Airlie Beach Race Week 2013

The Whitsunday Sailing Club is pleased to confirm the dates for 2013 Airlie Beach Race Week are Thursday 8 to Thursday 15 August. This includes six days of racing, the Opening and Closing parties and a lay day on Monday 12 August. Continuing on from the success of this year, the Whitsunday Reef Festival will run from 15-18 August and include the Great Whitsunday Fun Race on Saturday 17 August.

Rob Davis, Commodore of the Whitsunday Sailing Club said, “we are thrilled to have received funding from Events Queensland for 2013 which will go towards increased marketing efforts. Events Queensland funding not only promotes the event but helps deliver tourism benefits to the region and to a wider audience. We have also had tremendous feedback from all stakeholders from this year’s event and we are now working to ensure 2013 is bigger and better.”

In line with boosting tourism to the region the Whitsunday Sailing Club and the Reef Festival have aligned events to encourage visitation to the Whitsundays in August. Mr Davis said, “the Reef Festival will round off a week of fantastic sailing and provide additional events, fireworks and entertainment for the support teams, spectators and visitors and encourage them to stay a bit longer in Airlie Beach.”

Airlie Beach Race Week is a major regional Queensland event which receives support from the Whitsunday Regional Council and Tourism Queensland through the Queensland’s ‘Season of Sailing’ campaign over the past three years. The Whitsunday Sailing Club held the most successful regatta this year with over 120 yachts registered and over 40 sponsors supporting the event. Mr Davis says, “we are already talking to businesses regarding next year’s event and we would be happy to hear from anyone who would like to come onboard.”

Accommodation sponsors of this year’s event included Airlie Beach Hotel, Mango House, Shingley Beach Resort and Portside Whitsunday. Airlie Beach offers a wide choice of accommodation ranging from five star resorts, holiday apartments to caravan parks and backpacker hostels but it is a good idea to start booking early for 2013. For more information about the region, events, accommodation and tours go to www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au.

The www.airliebeachraceweek.com.au website will be up and running with new information for 2013 in the near future.