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New Zealand's top Olympic-class skiff sailors are set to play a starring role at the 40th anniversary of Hamilton Island Race Week, with the country's 49er and 49erFX crews taking centre stage in a new Trans-Tasman showdown.
Billed as the ‘Wetisloe Cup’, the Palm Beach Motor Yachts trans-Tasman 49er Series will see Kiwi and Aussie 49er and 49erFX teams go head-to-head in exhibition racing from 17–19 August. Thirteen teams in total will battle it out just off the iconic Hamilton Island Yacht Club - a prime arena as the Whitsundays builds towards hosting sailing at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
New Zealand's Olympic silver medallists Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie headline a strong Kiwi line-up, backed by a campaign of consistent podium finishes and youth world titles. They’ll be joined by other top NZL Sailing Team members with the nation’s depth in the skiff classes promising a tight contest.
The squad also includes Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush, who won gold at the recent 49er European championships in Greece, as well as the exciting combinations of Mattias Coutts and Oscar Gunn, Sam Bacon and Blake McGlashan, Francesco Kayrouz and Hamish McLaren, and Nicola and Rebecca Hume (49erFX).
"This is a fantastic initiative that brings together the strength and depth of the Australian and New Zealand 49er fleets," said Ian Stewart, Yachting New Zealand high-performance director. "A trans-Tasman collaboration has been in discussion for some time. Hamilton Island is an exceptional place to sail, and this event adds real momentum as we look toward Brisbane 2032."
Yachting New Zealand high-performance director Ian Stewart.
The daily match races — scheduled at 4pm (local time) after the main fleet wraps up — are designed to draw crowds and attention, adding a shot of high-octane action to the week-long regatta.
"As the Whitsundays prepares to host sailing at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, we're delighted to showcase Olympic class sailors in action," said Nick Dowling, CEO of Hamilton Island. "We hope this series inspires more people to tune in to the incredible sport of high-performance sailing."
Iain Brambell, High Performance Director at Australian Sailing, echoed the sentiment: "The Australian Sailing Team is thrilled to rejoin forces with Hamilton Island for this fantastic event for our skiff sailors at one of the world's most iconic sailing locations. This event also serves as a tremendous opportunity to test out the waters and conditions of one of the potential locations for the Brisbane 2032 sailing venue".
The Australian team of seven skiff pairs includes Olympians Evie Haseldine in the 49erFX and Shaun Connor in the 49er, as well as Women's America's Cup sailors Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot, and Youth America's Cup sailors Max Paul and Jack Ferguson.
More than 160 entries are confirmed for the August 16-23 event, with Kiwis again featuring strongly across multiple divisions. The regatta also includes a new wingfoil ‘Speed and Tricks’ afternoon on August 16, and a historical exhibition celebrating four decades of sailing at Hamilton Island.
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