The Hamilton Armada - or, how to go cruising accidentally

9:34 PM Sun 23 Aug 2009 GMT

'Hot weather gear better than wet weather gear - 2009 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Day Two' Sail-World.com /AUS &copy Click Here to view large photo

The Sailing Instructions for the 26th annual Audi Race Week at Hamilton Island list a total of 21 different race courses. The unseasonably light wind conditions are meaning that race officials are having to think on their feet.

Regatta Director Denis Thompson says that new courses are being invented to suit the conditions and 'we could have five or six new courses come Saturday.'

This morning some 180 boats from eight different courses sat in 'light and variable conditions' on the traditional Southern course below Dent Passage ready to do a number of Pine Island and associated courses, but it was not to be.

Panorama Cruising - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

There was swimming, fishing, sunbaking, sleeping but no sailing.

Here are some images from the inaction and action in the IRC Passage and Invitation fleets, from the two Performance Racing divisions, from the three Cruising divisions and the Cruising Non-spinnaker division.

Course boats were spread at all points of the compass looking for breeze and eventually a report came in of a steady six-eight knots from the north west of Dent Island.

Hull 29 Enthusiastic greetings - 2009 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Day Two - Sail-World.com -AUS &copy Click Here to view large photo

So with the Follow Me flag flying, the Committee boat headed up the Dent Passage. A historic Armada followed her. 180 boats, most still with headsail hoisted, motored past Hamilton Island, the largest fleet ever to do so.

Upon arrival, course Race Officer Allan Carlisle and his team were quick to send the fleet off across the Whitsunday Passage. The Cruising Division 3 and Non-Spinnaker Cruising fleets sailed to White Rock and balance of the fleet sailing a 16 nautical mile course to White Rock and back to Dent Island.

No results are yet available as yachts are still on the race course at the time of publication. Stay tuned for further updates. - Ed.