There has finally been some good news for the Whitsunday's struggling tourism operators and businesses with hundreds of sailors, their families and support crew from the record 107 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week fleet spending up big.

Meridien Managing Director and Rear Commodore of the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Russell McCart said the regatta has been a huge success both on and off the water.

'We couldn't be happier with the way things are progressing, the whole area has made all of us feel most welcomed and it has been amazing how the entire event has been embraced,' Mr McCart said.

'The racing has been close and intense and we couldn't have asked for better conditions. The Whitsunday's have been at their magnificent best providing the perfect promotional vehicle for the hundreds of interstate and international visitors here this week.'

Mr McCart said this year's event is just a taste of things to come and reaffirmed Meridien's commitment to make this one of Australia's biggest regattas.

'We have the potential to do something special here with the Whitsunday's as the backdrop and in the years to come we hope to have triple the number of yachts competing and make it one of Queensland's biggest social events,' he said.

'Unlike the Sydney to Hobart and other big sailing events our biggest asset is that the racing is in-shore and the whole town can get involved with the sailors every single day of Race Week.'

The town has certainly responded to this year's Race Week with 3000 attending the Fantasea Cracker night and 1200 rocking it at the Airlie Beach Hotel Parrot Head street party.

The House Full sign has also gone up in many hotels with most saying it has been the biggest weekend they have had in 2008.

'All of our 79 rooms have been full all weekend and the rest of the week looks close to capacity as well,' said the Manager of the Airlie Beach Hotel Mark Bell.

'It has been excellent that Meridien have got the event back on track after it waned for a couple of years and for that it is flowing into our rooms, bars and restaurants.

'It not only gives the area an economic benefit but we know with our statistics here that if we do get people here they do come back again.

'It's a bit of hope for the whole town after a horrible year with wild weather ruining the peak summer season and the fuel crisis forcing flights to be cancelled but it finally feels like things are turning around.'

Co-owner of the Whitsunday Food Service, which supplies most of the region's restaurants and Hotel's, Robin Murray said business has been booming.
'The town has its buzz back again, it's like Airlie Beach has been woken from its slumber and Race Week is largely responsible for that,' Ms Murray said.

'Our business has increased by 30% this week and if we are busy that means most of the restaurants and hotel's in town are pumping.'

Mr McCart said with boats coming from all over Australia and New Zealand the money spent in the state is not just confined to accommodation and restaurants.

'Skippers preparing their boat for competition can spend thousands just to get their boats race ready. Most entrants go into competition with new sails, ropes and blocks to ensure equipment doesn't give up mid race,' Mr McCart said.

2008 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week entrant Brett Whitbread has one of the smaller boats but said his crew spend will be significant.

'I'll prep the boat with two new sails, new rigging and will cost about $5,000 but bigger boats will spend up to $20,000 doing the same thing,' Brett said.

'I estimate we'll contribute more than $20,000 during the week, I reckon others will spend $40,000 or $50,000.'

Typical breakdown for a 42 foot boat with a crew of 10:

New Sails $ 15,000
Incidentals chandlery other equipment $ 2,500
Extra Insurance $ 1,000
Entry fee $ 600
Maintenance during races $ 1,000
Accommodation and meals for ten crew plus five family members for 10 nights $ 15,000
(Based on $100 per person per day for accommodation and $100 per day per person for meals-drinks)
On shore spending incidentals by 15 people $ 9,000
(Based on $60 per person per day for 10 days)
Air fares for five family members to Airlie $ 1,500
Total spend for 42 footer with 10 crew and five family members = $45,600

by Shaun Rigby

Newsfeed supplied by