HIRW ahead

Hamilton Island Race Week, Australia’s largest offshore sailing regatta which attracts sailors, spectators and socialites from around the globe, starts in three days.

Photography by Salty Dingo

17 August 2022

The Oatley family will soon open the doors to Hamilton Island Yacht Club at Saturday night’s official welcome party for Hamilton Island Race Week, the 36th edition of the annual sailing series in the Whitsundays that has drawn 224 starters.

On top of the winter trade winds, picture-perfect location and ability to fly direct from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Hamilton Island is renowned for providing next-level hospitality and Race Week is a chance for the island’s event team to find another gear.

This year’s Race Week is a veritable smorgasbord of racing and social events made possible by event sponsors and partners.

Here are some of the Race Week offerings designed to keep 2,000 sailors and their friends and families well-watered, fed and entertained after a tough day chasing key results over six days of competition between 20 and 27 August.

Australia's largest sailing regatta, Hamilton Island Race Week is a firm favourite on the calendar for people from all over the world.

The Tavern and Front Street come to life during Race Week with bands, pop-up restaurants, bars and stalls.

Eat Street

For a relaxed dinner, visit Eat Street on Front Street, which offers pop-up street food stalls with spiced stacked naans, Vietnamese kebabs, gourmet spit roast rolls and fresh salads. Or, enjoy a post-race sausage sizzle at sundown on Front Street, complimentary for all sailors.

Entertainment

Front Street lights up each evening with a fantastic line-up of acts, including the international sensation, Furnace & The Fundamentals.

Enjoy an island favourite and spice up your morning with a visit to the Ketel One Bloody Mary pop-up bar from 8.30am to 10.30am on 24 August. While you’re there, grab some breakfast at the breakfast barbecue stall.

Hamilton Island is excited to welcome Nautilus Marine Insurance as a new Race Week premium partner and sponsor of the daily highlights shown on the super screen outside the tavern, Saturday’s welcome function for skippers and Tuesday’s Nautilus Classic Long Race.

The popular Tanqueray Garden Bar with its lush garden vibe, live DJs and dancing will offer a selection of classic cocktails, including Tanqueray’s signature serve, Tanqueray and Tonic. Open 9.00pm to 2.00am daily and 6.00pm to midnight on Lay Day.

Geelong-born and brewed Furphy is the perfect, easy-drinking post-race beer. The Furphy Can Bar will be open daily (except Lay Day) from 4.00pm at the Marina Tavern forecourt.

Visit the Maui Jim pop-up store and experience the latest in premium polarised sunglasses. The team will ensure you find the perfect pair to enjoy all the fun in the sun at this year’s Race Week. Open daily on Front Street.

The Skin Check Champions clinic will return to Hamilton Island for the fifth year to provide free, quick and easy skin checks. Be sure to book your session well in advance online.

Mecca Cosmetica will also be on hand to make sure your skin is protected throughout Race Week with top-ups of its bestselling sunscreen, To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen.

Keep an eye out for the Mecca Cosmetica golf buggies touring the island with deluxe samples on board.

Celebrations and racing begin 20 August.

The Hamilton Island Race Week Tanqueray Garden Bar will be a favourite.

A limited final release of tickets is now available to some signature onshore events: don’t miss out on Race Week’s new beachside event, Dinner with Will Cowper.

Otto Brisbane’s Head Chef, Will Cowper brings his simple yet clever Italian flavours to Hamilton Island using only the freshest of Australian produce.

Experience one of Race Week’s unanimously loved yachtie events, the Surf and Turf-inspired sitdown dinner and a beer with mates, with entertainment by Australian comedian, Cameron Knight.

Join the Wild Oats Wines team for a Hamilton Island Race Week favourite dedicated to ladies and gents who like to lunch, the Wild Oats Ladies Lunch. Guests can expect a long beachside lunch superbly matched to Wild Oats Wines.

All the usual conveniences and services including free local busses, an IGA supermarket, bottle shop, bakery, chemist, chandlery, slipway with lifting capability and fuel and water will be operating.

hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au