Sportsboats to Hamilton Island

Latest news from Australia's most glamorous regatta

As Audi Hamilton Island Race Week continues to expand under the guidance of supermaxi owner Bob Oatley and his family, the consensus is that the regatta should continue to extend its appeal to the widest possible spectrum of sailboats.

This year the expansion will include an invitation to the owners and crews of one of the sport’s most exciting forms, sportsboats, to be part of what is Australia’s most awarded regatta.

Organisers of the 26th edition of Race Week - which will be staged from August 22 to 29 – are planning a special division for Sports Boats. Beyond that, if any particular class that fits within this category is present in numbers, they will compete in their own division.

“In creating this opportunity we are looking to meet all the requirements this exciting style of racing demands, including having special courses,” said Hamilton Island’s CEO, Glenn Bourke. “We will also do everything we can to make it as easy as possible for owners and crews to compete.

“There’s no doubt the island-laced tropical waters around Hamilton Island are among the best in the world for racing this type of boat, so we look forward to welcoming them in 2009 and developing a strong relationship with them in the years ahead.”

Bourke certainly knows what he is talking about when it comes to the Sports Boat concept. The three-time Laser World Champion and Olympian also has a Laser SB3 UK championship to his credit.

It will be a very special Audi Hamilton Island Race Week in many ways in 2009 with the opening of the magnificent new Hamilton Island Yacht Club, and the highly impressive, world-class Hamilton Island Golf Club will be put to the test. These will bring an even more stimulating dimension to an onshore social agenda which will match the excitement of the racing.

If you are interested in being part of Australia’s largest week of keelboat racing then you can check it out at www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au