Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

New talent to try luck at Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week

by Di Pearson/WSC media 23 Jul 2024 05:36 UTC 8-15 August 2024

Organisers at Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 look forward to seeing new talents emerge every year as they gravitate to one of Australia's favourite sailing playgrounds - and this year is no different, but the reasons they will make it to the Whitsundays are - some have funny stories attached, others have tales of frustration.

We spoke to some in the Performance Cruising class, their sheer numbers waiting to saturate Pioneer Bay and the surrounding beautiful islands, when Race Week takes place from 8-15 August. And don't let the word 'cruising' fool you - the crews in these large divisions fight tooth and nail, eager to make the podium.

Scott Robertson and Steve Jurd are the fairly new owners of the Beneteau 45, Banter. The pair will front Airlie Beach for the first time as boat owners.

"It's a funny story. I'd had Puff, a Beneteau 40.7, before. Steve and I went to a Beneteau regatta and probably had too much to drink and decided we needed a bigger boat. It all happened within a couple of weeks around 12 months ago - suddenly we owned a Beneteau 45," Robertson recalled, laughing. "My wife wasn't too happy at the time."

Robertson had done Airlie Beach a couple of times before, but sailed on other people's boats.

"Airlie is a beautiful part of the world to go sailing... I love the relaxed social atmosphere, good restaurants and everything is easy to get to," the NSW yachtsman said.

"We'll have our regular crew of seven from Sydney with us. We do race at Pittwater regularly and it's fairly competitive. We'll see how we go."

When Whitsunday Sailing Club's 36th Airlie Beach Race Week comes around, Banter's crew might take a leaf out of Peter Warren's book. Seachelle 2's Tasmanian owner raced his Jeanneau 44 DS at Race Week for the first time last year and came away with second place in Division 2, where Banter will join them in 2024.

"Seachelle 2 is well accustomed to cruising Tasmanian waters. Her first foray to Airlie Beach last year - her first and only race series - was enjoyed by all, so we decided to come up again," Warren said of his surprise second place.

Fellow Tasmanian, Dermot Crean, is a total newcomer to Airlie Beach. The owner of Deviljsh, a J/88, he hails from Ireland, but spent years living in the UK before finding his way to Tasmania 13 years ago. As such, Crean has competed on both continents and is a pro-active member of Derwent Sailing Squadron, which he proudly says, "Will host the Australian Yachting Championships in January.

"We can't wait (for Airlie Beach Race Week). We tried to go last year, when I got back into racing after 20 years, but the boat had to come from overseas and I couldn't believe what it took. We couldn't get it there in time but we will this year!"

Crean's yacht will arrive in the Whitsundays on a road trailer. "We had to tilt it on the trailer to make it work. She'll be heading off this week."

On Race Week, Crean shared, "We're Looking forward to enjoying ourselves. It's the kind of event I enjoyed when I was younger. We're looking forward to arriving a week early, so we can enjoy all Airlie offers before racing kicks off."

Onshore, AWL Grip and International have joined the growing list of support sponsors and are a perfect fit for the event, as both brands are familiar to yachties around the globe

Environmentally responsible and with over 40 years of experience, AWL Grip is highly rated as the world's best professional boat paint. The company industry-leading products provide a wide range of colors and effects, combined with high gloss and proven durability. Visit www.awlgrip.com for more information.

International is a marine coatings company that has made a niche for itself worldwide with vessel antifouling, universal primers, cosmetic finishes, foul release coatings and high performance deck coatings in its vast array of products. Visit www.international-marine.com for more information.

Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 enjoys continued support from Tourism and Events Queensland and is a feature on the It's Live! Queensland events calendar. The event enjoys support from Coral Sea Marina Resort and d'Albora Port of Airlie Marina too.

To enter ABRW and for all information, visit: www.abrw.com.au.

Related Articles

74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week Day 6
They saved the best till last as winners decided The best of 74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week was held on this, the final day, when Principal Race Officer Kevin Wilson set the fleet a Round the Bay Race around Pioneer Bay - it's always impressive to witness a sea of colour shoreside. Posted on 14 Aug
74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week Day 5
More newbies on podium as breeze stabilises It was the penultimate day at 74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week and the forecast was right when it foretold there would be no dogs blown off chains finally, with 20 knots the top end of breeze range and the tide behind the fleet. Posted on 13 Aug
74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week Day 4
Bay racing throws up some new winners Yesterday's lay day was enjoyed by all, but today it was back to the business of racing being held in the spectacular Whitsundays and courses were on Pioneer Bay today - giving those around the shoreline a fabulous view of racing. Posted on 12 Aug
74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week Day 3
Trying day for some It's Day 3 of Distillery ABRW & conditions almost mirrored those of yesterday, although there were patches of 30 plus knot winds as competitors knuckled down and got into the groove after two earlier days of fresh winds that took some masterful crew work. Posted on 10 Aug
74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week Day 2
Could it possibly get better? Another warm and sunny day in paradise and competitors set sail on Day 2 of Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week conditions were perfect as race officials worked hard to finish racing before a building breeze forecast to hit the course areas between 3 & 4pm. Posted on 9 Aug
74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week Day 1
A sunny sky, 13-20 knot winds and keen competitors and equally keen volunteers A sunny sky, 13-20 knot winds and keen competitors and equally keen volunteers heralded the start of racing today, but it wasn't all roses, as gusts creeping over 25 knots caused a little chaos on the courses. Posted on 8 Aug
Get ready to whoop it up
At 74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) has been working hard to provide a memorable experience for all at its 37th edition of Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), this year sponsored by 74 Islands Distillery and to be held from 7-14 August. Posted on 30 Jul
Multihull talents set for Airlie Beach Race Week
Taking to the water in the Racing, Passage and Weta 4.4 divisions Over 130 entries have been received to-date for 74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week and among them are a good roll-up from the multihulls taking to the water in the Racing, Passage and Weta 4.4 divisions. Posted on 23 Jul
Faithful look forward to Airlie Beach Race Week
Performance Racing category has already attracted 15 entries Just as Whitsunday Sailing Club is looking forward to 74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week, so too are competitors, including those in the Performance Racing category where already 15 have signed up ready to race in the 37th edition. Posted on 25 Jun
Entries surpass 100 for Airlie Beach Race Week
74 Islands Distillery has signed up as Naming Rights Sponsor As entries breach the century mark, Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) is pleased to announce that 74 Islands Distillery has signed up as Naming Rights Sponsor for 2025 Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) Posted on 15 May
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeMarine Products Direct 2023 - Calypso FOOTERCrewsaver 2021 Safetyline FOOTER