Two things
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor 19 Apr 23:00 BST
Rockwool Denmark leads Emirates GBR - Day 1 KPMG Australia SailGP Sydney, Australia - February 28, 2026 © Felix Diemer/SailGP
So, there's an axiom that states, the first time something occurs it's happenstance. The next is circumstance, and the third is enemy action. Now on paper, and under that ruling, that makes this here Ed the latter. Hhhmmmm.
Let me explain. Last week, two things occurred. The first was our Managing Editor's ditty, SailGP Venue vs. Revenue. In it, he looked at Rio, which was always going to turn it on for the grandstand spectacular. After all, there's an international reputation to uphold. So what's not to like about 13 high speed, twitchy vessels on stilts all trying to occupy the same and oh-so-very-defined space?
If you tried to rack, pack, and stack commercial airliners into the same set of parameters at an airport, it would be instant carnage. There's a reason they are at least two minutes apart, and five minutes nose to tail when an A380 has gone before you. Plus, they don't exactly handle so well with flaps, slats, and gear down at not too far above stall speed. It's a dance with a praying mantis, and it is so ready to eat you afterwards!
Therein lies part of the attraction, of course. So, as Mark so rightly pointed out, the sailing conditions are very much subservient to the overarching entertainment requirements. The F50s are great airborne, and a lot less so as lowriders, so if one comes off right in front of another, well you can guarantee it will make the newsreel that night, but it is a speedhump that could be ultra-dangerous.
No one on the planet can read wind like Tom Slingsby OAM, so it is probably not that surprising the Bonds Flying Roos flew more than others.
So, the next element to introduce is the five ring circus. Marseilles did not really assist when it came to the wind thing. Yes, the Soup de Poisons (intended) is really good in the seafaring town, but this was all about sport, not gastronomy. LA looms; the IOC want TV, young people, spectacle, and entertainment. Sailing needs to continue to move with the times, or face the cleaver and the chopping block, with said fish not making into the pot thereafter.
First past the post makes it easy for non-sailors to comprehend. It is what makes horseracing so appealing. Forget that there is weight involved with the nags. No one cares when they are at the bookie counting the cash. If nothing else, SailGP has taught us that.
Luddites might just want to ponder stern chasers about now, such as Osaka and Transpac. Yes, your start may be a bit ignominious, but the do at the end is bound to make up for it. The time of entertainment is nigh...
Time for number two (also intended)
ABC Radio called me. The Australian WASZP Championship had just been run at Airlie Beach. A brave move going to the tropics during cyclone and stinger season (you know Australia, the place where just about everything is trying to kill you), but it worked. Good on them...
None the less, 2032 is on everyone's mind in the Sunshine State. This particular reporter was no different. To them, FNQ that is, they're getting it, no matter what. Well... maybe, sorta, kind of. No doubting that the Whitsundays is a great back drop, and do not get me started on the no go that is mixed, offshore, two-handed with 24-hour content!!! (and yes, I do have the defibrillator pads smeared with gel and charged up ready to go, not that I think I'll need them, but you never know... stranger things have happened)
So, here's the thing. It is not cemented in at all. Could be 2030 before we know where, and BrisVegas is not out of contention at all. Brisbane suffers the same fate as Marseilles at that time of year, so how can it still be in the mix, well, you may need to re-read the above.
As for equipment, well that will be November of 2026 before it goes to the IOC and at best they'll be early(ish) 2027 before ratification is received. Also note that 10 medals is not part of any Rosetta Stone, either. So, there are a bunch of factors to consider there, as well. Are we playing pinball with grenades or juggling running chainsaws? I don't know... Almost the proverbial faecal sandwich right there.
You also have to ponder logistics. Townsville (maybe more likely to get a nod given its infrastructure) is some 1350km from Brisbane.
Thus far.
On the plus side, we have usually better winds of both consistent direction and velocity for a fairer event and some course flexibility. The island-studded waters of the Great Barrier Reef, and the Whitsundays present a compelling, almost cinematic proposition. On the downside, there is logistics, and infrastructure, to say nothing of the fact to say that some of the best locations are remote, so there goes the grandstand seating, spectacle kind of deal. It is not like you can drag Daydream Island into Pioneer Bay, for instance.
The geography of the Whitsundays becomes particularly compelling, as the region is not a single open expanse of water but a network of channels, bays, and passages formed by 74 islands. This creates a natural amphitheatre for sailing, offering multiple course areas that can be adapted to suit prevailing conditions. Indeed, but you have to get everybody there, and back...
The Trade Winds that provide the breeze, can also deliver swell, so being able to have sheltered waters that can be used when conditions are fresh, while more exposed areas are available when wind strength drops is a bonus. Being able to have a regatta schedule you can achieve helps organisers and athletes less stressed and fairness remains paramount.
Now, Magnetic Island offers much of this, whilst still being close to Townsville, so therefore far more compact, and they can do events there, just look at the Supercars. Also, it is the dry season at that time of year, so usually there is no rain.
Speaking of events, it will be remiss not to mention that the Clippers have been through Airlie Beach this past January, which puts them in line for a return in 2032, kicking off a potential mammoth year, with the Clippers, Airlie Beach Race Week, Hamilton Island, and then Magnetic Island, as well as the Olympics if you don't mind.
It also has to be said that hosting Olympic sailing in such a location would set a new benchmark for environmentally responsible event delivery. It would demonstrate that elite sport and conservation can coexist, provided the right frameworks are in place. In an era where sustainability is increasingly central to global events, this is a narrative with considerable resonance.
The area has already proven its capacity to host large-scale regattas, bringing together fleets, officials, and spectators in a coordinated and efficient manner. There is also a reduced need for extensive permanent development. Rather, it is more about a temporary overlay for things like boat parks, athlete facilities, media centres, and spectator areas that can be installed for the duration of the Games and removed thereafter. This approach aligns with modern Olympic planning principles, which prioritise sustainability and legacy over large-scale, single-use infrastructure.
We mentioned it, but we also need to get the elephant out of the room. Accommodation is another area where the Whitsundays present both strength and challenge. The region offers a diverse range of options, from high-end resort accommodation on Hamilton Island to more accessible offerings in Airlie Beach.
However, the scale of the Olympics introduces a different order of demand. Athletes, officials, media, and spectators must all be accommodated within a relatively compact geographic area, requiring careful planning and undoubtedly, the introduction of temporary solutions. In terms of total logistics, it can be done, but the tyranny of distance means a really detailed plan, and then you have to house and secure all of the equipment as well.
Final edict
When viewed in its entirety, the case for the Whitsundays is both compelling and complex. On the one hand, it offers world-class sailing conditions, exceptional course flexibility, and a visual setting that is difficult to rival. On the other, it introduces logistical challenges that require careful planning and significant, but not outrageous investment that will benefit the region moving forward.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to priorities. If the objective is to deliver the highest possible standard of Olympic sailing, with racing that is fair, consistent, and worthy of the athletes who compete, then the Whitsundays stand out as a natural choice. If, however, simplicity of logistics and proximity to the main Games hub take precedence, then alternative venues closer to Brisbane will appear more attractive.
If the racing heads North, then you could argue that the philosophy demanding that the quality of the sailing should never be compromised has reigned supreme. Here's the kicker. In the Whitsundays, organisers may well have found a venue that not only meets that standard but elevates it, setting the stage for an Olympic regatta that is as memorable for its racing, as it is for its setting.
Thank you for being a crucial part of Sail-World.com
John Curnow
Sail-World.com AUS Editor