BERTHING for yachts and big multihulls for the 35th edition of Airlie Beach Race Week has been exhausted, as entries reach 100 early on.
However, organisers at the Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) encourage other possible entries to try and source independently.
“We have exhausted all known berths and moorings available for visiting yachts,” event chairman Ross Chisholm said of the event, to be held from August 10-17.
Owners who still wish to enter, but require moorings, will need to make their own berthing arrangements prior to completing their entry.
“We are currently maintaining a waiting list and will continue to endeavour to find opportunities but, unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee further berths. We apologise, but both marinas are claiming record bookings for 2023,” Mr Chisholm said.
This does not affect local boats with permanent berths. Nor does it affect those that can dry store their boats at the regatta, such as trailable yachts, sports boats and Off the Beach classes.
In that respect, entries for the Queensland Trailable Yacht and Sports Boat Championships, to be held in conjunction with ABRW, are shaping up nicely, with a few holding their cards close to their chests.
Tourism Whitsundays CEO Rick Hamilton is thrilled to see another successful Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing well underway.
“Airlie Beach Race Week is a staple on the Whitsundays event calendar and has been for 34 years, attracting boats from all over Australia for a week of sailing in the Whitsunday Islands,” Mr Hamilton said.
“We’ve had record visitation and expenditure in the Whitsundays, in the past 12 months, and that can partly be credited to the exceptional events held each year.
“Events like this attract not only participants but their families and friends to the region, meaning the flow-on effect for our accommodation, restaurants and tour operators is significant.”
For online entry and Notice of Race visit the official site: www.abrw.com.au.
