New title sponsor

Bob Oatley's Hamiliton Island resort supports Australian Farr 40 Nationals

Luxury holiday destination Hamilton Island located in the pristine Whitsundays in far north Queensland, is the title sponsor for the 2005 Farr 40 Australian Championship which will be staged outside Sydney Harbour between February 18th and 20th.

The Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship will be the final regatta in the Australian Farr 40 season and will be an exciting preview for the Farr 40 Pre Worlds and 2005 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship.

Hamilton Island has had a long association with sailing, with its signature event, the annual Hahn Premium Race Week being awarded a prestigious Queensland Tourism Award last year.

In addition to staging Race Week, which has an international reputation as one of the world’s premium yachting regattas, Hamilton Island has supported the sport of sailing on a number of levels. Over the years, the island has supported Rolex Sydney Hobart contenders including the illustrious maxi, Brindabella and more recently, the Melbourne University team on Another Challenge.

The Farr 40 class are delighted that this sponsorship enables them to maintain their close association with the well-known sailing family and owners of Hamilton Island, Bob and Sandy Oatley. The Oatley family have provided ongoing support and sponsorship to Farr 40’s events over a number of years.

"We have watched the Farr 40 class of sailing grow over the years and we are pleased to be able to continue our support of the Australian Championship," said Sandy Oatley.

The Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship for 2005 will see an extremely competitive fleet racing from February 18-20 on the same course that will be used for the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship.

A number of the international contenders will capitalise on the opportunity to race against each other and learn more about the racing area.

"A fleet of more than 20 boats are expected to compete with defending 2004 Australian Champion John Calvert Jones and his crew of Southern Star joining current world champions Jim Richardson, the current Farr 40 world champion and Richard Perini the current Mumm 30 world champion," commented Matt Allen, Australian Farr 40 Class president.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia will be the host club for the Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship along with the Farr 40 Pre Worlds regatta on Feb 24-26 and the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship on March 1-4.