Australian Sailing has today confirmed that the Australian Yachting Championships will be returning to Hamilton Island for the next two years.

The 2021 and 2022 editions of the event will be hosted by Hamilton Island Yacht Club (HIYC) as a part of Hamilton Island Race Week (HIRW), which this year will take place from 21-28 August.

“Hamilton Island Race Week is one of Australia’s premier offshore keelboat regattas, and we are delighted to be adding the excitement Australia’s official Yachting Championships to the event for the next two years,” said Australian Sailing President Daniel Belcher.

“We are expecting another strong line-up at this year’s event, and I am sure sailors will be keen to start planning their trip to Hamilton Island to compete for a National Championship.”

Hamilton Island CEO, Glenn Bourke, said the combination of the Australian Yachting Championships and Hamilton Island Race Week will undoubtedly be a major highlight on the 2021 competitive sailing calendar.

“Competitive sailing is synonymous with Hamilton Island. The Australian Yachting Championships coinciding with Hamilton Island Race Week will elevate the existing competition and attract some of the most skilled yachtsmen and yachtswomen in the country. Hamilton Island is immensely proud to be the host destination for this prestigious regatta and we look forward to working closely with Australian Sailing to deliver this event.”

The Australian Yachting Championships had previously been hosted by HIYC as a standalone event in 2001, 2012, 2015 and 2016, as well as the club hosting one of the four legs of the Audi IRC Australian Championship from 2007 to 2011.

“Hamilton Island are fantastic supporters of the sport of sailing in Australia, which includes their roles as Major Partner of Australian Sailing’s female participation initiative SheSails and as a long-term Major Partner of the Australian Sailing Team,” added Belcher.

“We thank them for that support and look forward to working with Hamilton Island once again to deliver a world-class event.”

An amendment to the HIRW Notice of Race to include the IRC and multi-hull racing class has now been published on the event website. Please note that this should be read in conjunction with the Notice of Race.

Entries are now open for the 2021 Australian Yachting Championships via the event website.

Visit the Australian Yachting Championships website or the Hamilton Island Race Week website for more information on the events, including information on Hamilton Island Sailor Accommodation Rates.

by Australian Sailing