Hamilton Island Race Week’s 40th anniversary celebrations are hotting up, with Race Week introducing Olympic-class match racing as an exhibition series, with the Australian and New Zealand men’s 49er and women’s 49erFX teams competing in a Trans-Tasman clash from 17-19 August. The series, affectionately dubbed the “Wetisloe Cup”, will see 13 elite skiffs from teams on both sides of the Tasman battling it out.

Officially the Palm Beach Motor Yachts Trans-Tasman 49er Series, racing will take place off the iconic Hamilton Island Yacht Club at the completion of the keelboat regatta from 4pm, allowing skippers, crews and island spectators to enjoy a thrilling front-row seat.

“As the Whitsundays prepares to host sailing at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, we’re delighted to have this unique opportunity 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 of the Australian Sailing Team, 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 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.

“The Australian team has a long and proud history with Hamilton Island, and to be immersed in Race Week, racing against a strong New Zealand contingent and showcasing our skills in front of a passionate sailing crowd, is the perfect blend of high-performance preparation and inspiration,” Brambell added.

Ian Stewart, High Performance Director at Yachting New Zealand, responded: “This is a fantastic initiative that brings together the strength and depth of the Australian and New Zealand 49er fleets. 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”.

With the Australian and New Zealand squads will be heading to Hamilton Island early for a two-week training block to capitalise on the world-class conditions, the inaugural Wetisloe Cup is shaping up as a spectacular fusion of elite preparation, national rivalry and Race Week celebration, a fitting way to mark 40 years of Hamilton Island Race Week.