Hamilton Island Race Week 2025 Schedule Events

Hamilton Island Race Week 2025 will run from August 16 to 23. Set in the stunning Whitsundays, it combines top-flight competition with some of the best racing conditions and luxury island tourism, drawing about 200 boats and thousands of sailors from all continents. This full guide provides you with all the details regarding Hamilton Island Race Week 2025 including how it began, the races taking place each day, key sponsors and activities both on and off island plus most importantly- the official race program in detail.

Spirit of Hamilton Island Race Week 2025

The fleet for Hamilton Island Race Week 2025 has increased from 93 boats to more than-160 and now includes everything from family trailables through production cruisers up to one-off Olympian-class yachts. Australian and New Zealand 49er and 49erFX top teams will be racing for the first time this year, providing a look into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic event. The event will be held from August 16-23, 2025 at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club & Marina and combines high-octane sailing with lively onshore festivities to deliver an unmissable Whitsunday experience.The race will be held at Hamilton Island Yacht Club & Marina from 16-23 August 2025. It is a fun, friendly and relaxing yet competitive atmosphere on and off the water with social events each evening.

Hamilton Island Race Week 2025 On-Water Activities

At the heart of Hamilton Island Race Week 2025 will be an incredible on-water competition. It has a broad range of monohulls, multihulls and cruising yachts racing around the Whitsunday Islands out of the beautiful Airlie Beach. Crews will come up with a mix of performance, cruising and multihull divisions over multiple races each day customised to tide and wind. What makes the event a standout, however, is that islands are points of sail for race marks.

With classes strategically divided to allow for all types of boats and skill levels, competitive sailing is front-and-center in the program. Racing will have a mix of both rated and non-rated classes. Each morning a race schedule is posted for the day that factors in both tides and wind forecast.

Measured Rating Classes

The measured rating classes provide competition at the top of competitive sailing. These classes include:

Rating Class

This class is rated handicap using the IRC rating system that requires a current certificate and further divides classes so similar boats of about the same speed potential race against each other. Wednesday is a lay day, with the program featuring single-race days and a longer race on Tuesday. The kilometers per hour will then be multiplied by the TCC to find the corrected time and the boat with the lowest of that will win.

TP 52 Class

The extremely disparate division for the TP 52 yachts of the highest quality, which are handicapped using TPR and IRC ratings as well as requiring a certificate. This class will feature three different short races on a single day, with the two final days hosting only one race. All of which should put the focus firmly on races situated for the most part near to or around the Whitsunday Islands.

Super 40 Class

Super 40 class aim at light, fast boats between 31-44 feet with asymmetric off-wind sails. This class will be rated using the PHRF rating system and the Super 40 group will develop ratings. The racing schedule will feature one lay day (Wednesday) and a "three races per day" format once in its 12-race program. The vast majority of course grades are islands rather than buoys.

Multihull Racing Class

A combination of windward-leeward and passage races will be sailed within the Multihull Racing Class at Hamilton Island Race 2025 with course determination by the RPAYC Race Committee. This class will be part of the larger event and will comprise boats with an existing Offshore Multihull Rule (OMR) rating. least three crew are necessary, the prevailing majority of whom bust be at least 18 years or older. That incorporates a race to longer on Tuesday and lay day on Wednesday.

One Design Class

The Notice of Race for Hamilton Island Race Week 2025 includes a One Design class, which will feature Melges 32, McConaghy 38 and Sydney 38 and Farr 30 yachts. Many of the races will also offer between 13 and 26 nautical miles of fleet racing. There will be one lay day (Wednesday) and all races will be run under AS Category 5 safety regulations.

Non-Rated Classes

For cruising and less-competitive sailors, Hamilton Island Race Week 2025 also provides a friendly way to incorporate non-rated classes. They are intended to offer a level of racing (with no formality in the boat rating system) that will encourage as many boaters as possible to participate and enjoy friendly competition.

Hamilton Island Class – This class is designed for non-rated monohull yachts and will be separated into divisions based on boat type to allow fair competition. Boats are given individual handicaps dependent on their performance in previous events and may be adjusted after every race.

Non-Spinnaker Class: Non-Spinnaker Class is as the name suggests are a spin off of the Hamilton Island Class but prohibit the use of spinnakers. Smaller boats will be on the pace more often. It's still pretty competitive out there but less pressure than HIC..

Trailable Yachts Class: Tailored to suit boats that may be trailered and launched off a standard road trailer, this class is handicapped on the basis of past performance.

Multihull Hamilton Island Class- Multihulls of a cruising nature that do not hold an OMR class, this class offers competitive racing for those boats.

The Inaugural Palm Beach Motor Yachts Trans-Tasman 49er Series

The Palm Beach Motor Yachts Trans-Tasman 49er Series is a new and exciting layer of competition for the Hamilton Island race week 2025. The Nations Trophy acts as a qualifier for the exciting Olympic-class sailing, with 13 teams from Australia and New Zealand competing in their 49er and 49erFX skiffs from August 17 to 19. Running after the main fleet's races, this high-performance series will be great viewing for those around Hamilton Island Yacht Club. The series will be a preview of elite sailing to come in Australia as it builds towards hosting the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. All crews shall declare their class entered before time and be subject to the published Racing Rules of Sailing, Notice of Race and individual class rules.

Official Race Schedule of Events

The race schedule and event timetable for Hamilton Island Race Week 2025, according to the official event booklet, dates and timelines are finalised. So, note the days and plan your week accordingly!

Always check the official Race Office or Hamilton Island App for latest updates, live concerts, on-shore sponsor activations, food stalls and daily prize presentations

Onshore Festival and Key Activities

The marina village and Front Street bustle to match the thrilling race action on the water with a daily program of fun. Anyone looking for a taste of high-tech can have a go on the AC40 Simulator Experience where visitors can see what it is like to race in the America's Cup…virtually. The American Express Lounge offers premium views of the regatta and a space to relax.

Daily Main Stage appearances include the likes of Taxiride, Trent Bell, Tuxedo Riot and Yacht Rock on the entertainment front. And for drinkers who prefer their pleasure at the bar, Balter Bar, Casamigos Club or Piper-Heidsieck pop-ups all promise top-shelf drops.

Eat Street Bites will offer gourmet grazing options from oysters to donuts and live music for all the food lovers out there. There will be Wellness and Social Initiatives including free skin screenings, AG1 nutrition products, Mecca Cosmetica beauty services and free coffee from our friends at Nautilus Marine Insurance.

The parade will come alive with the return of the Prix d'Elegance Parade on Thursday morning - a boat carnival that will run through the marina, providing an element of theatre to Hamilton Island Race Week 2025.

Marina Services and Island Facilities

The entire event on Hamilton Island has been optimised to make the experience for spectators as seamless and smooth as possible. All outlets are cashless except with Bank@Post (Australia Post), which will offer cash only, limited withdraw and deposit options.

The marina provides daily support to boaters of all classes, which includes boat equipment, chandlery or repair services. One of which is the free Island Shuttle services (07:00–23:00) that roam the island, Resort Link buses throughout the day (marina – airport 09:00–16:30), and a Night Link service from 23:30 until 02:30 and up to Lay Day with a minor reduction in hours.

Convenience wise, the IGA Supermarket is open every day of the regatta with all you might need on its shelves. There are 14 dining outlets on Hamilton Island but the best way to dine is to simply download the Hamilton Island App and book in. It makes life uber easy.

If you want to see the sights, think about a space buggy hire but remember that all the usual regulations apply so you won't be able to operate between 01:00 and 05:00. An on-island medical center, relevant emergency services and safety supervisors are present through the regatta zone for this sector. In addition to a wide range of services from babysitting to kid-friendly dining and public showers and changing rooms, families will be available.

Accommodation and Bookings for Hamilton Island Race Week 2025

If you are attending Hamilton Island Race Week in 2025, accommodation is in high demand during this attractive event and it could sell out quickly. Accommodation types on Hamilton Island range from luxury stays at qualia, the Beach Club, Reef View Hotel and The Sundays to private holiday homes and apartments. Everything from accommodation to activities as well as restaurants can all be booked in advance using the Hamilton Island App or by talking directly with property managers.

FAQs

When is Hamilton Island Race Week 2025?

Hamilton Island Race Week 2025 starts from August 16 to 23, 2025.

Are spectators and non-sailors welcome?

Absolutely. This is a full island-wide festival of live music, food, competition and wellness activities for more than just sailors.

So what are the Race Week rooms options?

This ranges from luxury resorts, private homes, apartments and family hotels to marina stays. It is strongly recommended to pre-book your spot, because the island hits maximum capacity relatively quickly.