- In addition to both the America’s Cup and Admiral’s Cup being on display, one of the world’s great sailors is likely to make a surprise visit mid-week
Race Week sailing. Image copyright AUDI/Andrea Francolini.
by Rob Mundle
Superyachts, fashion designers, super models, celebrity chefs and the sailing fraternity will descend on Hamilton Island for Australia’s largest offshore yachting regatta, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week from Friday 19 – Saturday 27 August 2011.
Model, actress and TV personality, Megan Gale, will make her first visit to the annual regatta to emcee the launch of the Collette Dinnigan Cruise Collection 2011 held at the exclusive qualia resort on the northern tip of Hamilton Island. She will be joined by a number of famous faces attending the Island festivities including Collette Dinnigan, Matt Moran, Tom Williams, Catriona Rowntree, Shannon Bennett, Geoff and Sarah Huegill, Gail Elliott, Kate Waterhouse, Anthony Bell, Kelly Landry, Kylie Speers, Sandra Sully and Mark Beretta.*
Condor of Bermuda and a whale at Hamilton Island. Image copyright AUDI/Andrea Francolini.
Nearly 200 yachts have entered the regatta which will run over seven days on widely varying courses around the Whitsunday Islands. Fierce competition is expected between the 100-foot supermaxi Investec Loyal and five-time Rolex Sydney to Hobart winner, Wild Oats XI. Also $25 million luxury yacht Janice of Wyoming will attend the event for the first time in a spectator capacity.
To celebrate the start of the America’s Cup challenge which recently began in Europe, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week will display for the first time the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in the history of sport and yachting’s ultimate prize. The spectacular silver trophy, which was first raced for in 1851, will be celebrating its 160th birthday while at the regatta. It will be joined at Race Week by another of the world’s great yachting trophies, the Admiral’s Cup - a symbol of world ocean racing supremacy which is currently held by Australia. These two magnificent trophies, which have never previously been seen together, will be on display at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club during the regatta.
The America's Cup is at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, where forums on the new-style America's Cup racing will be held. Image copyright Anne Hinton, all rights reserved.
Two sailing forums will be held during Race Week to reveal the new formula for the next America’s Cup match. It will be hosted by Hamilton Island Yacht Club Commodore Iain Murray, who is also the Regatta Director for the 34th America’s Cup match and CEO of America's Cup Race Management. Murray, who has contested the America’s Cup on four occasions, will be joined by Tom Ehman, from the Golden Gate Yacht Club, the club which currently holds the Cup. And, mid-week, one of the world’s great sailors may be making a surprise appearance.
New announcements to the glittering social program include the Australian launch of Moet Ice Imperial with a ‘white chic’ dress code at the glamorous Moet & Chandon luncheon, a MAC Makeup Suite for race goers offering complimentary styling appointments prior to most major events, the return of the spectacular Roulettes Air Show on Monday 22 August and fashion parades by Henri Lloyd, Little Joe and Miskin Martinez. Leading jewellery designer, Pandora will also feature this year as they stage a first time event in conjunction with renowned fashion magazine Harper’s BAZAAR.
Wild Oats XI is at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Image copyright AUDI/Andrea Francolini.
Service staff and supplies have been ramped up across Hamilton Island in preparation for the influx of over 3,000 visitors to the island during the prestigious regatta. Top orders for the celebratory regatta include: 2,000 bottles of champagne and sparkling wine, 500 bottles of Moet, 8,400 punnets of strawberries, 12,000 oysters and 1,500 kilos of prawns.
Hamilton Island Race Week’s naming rights sponsor, luxury car maker Audi, is Australia’s largest corporate sponsor of yachting.
*Audi Hamilton Island Race Week program and presenters are subject to change.
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week
