Hamilton Island Race Week 2025: Racing, Whales, and Winning!

Welcome to Hamilton Island, where Race Week isn’t just a regatta, it’s pure sailing and island nirvana.

Hammo (to the Aussies!) is one of the most beautiful places on the planet to set sail. Sitting at the gateway to the Whitsundays, a cluster of 72 islands fringed by reef and opening onto the Great Barrier Reef, it’s the perfect backdrop for one of the best-run regattas in the world. With a top-tier race management and marina, great accommodation with options for all budgets, lively events, and a climate that makes you want to stay forever, it’s easy to see why sailors come back year after year.

Getting there is easier than you might think. The island has its own airport with direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane. For me, it was Boston to San Francisco, then Sydney, then finally up to Hamilton. Long, but seamless. Once there, you quickly get into the rhythm of island life. Golf buggies are the main form of transport, hiking trails lead to epic lookouts, and yes, you might even meet a brown snake on your bush walk!

The Slingshot Experience: Gunboat 68

Before racing began, I stepped aboard Slingshot, Gunboat 6801, a boat I helped build as owner’s rep in 2019. Seeing her again was like catching up with an old friend, only better. The program is everything a Gunboat campaign should be: well run, competitive, and fun.

Managed by Dara, with Maddie as full-time captain, Slingshot its a fantastic put-program and is everything a Gunboat program should be. And it’s not just the pros driving the action. The boat’s 12- and 10-year-old owners from Sydney took turns helming during races and even handled docking. Watching the next generation confidently take charge of a 68-foot multihull was both inspiring and a glimpse of sailing’s future.

"With top-tier regatta management and marina, great accommodation, lively events, and a climate that makes you want to stay forever, it’s easy to see why sailors come back year after year."

My Ride, a Gunboat 48

For the regatta, my ride was a Gunboat 48 that had undergone a major refit two years earlier. With new daggerboards and T-foil rudders, she felt transformed: quick upwind and stable in seaway, like she was running on rails.

Our skipper, Erin, another female leader in the fleet, had a natural touch and calm authority that kept us competitive every race. We lined up against tough rivals, including a brand-new Cure 55, and every result went down to the wire.

The highlight was tacking up the back of an island in close quarters with 20 monohulls and four multis. We knocked off 20 tacks in 20 minutes, sometimes within two boat lengths of a reef of an island and led the fleet out of the decision. It was intense, exhilarating, and some of the best racing I have done.

Our Dream Team

Most of our crew were strangers at the dock, but quickly became lifelong friends. Hannah, our chef, doubled as our social media guru. Justin, an engineer and expert delivery Captain, was a key trimmer. George from Tasmania called tactics with accuracy beyond his résumé! Adam from S&H Spars ran the bow and gave us constant feedback on our competitors (and the whales!). I operated the pit and kept the boat in optimum sail trim, and Erin steered the boat with great feel and led the team with poise and professionalism.

The chemistry clicked instantly, and by the end of the week, it felt like we had been sailing together for years. What an awesome fun, fast team!

Female Power: The Future is Bright

This year’s multihull racing was defined by strong female leadership. Erin skippered the Gunboat 48 I sailed on, Maddie is the Captain of Slingshot and ran their pit with knowledge beyond her years, and the 12-year-old daughter of Slingshot’s owners helmed with remarkable confidence. Supporting them was none other than Adrienne Cahalan, one of the most accomplished offshore navigators in the world.

Together, they showed that women are leading the charge and why the multihulls are at the forefront of sailing's future . It is exciting to think about the impact this group will continue to make in the years to come.

Whales on the Racecourse

Only at Hamilton do you race with islands as marks and whales as competitors. The race committee sends fleets weaving through tropical backdrops with shifting breezes and strong currents, and then the whales arrive.

At one point, we found ourselves surrounded by humpbacks breaching, tail-slapping, and swimming alongside. If you don’t come for the racing, come for the whales.

Victory Tastes Sweet

At the end of the week, we stood on top, first place overall in our division. Lifting the trophy at the final dinner capped a week of tight racing, endless laughter, and a crew that never stopped smiling. Winning was sweet, but the real prize was the experience: racing on an iconic Gunboat, in paradise with a team that clicked from day one and left as friends forever.

Hamilton Beach race week 2025 winner crew

Hammo Tips

Bush running: Take out your headphones, there are snakes! Thanks to the lady for stopping me run into one!
Go light: Weather swings from whisper light to proper breeze. On multihulls, every kilogram matters.
Crew chemistry counts: The right mix of skills and personalities can transform a regatta.
Book early: Restaurants fill up fast during Race Week.
Don’t miss the final party: Bands, wine, and the whole fleet celebrating together.
Great value: Entry fee includes dockage and a packed social program.
Sunscreen is life: The Aussie sun is fierce. Luckily, the event even offers free skin cancer checks, a brilliant initiative.
After racing plan to cruise the Whitsundays or head out to the Great Barrier Reef, its a must for every boat owner.

More Than a Regatta

Hamilton Island Race Week isn’t just about trophies. It is about camaraderie, adventure, fun and a glimpse of sailing’s future. Programs like Slingshot and Malolo show how programs should be run: professional, inclusive, and inspiring the next generation.

Come for the racing, stay for the experience, and if you can, tack on a week to cruise the Whitsundays. Dive the reef, snorkel the bays, and soak up one of the most beautiful sailing playgrounds in the world.

It is a regatta you will never forget, and should be experienced by all!