3:49 AM Thu 15 Apr 2010 GMT
Luxury German carmaker, Audi, has confirmed its support of Australia's premier keelboat regatta for another three years, bringing its title sponsorship of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week to six years and its involvement in the event to seven.
Scheduled to take place from 20-28 August, 2010 and now in its 27th year, this year's regatta promises to be more impressive than ever. An on-water highlight will be the inclusion of a new division for superyachts, including Lang Walker's magnificent new 58-metre sloop, Kokomo.
In contrast to an event that hosted 93 yachts in 1984 on an Island under early construction, 200 boats now race from the start-line of the newly opened Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Australia's premier yachts and well-known faces flock to the Whitsundays Island for the week-long spectacle that many now consider a central fixture on Australia's social and sporting calendar.
A quality social program is being prepared to support the racing schedule. Matt Moran and Shannon Bennett will again participate in this year's event, hosting two very special dinners. They will also run master classes, allowing guests to get 'behind the scenes' with the well-known chefs. 'My Kitchen Rules' presenter and chef, Pete Evans, will host a Ladies' Lunch and Boys' Barbeque, as well as a Cocktails and Canap?s Cruise around the surrounding islands. The traditional Mo?t & Chandon Lunch will be a social highlight, while a new addition for lay day will be a high-energy pool party, with live music and tropical cocktails.
The Island is also looking forward to welcoming back the team from highly-watched US TV deep sea fishing series, "The Deadliest Catch", who will regale the audience with their stories about the ones that didn't get away!
Last year's event provided plenty of action for those who didn't sail with the launch of three new fashion collections, including an exclusive showing of Collette Dinnigan's 2009/10 Resort Collection, styling suites by ModelCo, regular wine-tastings at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club hosted by Robert Oatley Vineyards and daily tennis clinics. This year, golf clinics will be offered in recognition of the recently opened Hamilton Island Golf Club.
Javier Degen, Hamilton Island Marketing Director stated, "Race Week has grown immensely over the last few years and we are delighted with the continuation of our partnership with Audi. Last year's social program further raised the bar of what people have come to expect of the event and plans are in full swing to ensure that we do not disappoint this year. The stunning new Hamilton Island Yacht Club will form a central venue for the week's events and the new Hamilton Island Golf Club will provide an extra element to the week for those who are looking for an alternative to the sailing."
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Anna Burgdorf, General Manager of Corporate Communications at Audi Australia, stated, "Our sponsorship of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is one of the key events in our national sailing sponsorship program. It is the jewel in the crown of our annual program for customers and guests who attend the event, and importantly it is also the final race in our prestigious four-part Audi IRC Australian Championship series. The competition and carnival atmosphere of the regatta makes this a special event on which to conclude the championship. We take our sponsorship of the event very seriously - awarding a brand new Audi vehicle to the winning team of the week's racing."
www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au
by Rob Mundle
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