Olympic Class Sailing in the Spotlight at 40th Hamilton Island Race Week

Nestled in the heart of the dazzling Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island Race Week readies for its 40th anniversary celebrations. This year, the annual carnival of sails is slated for 16-23 August, promising a spectacular weeklong feast of maritime competition and camaraderie.

This year’s spotlight shines on the Olympic class match racing, with teams from Australia and New Zealand firing up for a three-day exhibition series. New Zealand’s men’s 49er and Women’s 49erFX teams will compete in earnest against their Australian counterparts. This Trans-Tasman clash, fondly known as the ‘Wetisloe Cup’, will take place from 17-19 August, seeing a total of 13 skiff teams duel on the adrenalin-filled waterways.

The Palm Beach Motor Yachts Trans-Tasman 49er Series will be daily at the iconic Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Racing is scheduled for the afternoons, offering spectators a thrilling front-row seat as 49ers grace the water after the conclusion of the main fleet’s schedule.

As Brisbane prepares to host the 2032 Olympics, this event provides a golden opportunity to showcase Olympic class sailors at their best. Hamilton Island hopes to entice more people to the sport of high-performance sailing and offer a glimpse into the potential for Brisbane 2032’s sailing venue.

The Australian team, featuring Olympians Evie Haseldine and Shaun Connor, as well as Women’s America’s Cup sailors Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot, is enthusiastic about the chance to compete at one of the world’s most iconic sailing locations. In front of a passionate sailing crowd, they’ll display their skills and a day of camaraderie on the water.

This Trans-Tasman sailing event is already creating waves of excitement. Yachting New Zealand High Performance Director, Ian Stewart, hails this as an initiative that showcases both the strength and depth of the Australian and New Zealand 49er fleets. A shared sentiment that the spectacular Hamilton Island provides perfect momentum towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s top 49er duo, Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie, who boast a silver medal from the Paris 2024 Olympics, are gearing up to join their Kiwi crew at Hamilton Island. Elsewhere, activities such as the ‘Speed and Tricks’ wing foil afternoon on 16 August assure an action-packed outing with challenges like the fastest run, longest air, and highest jump.