Numbers are up for the 2026 Jeanneau Yachts presented by Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers and 74 Islands Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), hosted by Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC). Currently, entries have reached 110 and will remain open until 23:59 hours on 27 July.
Scheduled from 6-13 August, this year’s event will feature several first-time boats and competitors. Sydney brothers Paul and Luke Ratcliff, who have previously competed in various divisions, are entering the Multihull Racing class for the first time with their new boat, Midnight Rain. They are eager to continue the boat’s winning legacy, having purchased it in February 2026.
Midnight Rain will face tough competition, including the Grainger 075 owned by WSC President, Terry Archer, and Ray Martin’s Farrier F85sr, Beatrix, who placed second last year.
In the Rating Passage Division, entries have surged to 16, marking the highest participation in over a decade. Ray Roberts’ Botin 40, Team Hollywood, is the reigning champion, having won every race in 2025 and all but one in 2024. This year, competitors like Grant Pocklington’s Bakewell-White 40 Anarchy and Glenn Burrell’s Reichel Pugh 42 Black Diamond are expected to challenge him.
Burrell aims to carry his winning momentum from the previous year into the ABRW and beyond to the 2026 Australian Yachting Championships in October. Tom Woods, racing his JPK 1080, Saltwater Wine, marks his first campaign in Queensland, hoping to replicate past successes.
The Performance Cruising class continues to dominate with 36 entries. Julian Bell is bringing his Beneteau First 50, 51st Project, from Newcastle, noting that “a bad day’s sailing still beats a good day in the office.”
Queenslander Matthew Kingsberry, with his Farr 1106, Amaya II, expresses optimism about his well-used boat’s performance, while the Grundy brothers are returning with their Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409, Minnow, seeking to enjoy both racing and the comforts of cruising.
Major sponsor Jeanneau is excited to announce the Australian debut of the all-new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455 at this year’s Race Week, highlighting its combination of performance and luxury. Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers will be present throughout the event, assisting both existing and prospective Jeanneau owners.
ABRW promises a class and division for every type of boat, encouraging all sailors to enter and view the Notice of Race at www.abrw.com.au.
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