Hamilton Island Race Week has passed the 100-boat milestone well ahead of schedule, with entries continuing to build toward its 41st edition from 15–22 August 2026, reflecting strong early interest across divisions. Nautilus Marine Insurance is a proud partner of Hamilton Island Race Week, and the milestone 100th entry for this year’s Race Week is Maritimo 100, a 100-foot Oyster 100 entered in the Non-Spinnaker Division. Her early commitment places her among the largest yachts currently planning to race at Hamilton Island Race Week 2026.
Entries for 2026 are tracking ahead of recent years, a trend that has historically translated into strong class depth and competitive racing across the fleet. The entry list already reflects the diversity Hamilton Island Race Week is known for, with trailable yachts, performance race boats, IRC contenders, large cruising yachts and big-boat entries committing well in advance.
Hamilton Island Race Week Director Denis Thompson says the appeal of racing in the Whitsundays, combined with the regatta’s class structure, was evident in the early entry numbers. “Hamilton Island Race Week is built on the principle that all boats are welcome and that each boat races in a division that suits it,” says Thompson. “When the divisions are right, the racing is better. Crews know exactly who they are up against, and that creates close, hard-fought competition right across the fleet. It’s competitive on the water, but the location is a big part of the appeal…There are very few regattas that offer this combination.”
Hamilton Island Race Week is widely regarded for its egalitarian class structure and vibrant onshore program, which complements the racing. The early entry of Maritimo 100 adds further weight to the developing fleet. Owned by Bill Barry-Cotter, Maritimo 100 follows a long tradition of large cruising yachts competing at Hamilton Island Race Week, alongside long-time entrant Zoe, which has been part of the regatta for decades. Maritimo 100 skipper Peter Jones, who recorded his 28th start in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race when the event celebrated its 80th edition in December 2025, said Hamilton Island Race Week remained a fixture on the Australian racing calendar. “The sailing is varied and the conditions change across the week,” says Jones. “You get a mix of passage racing and shorter courses, and the Whitsundays is an incredible place to race a boat. It’s an event worth planning a season around.”
Racing is conducted across a combination of passage races and shorter course formats throughout The Whitsundays. August conditions typically deliver moderate temperatures, contributing to high completion rates across divisions. Hamilton Island Race Week offers sailors the opportunity to race in temperate conditions set against the backdrop of the Whitsunday Islands, with a wide range of sailing challenges. Entries for Hamilton Island Race Week are open now via the Race Week website.
Visit hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au
Photography by Salty Dingo courtesy of Hamilton Island and Andrea Francolini courtesy of Maritimo.