Calm seas and close rivalries open Hamilton Island Race Week's 40th edition
by Lisa Ratcliff 17 Aug 22:53 NZST
16-23 August 2025
Seeking Alpha and Bacchanal on day 1 at Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo
A sparkling Queensland winter's day gently opened the starting gate for the 40th Hamilton Island Race Week, presented by AMEX, on-water program.
The Dent Passage starters spent the morning ashore in postponement drinking coffee and chatting and the Eastern starters bobbed around under beautiful sunshine for a couple of hours, as humpback whales played freely nearby. Sailing can be a waiting game - sailors are accustomed to it - it's one of the reasons they are generally relaxed at all levels of the sport.
Shortened courses accommodated the later start times, a light NNW - ESE breeze in Dent Passage off Hamilton Island Yacht Club enough to get Rating, Super 40, Hamilton Island Blue and Multihull Racing divisions under way.
American Ron Epstein's JPK1180 Bacchanal nabbed a first race win in Rating division 2 with his mixed team sailing for the Corinthian Yacht Club of San Francisco California and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
"Half our crew are Californians who hadn't seen the boat until two days ago," Epstein said.
"Our goal is to have a blast and sail well. We've started the week off the right way points-wise; the good news is there's a lot we can do better. This is an incredible place to sail. There was a moment today when my main trimmer Shane took the wheel, to make sure I looked around."
Andrew McInnes owns one of three trailer yachts transported to the Whitsundays from Ballina on the NSW North Coast.
The crew of McInnes' Seascape 25se Alfina took the racing delay out at Eastern in their stride, practicing and even grabbing a snooze before racking up for a start around 1.30pm.
"It was a good shakedown race," McInnes said. "We had new people in the boat, so the light breeze was great for us," the owner said.
The Palm Beach Motor Yachts Trans-Tasman 49er Exhibition Series also commenced today as part of the 40th anniversary Race Week. Thirteen Olympic skiffs pitted Australia and New Zealand against one another over three races, with three more tomorrow and Tuesday August 19 plus a final double points race.
Australia leaders after day one. Club Car, skippered by Otto Henry with Shaun Connor as crew sits in first, followed by Palm Beach with Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush and Buckingham Marine Services third, with Harry Price and a recently returned from injury Max Paul. The top 49er FX, the women's skiff is AMEX skippered by Laura Harding with Annie Wilmot crewing.
The series showcases Olympic class racing ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Games with the Whitsundays named one of two locations for the sailing competition.
Last night owners and crew were officially welcomed to Race Week at the Nautilus Marine Insurance owners and skippers' welcome party.
Hamilton Island CEO Nick Dowling said to the crowd gathered on the Bommie Deck: "Whether it's your first time at Race Week or your 40th, it's always a pleasure to welcome the wonderful sailing community back to Australia's Tropical Island.
"It was during Race Week in 2003 that Bob Oatley - inspired by his love of sailing and this island - decided to make a bid to purchase Hamilton Island. It's been an incredible journey over the past 40 years, and we're proud to keep evolving."
A weak trough of low pressure is expected to move through the area later today or early tomorrow morning, and the quintessential trade winds of the Whitsundays are forecast to build in the coming days.
Results available daily here.
All Race Week details are available on the website and social channels. Day 1 racing highlights on Facebook here.
More history on Hamilton Island Race Week here.