Changes at Airlie Beach

Queensland regatta lands a new sponsor with some new ideas

The 18th annual sailing regatta, Airlie Beach Race Week will be sailed on Pioneer Bay from August 9th to 16th 2007 and is set to expand with the strong support of Queensland's Meridien Marinas.

Russell McCart, the CEO of Meridien, and the Rear Commodore of the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, announced the new sponsorship this week.

"We are very pleased to announce this sponsorship. Meridien has a strong commitment to Airlie Beach, with Meridien Abel Point Marina and our Port of Airlie development. We have been working closely with the Whitsunday Sailing Club for some years and we look forward to promoting Meridien Airlie Beach Race Week for a long time to come," he said.

Looking forward to what is planned at this year's event, McCart discussed a couple of new initiatives: "We want to introduce a little bit more island racing into the race week, because we think that people like to sail around the islands. We are looking for new courses to make it a bit more interesting, we think that variety is important.

"We are looking at more lay day activity and we are keen to get the town more involved. You'll hear more about that later. All in all we can do a lot to make a good event even better."

As a sailor, Russell McCart is showing his immediate enthusiasm for the 2007 series. McCart has sailed at a number of race weeks with his Farr 42 Rum Jungle and he is now preparing his new Farr 40 Night Nurse, for a solid season of races and regattas, starting with this week's Audi Sydney to Southport race.

Naturally, he will be on the Meridien Airlie Beach Race Week start line on the second Friday in August this year.

The Regatta Divisions will include (subject to entry numbers):

IRC Racing, Premier Cruising Yachts (handicapped using IRC Rule)
One Design Classes, Cruising Yachts with Spinnaker (PHS handicaps)
Cruising Yachts Non-Spinnaker (PHS handicaps)
Sports Boats and Trailable Yachts.

The racing format will be a combination of round-the-buoys racing in Pioneer Bay and passage races in Pioneer Bay and the Whitsunday Passages.

The first race of the series will be on Friday 10th August 2007. A Lay Day for the Beach Party is scheduled for Monday 13th August 2007. The last race of the series is scheduled for the morning of Thursday 16th August 2007.

The Notice of Race and Entry forms are online now at http://www.airliebeachraceweek.com