Hamilton Island Race Week

Hamilton Island Race Week is held every year at Hamilton Island, in the Whitsunday Islands off Queensland, Australia. The official website bills it as the country's largest offshore sailing regatta, and describes the Hamilton Island Yacht Club and Marina as its heart. Entering a yacht notifies the organisers directly, and marina staff plan the berthing, with no separate berth booking.

According to the event's own history, the idea came from David Hutchen, who put it to Keith Williams, the island's owner and founder, in 1983. The first Race Week took place in April 1984 with 93 yachts, including entries from Perth, in near-constant rain. In 1992 the event moved to August for warmer, more settled weather and has stayed there since. Multihulls were introduced in 2013, for the 30th anniversary. The 41st edition ran in August 2026; the 42nd is announced for 20 to 27 August 2027.

Editions