6:21 AM Wed 12 Aug 2009 GMT
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'Hamilton Island Yacht Club is located adjacent to the entrance of the island's harbour.'
Hamilton Island
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A spectacular exhibition recognising some of the great milestones and achievements in sailing in Australia will be the centrepiece of activities planned for the official opening of Hamilton Island's impressive new yacht club during Audi Hamilton Island Race Week later this month.
The magnificent new facility will be declared open on August 21, the eve of the 26th staging of Race Week, Australia's most highly awarded and successful keelboat regatta.
With Captain James Cook having sailed the waters that surround what is now Hamilton Island during his voyage of discovery in 1770, it was decided that it would be appropriate to have a large and highly detailed model of Cook's ship, HMS Endeavour, taking pride of place within the new building. This model, commissioned from a prominent model-maker in England, will be delivered to its new home this week and will take centre stage for the exhibition. In direct contrast will be another large and equally striking model, this one of the supermaxi Wild Oats XI, the yacht owned by Hamilton Island's owner, Bob Oatley, which has taken a historic four consecutive line honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart race and holds the record time for the course.
The Tribute to Australian Sailing exhibition, which will be open for public viewing for the duration of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, will recognise Australian victories in the America's Cup, Admiral's Cup and the Olympics. It will also pay tribute to the remarkable feat by Australia's Kay Cottee when she became the first woman to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world. Additionally, there will be a permanent display established within the club showing the evolution of offshore yacht design in Australia since the first Sydney-Hobart race in 1945 until today. The 26-year history of Hamilton Island Race Week will also be chronicled.
The magnificent design of the building, and its location at the entrance to the harbour, leaves no doubt Hamilton Island Yacht Club will stand proudly alongside some of the world's great yachting establishments, and the exhibition will be in keeping with that fact.
Designed by internationally acclaimed Sydney architect Walter Barda, the imposing style of the club has been inspired by the sweeping curves associated with sailboats. It is located within a waterfront precinct where 35 superbly styled Yacht Club Villas are nestled amid captivating tropical gardens. With the first release of these luxury Villas 'off-the-plan' achieving unprecedented sales success, the second release is timed to coincide with Race Week. Each privileged owner of a Villa will be granted a Founding Membership to the Yacht Club and access to an exceptional array of amenities and services. The world-class facilities within the club include a contemporary indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar overlooking the marina, and private dining and function rooms which offer absorbing water and island views, including the Whitsunday Passage.
The official opening of Hamilton Island Yacht Club will be one of many tempting social activities that will support the unique and exciting around-island racing that comes with Race Week.
More than 190 yachts from across Australia and New Zealand are now entered for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, which is scheduled for August 22-29. The fleet represents a remarkably diverse cross section of sailboats, from casual cruising yachts competing in the non-spinnaker division through to comfortable family cruiser-racers and the absolute Formula One equivalent of offshore racing thoroughbreds.
All information regarding the 26th Hamilton Island Race Week can be found on the website:
www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au
by Rob Mundle
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Sailing
