Photo Credit: Vision Surveys Airlie Beach Race 2014. IRC fleet number growing ahead of next week’s start of the regatta. Tracey Johnstone

There is just one day left for skippers to enter their boat in the record-breaking Vision Surveys 25^th Airlie Beach Race Week being held from 8^th to 15^th August 2014. 

There are nine divisions to choose from – IRC Racing, One Design Classes, IRC Cruising, Performance Racing, Cruising Spinnaker, Cruising Non-Spinnaker, Sports Boats, Multihull Racing and Multihull Cruising.

The Notice of Race and Online Entry is available here. 

The battle between the Cookson 50s has already started with Colin Woods’s Pretty Fly III and Daryl Hodgkinson’s Victoire using the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Race as a warm-up to the main battle on the IRC course at Airlie Beach. In the Gold Coast race, Pretty Fly III came out ahead with a fifth on IRC overall to Victoire’s seventh place. 

Other entries are using the Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Race, starting today, to make their way north to the Whitsunday winter playgrounds including the latest IRC Division entry, Elena Nova. It’s a new boat in Australia and the Sydney team are still learning the RP42’s character. 

Performance Racing’s Never a Dull Moment team are cruising north, enjoying the warmer climes and slow pace of a delivery to their favourite winter racing destination. Victoria’s little Where’s Wal? is packed on its road trailer ready for its ceremonial farewell from Port Phillip and trip north to Airlie Beach. 

The Sports Boats have an easier journey to Airlie Beach as they load up the road trailer and tow north. There are five entries to date including Norman Ryde’s Conquistador from NSW and Annika Fredriksson’s Ocean Crusader from Darwin. 

Andrew Stransky’s multihull Fantasia, winner of the OMR Division 2 in 2013, has been in the Whitsundays for six weeks. The family team have been enjoying their time away from Brisbane, sailing the Airlie Beach waters and getting themselves ready to defend last year’s title. 

All competitors are reminded to pack their tropical shirts, loud shorts, party hats and dance shoes for the 25^th Birthday Party celebrations on Monday 11^th August. The main party starts at 6pm at the Whitsunday Sailing Club then rolls into the Pirate Party at Mama Africa Bar & Niteclub. 

The daily race day prize giving and parties will be as usual held at the Whitsunday Sailing Club. 

Entries close at 1700 tomorrow, Friday 1^st August 2014. 

All details on this year’s Vision Surveys Airlie Beach Race Week are at www.abrw.com.au.