Big dreams for Airlie Beach Race Week

Airlie Beach Race Week now has an Olympic gold medalist onside to bring the highly-popular sailing event to a greater scale this year.

This week, the Whitsunday Sailing Club met with New Tack Consulting directors Jav Greaves and Olympic gold medalist Mark Turnbull, who have come on board to develop and expand race week and its onshore activities.

Having been involved in the Volvo Ocean Race, ISAF Sailing World Cup – Sail Melbourne, the TP52 Southern Cross Cup and the largest regatta in Australia, the Festival of Sails (Geelong Race Week), the team has over 20 years’ experience of marine events between them with Mark having also received a Medal of Order of Australia for his services to sailing.

Whitsunday Sailing Club Commodore Rob Davis said the event has grown to the extent that it requires the expertise of New Tack Consulting.

“It’s great to have people of the calibre of Jav and Mark and their team involved with our regatta,” Mr Davis said.

“We believe they can contribute by way of their expertise to grow and improve the event this year and years to come,” he said.

Mr Davis said New Tack Consulting jumped on the opportunity to work behind the scenes of Airlie Beach Race Week.

“The invitation to venture into Queensland was eagerly received,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mark said New Tack is very excited to be working with the Whitsunday Sailing Club on an event that is already seen by the sailing community as a regatta known for being fun and affordable for the competitors.

“We are also looking forward to working closely with local and state government, as well as local businesses, to help to showcase all that this beautiful part of Queensland offers to visiting competitors and families, as they enjoy a unique regatta experience and holiday in the Whitsundays,” Mark said.

Airlie Beach Race Week will commence during the second week of August.