Oh buoy – it’s time to start saving for your dream island getaway. One of the world’s most famous yachting events is returning to the Whitsundays for its 40th year, and it’s one you won’t want to miss. Along with super-chef long lunches, candlelit degustations and intimate concerts, this year’s Hamilton Island Race Week is throwing a superyacht party at the world’s best beach. Race you there?
Every August, thousands of sailors and spectators from around the globe travel to the Whitsundays for Hamilton Island Race Week, Australia’s largest offshore keelboat regatta. What started as a niche sailing event in 1984 has grown into a week-long festival that will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025 from August 16 to 23.
While the regatta is the main event – with races for everything from fast-cruising yachts and sports boats to bareboats, maxi yachts and Grand Prix contenders – Race Week is by no means just for sailors. The 2025 festival features a world-class line-up of on- and offshore events, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Whitsundays.
Spectators can cheer on their favourite crews from the buzzing hubs at Hamilton Island Yacht Club and Marina, but the festivities stretch well beyond the docks. Highlights from the 2025 program include a starlit dinner on Catseye Beach prepared by chef Alanna Sapwell-Stone; a Champagne Spectator Cruise aboard a 130-foot luxury yacht; an indulgent Italian feast on the shores of Pebble Beach by OTTO Brisbane’s executive chef Will Cowper; and a relaxed island-style long lunch at The Sundays by Australia’s seafood king, Josh Niland.
Our idea of paradise is the Ultimate Lay Day Beach Party – set to unfold on the sparkling shores of Whitehaven Beach, which was crowned the world’s best beach in 2025 by Lonely Planet. Think sunshine, snorkelling, floating slides and stylish snacks, all served up aboard the sleek superyacht Impulsive. Knot too shabby, if you ask us!
You can find out more about Hamilton Island Race Week here, with tickets released on June 23.
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