Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2010 is right around the corner with about 200 boats taking place. Tomorrow, Friday 20th August 2010 will mark the start of Australia’s largest and most awarded offshore keelboat regatta. The superyacht division is promising to be the highlight of the 27th annual regatta with Lang Walker’s brand new 58-metre sailing yacht KOKOMO and the four time Rolex Sydney to Hobart winner sailing yacht OATS XI participating in the race. The race will finish on Saturday 28th August 2010.
Onshore the atmosphere will be just as exciting with a social program comprising of fashion events, culinary master classes, sports clinics and wine tastings. Highlights will include an exclusive showing of Collette Dinnigan’s Cruise Collection 2010 with an introduction by leading actress Miranda Otto and presented by Audi. Celebrity chefs, Matt Moran and Shannon Bennett, will host Chefs Table Dinners and spectators can rub shoulders with TV and sporting personalities such as Sandra Sully, Mark Beretta, Matt Burke and Tourism Queensland’s ‘Best Job in the World’ winner, Ben Southall.
ColletteDinnigan Fashion Parade 2009 Audi Hamilton Race Week - Image credit Andrea Francolini_Audi
Fashion:Fashionistas can receive styling tips from model and designer Gail Elliott at her ‘Little Joe Woman’ trunk show or drop into the Pandora Marquee for jewellery styling workshops with Harper’s BAZAAR and ModelCo. In true Race Week style, some crew members will become newbie models strutting the catwalk in the Henri Lloyd 2010 Spring / Summer collection. Also, ModelCo will offer free makeovers in its Styling Suite, by appointment, prior to most major events.
Gourmet:
Foodies will be treated to a series of Chefs Table Dinners in the new Yacht Club’s Bommie restaurant by celebrity chefs Matt Moran from acclaimed Aria restaurant and Melbourne’s Shannon Bennett from Vue de monde. The dinners will be hosted by TV personality Sandra Sully, and Australian rugby union champion, Matt Burke.
Lahana on the Day 4 of the 2009 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - Photo credit Andrea Francolini_Audi
Special guest, Captain Andy Hillstrand, from highly-watched US TV deep sea fishing series will regale audiences once again at the popular Deadliest Catch Dinner with personal stories about the ones that didn’t get away!
Entertainment:
The hottest party at this year’s Audi Hamilton Island Race Week will be the Beachside Pool Party – with tunes from DJ Simon Philby, cocktails and a live flair show by world champion mixologist, Hayden Wood, followed by live-music from Sydney-based band Alexandra Project. On qualia’s Pebble Beach there will be a Barefoot Black-tie Dinner where spectators can enjoy a degustation menu and a live performance by singer and popular TV personality, Erika Heynatz.
Sport:
Spectators can take a break from sailing by practicing their swing with a golf clinic by resident golf-pro, Cherie Byrnes or gather friends to enter the 4-person Callaway Ambrose Golf Team competition at the new Hamilton Island Golf Club. Located on neighbouring Dent Island, it’s Australia’s only 18 hole championship golf course on its own island and designed by five-time British Open winner, Peter Thomson AO, CBE.
Tennis enthusiasts can sharpen their serve with clinics held by legendary Australian tennis champion, Wayne Arthurs, at the Hamilton Island Sports Centre.
Audi Final Challenge:
On Lay Day, Tuesday 24 August, head to Hamilton Island’s ‘Great Barrier Reef Airport’ runway to watch a thrilling drive test challenge devised by Audi’s motorsport champion, Brad Jones. To win the major prize at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, a new Audi S5 Sportback valued at $80,000, all crews must demonstrate skills both in sailing and driving with the final winner being chosen from the divisional winners and the Final Challenge. The winning crew will be announced at the Presentation Dinner on the regatta’s final day.
Election voting:
As Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2010 in Australia falls during the federal election (scheduled for 21 August), competitors and spectators will be able to cast their votes at a special polling booth on Front Street at Hamilton Island. Voting times will be from 0900 – 1700 on Friday 20 August and 0800 – 1800 on Saturday 21 August.
