Three days of racing are already banked at Jeanneau Yachts presented by Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers and 74 Islands Airlie Beach Race Week 2026, with more than 800 sailors competing and the water delivering throughout.
Yesterday's conditions were the kind that photographers love. Bows up, boats launching off waves, wakes flying. The whales were breaching too, which doesn't make it onto results sheets but tends to stay with crews long after the scores are forgotten.
Today is lay day.
Buses are running to the 74 Islands Changing Courses Lunch at Elementa, where attendees can expect a Summit Spritz on arrival, live food stations, roaming canapés and live music. Back at WSC, the restaurant and bar are open all day, with the Festival Village coming alive from 1600 hours and Beach Party DJ Zuero keeping things going well into the night.
One of the day's more purposeful activities is the Ocean Crusaders Lay Day Clean Up, led by competitors Ian Thomson and his wife Annika, owners of the TP52 Ocean Crusaders J-Bird. The Thomsons run the clean-up from around 8am through to early afternoon before heading back to WSC for a barbecue. "We collected over 380 kilos of rubbish last year. It gets put on Ocean Crusaders' barge. We go pretty much from 8am to 1pm, then it's back to the Club for a barbecue," said Thomson. The couple also arrive early each morning to sort and remove drinks cans.
Today also marks the debut of the new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455, with major sponsor Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers opening it up for Race Week participants to view.
Musto has returned to the event this year, with CEO David Oliver running a pop-up shop at WSC open daily after racing. "I'm so glad to be back. It's a great regatta and I've already seen so many familiar faces," Oliver said.
Prize winners have been collecting their 74 Islands gifts after each day's racing, a beautifully boxed bottle of vodka with glasses included.
Racing resumes tomorrow from 10am, weather permitting.
