The 41st Hamilton Island Race Week in August 2026 attracted 194 boats and more than 1,200 sailors, competitors experiencing everything from strong tradewinds and rain squalls to lighter, shifting breezes. The week was another opportunity for Members to compete at one of Australia’s premier offshore regattas, with Squadron sailors spread across the various handicap divisions. It was fantastic to see so many familiar Squadron faces on the docks and out on the water! One RQYS highlight was Mike Peberdy and his team aboard Rare Groove, who again demonstrated their dominance in the Multihull racing fleet, claiming Line Honours in all seven races, and earning the coveted Gun Boat Trophy for their outstanding performance throughout Hamilton Island Race Week. For many Members, however, success at Hammo is about more than the final result — the event provides an opportunity for Squadron sailors to compete alongside and against some of the best Australian offshore and ‘Grand-Prix’ crews, while also showcasing the depth and diversity of sailing within the RQYS membership. While RQYS was not represented in the highly-competitive Super 40+ Division, V/Cdre Todd Anderson and P/Cdre David Redfern were both competing aboard the HH42 Touche 42 (formerly Not a Diamond and now owned by SYC’s Greg Watson). At the front of the fleet, Wild Oats X, First Light, IKON and Team Hollywood were among the standout performers, with the battles in the rating divisions remaining extremely close right through to the final day. There were plenty of outstanding results across the divisions, highlighted by two RQYS boats taking Division wins in the Multihull fleet. Congratulations to all our RQYS members and crews on a fantastic Race Week. We look forward to seeing what Squadron Members can achieve at Hamilton Island in 2027! Hamilton Island Race Week 2026 once again delivered a spectacular week of sailing, and our Squadron was well represented across most divisions, with RQYS Members taking on some of Australia’s best sailors in passage racing across the Whitsundays. Breasting the crests at ‘Hammo’! The Whitsundays weather spanned the spectrum, from strong squalls to zephyrs, in a challenging Race Week. Hamilton Island Pink Division 3rd Kerb John Whitbread, skippered by Brett Whitbread Hamilton Island Yellow Division 6th Stratacare Racing Bluebottle James O’Hare Hamilton Island Orange Division 3rd Fontana Ian Coombes 4th C’est la Vie Mark Tobin 12th Artemis Eos Cam Lester 18th Recherche John Bashford Hamilton Island Green Division 15th Summer Wind Ian Buck-Barrett Non-Spinnaker – Black & White Division 12th Breakaway Michael Waldie 14th Green Beacon White Swan Brian Pozzey 15th Drake’s Prayer Rod Johanneson Multihull – Hamilton Island White Division 1st Fruition Andrew Bruce Multihull – Hamilton Island Black Division 1st Zikomo John Clifford Multihull Racing 5th Zero Jeff Dodd 6th Rare Groove Mike Peberty Full results here: tes.topyacht.net.au/results/2026/hirw/index.htm More pix at: facebook.com/raceweek Stunning shot of Mike Peberdy and Rare Groove cresting a Hammo wave! Pic: Dale Lorimer / BowCaddyMedia 73 Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Yearbook Mainsheet 2026 BREAKING! 2026 Hamilton Island Race Week Report
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