IRC Australian Championship to be held at Hamilton Island Race Week

Beau Geste at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2014 © Andrea Francolini

As well as staging this year's IRC Australian Championship, Hamilton Island is backing Yachting Australia's premier IRC event as naming rights sponsor.

It's Queensland's turn to host the national series, one that will add another dimension to the island's major annual sailing event and one of the southern hemisphere's largest keelboat regattas, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, August 15 – 22, 2015.

"We are delighted to announce the island's major sponsorship of the IRC championship," Hamilton Island CEO Glenn Bourke said. "It's great to have elite racing here mixing with the cruising divisions. We are hoping for our best numbers in many years.

"Hamilton Island is proud to host this prestigious regatta and want to conduct only the finest racing possible for this pinnacle end of the sport."

Overall Race Week entry numbers are currently up on previous years. The encouraging entry list for the Hamilton Island IRC Australian Championship already represents four states; Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

Yachting Australia selects the host club for the championship annually. "It's fantastic to have the IRC Australian Championship returning to Hamilton Island," YA president Matt Allen said. "The location provides warm weather racing in winter and the tactical challenge of tidal sailing back-dropped by the striking beauty of the Whitsunday Islands.

"I raced at the inaugural Hamilton Island Race Week in 1984 and have been back many times. I'm looking forward to heading north again this year for what will be a great week, on and off the water," Allen added.

The IRC program runs in conjunction with Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Racing begins on Sunday August 16 through to Saturday August 22. Owners of eligible IRC rated yachts, small and large, new and less new, are invited to enter here.

The IRC fleet will face a mixture of short course and passage races to decide the 2015 national champions. Traditionally the race committee under Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson separates the IRC fleet into classes A, B and C, dependent on their size and handicap rating. This creates an opportunity for boats of all sizes and ages to compete equally within their allotted division. Each division yields a new national champion.

Some well-known names already entered include the two-time Australian IRC champion Peter Sorensen and his Middle Harbour based Sydney 36 The Philosopher's Club, the defending class C champion and overall winner of last year's Rolex Sydney Hobart, Roger Hickman's Farr 43 Wild Rose, and the Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats X that will compete in division A of the Hamilton Island IRC Australian Championship.

The reigning class B champion is Bob Cox's DK46 Nine Dragons, victorious again at the NSW IRC title last week at Sail Port Stephens, and in class A Karl Kwok's formerly owned TP52 Beau Geste holds the title, netted at last year's championship hosted by Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club.

Competitors planning to be at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2015 are reminded that Hamilton Island is offering special 'early bird' accommodation rates until April 30 as a bonus to all sailors. Details here.

www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au