Reichel Pugh 52 Virago made the trip to Queensland from Sydney by road and the crew then wasted no time in getting things ready for the week of competition. Tactician Andrew Parkes has competed in over 20 Hamilton Island Race Weeks.
"It's always interesting racing. The islands and the tides make it quite tactical, and the scenery makes it an absolute pleasure. This year we had quite light conditions, Virago prefers a bit more pressure and we got some towards the end of the week."
Taking home a divisional third place after a week of racing was Toybox 2, owned by Ian Box, Chairman of Special Events at Middle Harbour Yacht Club which is host of the popular Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta. Including crew, partners and families, the whole Toybox 2 team amounted to 20 people. "My first Hamilton Island Race week was in 1998 when I was convinced to enter. I was glad I did as we won the cruising division that year," said Ian. "We all had an absolute ball this year as well."
"Hamilton Island Race Week is special," said Mark Richards, skipper of Wild Oats X, which placed second in the Nautilus Marine Classic Long Race. "For the regatta to be in its 39th year is testament to the event. On behalf of all the sailors who attended Race Week I also want to thank Nautilus Marine Insurance for their amazing support."
Nautilus Marine Insurance CEO Lyndon Turner and his team were on Hamilton Island for the regatta, supporting the sailing community. "The 2024 Hamilton Island Race Week was a resounding success. Many of our Nautilus Marine Insurance customers competed in Race Week this year, and I would also like to pay tribute to the organising committee and the Hamilton Island team. This is our third year of partnering with Race Week and I know how much work goes into ensuring that the week is a success both on and off the water."
Following on from Hamilton Island Race Week, Nautilus Marine Insurance continues its support of North Queensland racing as a proud partner of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (29 August - 4 September). This year marks the 17th edition of Townsville Yacht Club's well-loved regatta, which always provides a unique atmosphere and a great end to the Queensland regatta circuit.