Following Day 4’s lay day, competitors returned to the race track rested on Day 5 of the Jeanneau Yachts presented by Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers and 74 Islands Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) 2026, and the competition intensified with some exciting battles on one of the best days of the regatta so far.
In the Multihull Division 0, two Extreme 40s are neck-and-neck, swapping leads and positions overall. Today, Joel Berg’s Hooligan (Qld) narrowly defeated the locals on Ullman Sails (Paul Mitchell) by 14 seconds, taking a one-point overall lead. Mike Peberdy’s Irens trimaran, Rare Groove, finished in third place.
“It was a fantastic race,” Berg commented. “We got them (Ullman) – and they got us. There were lots of tacks from Pioneer Point up to White Rock. Great conditions this year.”
Division 1 has also seen fierce competition, with three Queensland boats vying for the top spot. Stuart Cox’s Cut Snake held a one-point advantage over Troy Forrest’s Mint, while Steven Humphris’ Stealth Mode was just two points behind. Graham Catley’s Cat-Ion from New Zealand upset the standings by winning the race today, leaving the top three unchanged.
“Today was champagne sailing,” Catley remarked. “We had a great day and managed to win by just over 11 minutes.”
In Division 2, the battle continues between Peter Hackett’s Intrigue and Terry Archer’s G’Nome. G’Nome took the lead today, winning by nine minutes, which now puts them ahead of Intrigue by one point.
Dave Davenport and Ken Stevenson’s Don’t Panic have maintained their dominance in Division 1 of the Trailable & Sports Boat class, securing four consecutive wins. Close behind is Vivace, who has yet to crack into the top spot despite consistent finishes.
In Division 2, Dave McKay’s Black Betty claimed victory, further solidifying the competitive nature of the regatta. McKay expressed satisfaction with their performance, highlighting the favourable conditions.
As the regatta continues, Ray Roberts’ Team Hollywood remains undefeated in Rating Passage Division 1, while a close contest is developing in Rating Division 2 between Ikon and Road Runner, with Ikon holding a two-point overall lead.
Despite predictions of unstable breezes, the wind proved reliable for the races, allowing Principal Race Officer Kevin Wilson to proceed without delays.
As a mark of respect, competitors were asked to wear a black armband or a black shirt on the race course today, in remembrance of prominent Australian yachtsman, Gordon Ketelbey, who passed away on 31 July.
Gordon loved racing and did so with much success in in Australia, Asia, the United States and Europe. He competed at ABRW a handful of times, the last in 2024 with his TP52, Zen and just missed the top spot which was decided in Team Hollywood’s favour in the final race.
Tomorrow marks the penultimate day of racing, set to resume from 10am, weather permitting.
For all information, including entries, head to: http://www.abrw.com.au
Di Pearson/ABRW media
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