Six days of competition, more than 155 yachts, and spectacular Whitsundays conditions cemented Race Week’s place as Australia’s premier regatta.
Hamilton Island once again became the beating heart of Australian sailing as the 40th Hamilton Island Race Week unfolded in the Whitsundays. With six days of racing across crystal waters and stunning island backdrops, the regatta delivered a perfect mix of sailing and celebration. Nautilus Marine Insurance is a proud partner of Hamilton Island Race Week, and the occasion was made even more special as it is our 20th anniversary, making it a double celebration.
Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo 2025
“The 40th Hamilton Island Race Week was a landmark event, and this year was extra special as it was also celebrating 20 years of Nautilus Marine Insurance. It was inspiring to see so many of our customers out on the water, embracing the spirit of competition and camaraderie”
“Our partnership with Race Week over the past four years has been fantastic. Huge credit to the Hamilton Island team and organising committee for creating an event that’s exciting on the water and seamless behind the scenes. We’re proud to be part of this vibrant sailing community and to have been at the event, connecting with sailors, their friends, and families.”
- Lyndon Turner, CEO of Nautilus Marine InsuranceThe action kicked off in true style at the Nautilus Marine Insurance Yacht Owners and Skippers Cocktail Party on opening night, before the yachts fanned out across a range of courses designed to test crews and showcase the beauty of the region. Among the week’s highlights were the Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Long and Medium races, where sailors’ precision and stamina were thoroughly tested.
Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo 2025
Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo 2025
Nautilus Marine Insurance customer Tim Foster owns Bluewater Sailing School in Victoria and brought his Beneteau 40.7 Boomer up to Hamilton Island with a mixed crew of friends and students. “Hamilton Island Race Week is such an iconic event,” Foster said. “This was our second time racing here, and we combined the week on the island with slow cruises up, and back to Melbourne giving our students multiple opportunities to learn. The organisation at Race Week is first rate and great value.”
Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo 2025
Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo 2025
Another crew who made the trip from Victoria came from Sandringham Yacht Club on board the yacht Journey. David Beck from Sundance Marine was at Race Week with his son and a crew of 10, most of whom have been racing together for the last 10 years. “We have done eight Race Weeks since we bought the yacht, it’s a great way to get out of a Melbourne winter and enjoy The Whitsundays,” says Beck whose yacht is also covered by Nautilus Marine Insurance. “This year we took our time on the way up, cruising the islands and getting in some extra racing.”
Olympian and CEO of Australian Sailing, Malcolm Page, was full of praise for the 40th Hamilton Island Race Week, describing it as “an absolutely cracking event.” Reflecting on the sailing, he said the regatta delivered “amazing trade winds, beautiful conditions and a great time to escape the winter.” Page, who has now competed in eight Hamilton Island Race Weeks, added, “all of this together makes such a special event.”
Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo 2025
Skipper of Wild Oats X, Mark Richards, highlighted both the prestige of the regatta and the support behind it.
“Hamilton Island Race Week is an amazing event, now celebrating its 40th year,” Richards said. “We’re very appreciative of Nautilus Marine Insurance. They do a fantastic job, not only here at the event but also in providing insurance solutions for boat owners. Their support really helps make occasions like this possible.”
Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo 2025
Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo 2025
Celebrating its 40th edition in 2025, Hamilton Island Race Week once again delivered perfect Whitsundays conditions, world-class racing and unmatched hospitality, reinforcing its place as a true highlight of the international sailing calendar.
About Hamilton Island Race Week
Hamilton Island Race Week is one of Australia’s favourite yachting events and a firm fixture on the international sailing calendar. Every August, spectators and sailors from around the globe sail to Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef for what is recognised as Australia’s largest offshore keelboat regatta.
The 39th edition of Hamilton Island Race Week was staged from 17-24 August, when 164 boats and around 2000 sailors, their families and friends, gathered at the jewel of the Whitsundays to enjoy the convivial atmosphere and unique camaraderie of the on-water and on-shore carnival.
Hamilton Island Enterprises Limited ACN 009 946 909.
Visit hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au
About Nautilus Marine Insurance
Nautilus Marine Insurance is a leading provider of insurance solutions for recreational vessels and marine business assets across Australia and New Zealand, protecting over 45,000 vessel owners and marine industry members. For over 19 years, Nautilus Marine Insurance has been a specialist supplier of insurance for pleasure craft and marine business assets and liability insurance. Nautilus Marine Insurance provides coverage for pleasure craft of all sizes, ranging from sailing dinghies and PWCs through to yachts, runabouts, and luxury motor yachts as well as commercially operated boats and marine businesses.
Through its Industry Lines division, Nautilus Marine Insurance also specialises in providing tailored business insurance for clients servicing the recreational boating market including marina operators and owners, yacht clubs and boat clubs, boat dealerships and most marine trades including boat repairers and boat service providers. Thousands of professional insurance advisers and brokers choose to work with Nautilus Marine Insurance. These insurance experts trust the breadth of Nautilus Marine Insurance’s products and claims support to recommend our products and services to their clients. Nautilus Marine Insurance has a passionate team of over 90 staff and offices across Australia and New Zealand. Nautilus
Marine Insurance is a business name of NM Insurance Pty Ltd. ABN 34 100 633 038, AFSL 227186.
Visit nautilusinsurance.com.au
