Yacht-Life Articles
New names join the line-up this year, including Rod Appleyard’s RP69 Moneypenny from Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, Dara Johnson’s silver-hulled Gunboat 68 Slingshot, and Grant Poklington’s 40-foot flyer Anarchy, racing in the Super 40 division.
The heart of the regatta, however, is the loyal fleet who make the pilgrimage year after year. Boats like Stuart Malouf’s multihull Coconuts (NSW), John and Kim Clinton’s much-loved Holy Cow! (NSW), Mark and Karen Tobin’s C’est La Vie (QLD), and Wayne Millar’s Zoe (QLD) — last year’s divisional winner — form the backbone of this great tradition.

© Hamilton Island Race Week
Four decades of racing, one unforgettable week in paradise.
27-08-2025
The reset off Ushant turned the race into a drag strip. The tide and a soft breeze bunched the pack within touching distance, leaving no place to hide. Since then, it’s been pure boat-on-boat warfare — endless tweaks, constant trimming, and helms glued to the wheel while rivals hover in sight just a few boat lengths away.
“It’s pretty much a straight line now,” said Team Malizia’s Francesca Clapcich. “This part could have been brutal, but it’s turned into a speed test.
25-08-2025