Champions crowned

Bruce McCracken’s IKON has capped a perfect performance at Hamilton Island Race Week, winning the Leon O’Donoghue Memorial Trophy as the 41st edition of the Whitsundays regatta concludes.

Photography by Salty Dingo and Hamilton Island Race Week

28 August 2026

The champions of Hamilton Island Race Week presented by American Express have been crowned after a week of strong breezes, shifting conditions, rain squalls and sunshine tested 194 boats and more than 1,200 sailors.

Racing ranged from grand prix yachts and competitive rating divisions to cruising fleets, multihulls, non-spinnaker boats and trailable yachts.

The standout performance came from Bruce McCracken’s IKON, which was named Boat of the Week after completing a flawless series in Rating Division 2.

The family team won all six races sailed under IRC. With the series discard applied, IKON finished on the minimum possible score of five points.

An aerial view captures the scale of the Hamilton Island Race Week fleet racing through Whitsunday waters. © Salty Dingo 2026

The Hamilton Island Race Week fleet threads its way through the Whitsunday Islands. © Salty Dingo 2026

The Hamilton Island Race Week fleet races through the Whitsundays during the 41st edition of the regatta. © Salty Dingo 2026

“We’ve had this team together for 18 years, so it’s not an overnight sensation,” McCracken said. “We’ve been working at this for a long time and have had some good results along the way, but this regatta has been fantastic.”

McCracken said sharing the result with his family made the victory particularly significant. The crew included his daughter Breeahn and grandsons North, 10, and Cove, eight, who were competing at Hamilton Island Race Week for the first time.

David Hamilton’s Seeking Alpha finished second in Rating Division 2 under IRC, with Paul Arns and Geoff Bishop’s Obsession third.

Wild Oats X takes Rating Division 1

Rating Division 1 produced a close finish, with Sandy Oatley’s Wild Oats X securing the IRC title ahead of Peter White’s First Light, while Mark Spring’s Highly Sprung completed the podium.

Highly Sprung also won Rating Division 1 under TPR scoring, ahead of Lee Hawksley’s Gusto and Robert Kelly’s Virago.

The strength of the New South Wales contingent was recognised with the Hitchhiker Trophy for the best-performing state, with NSW boats filling every podium position across Rating Divisions 1 and 2 under IRC.

Competition was equally strong in Super 40+, where Raymond Roberts’ Team Hollywood won under IRC ahead of FOMO, skippered by Caillin Howard and Geoff Boettcher, and Sam Haynes’ Celestial.

Peter Higgins’ Black Sparrow secured the Super 40+ ORC title ahead of Team Hollywood and Ari Abrahams’ Fargo. Black Sparrow also won under SFR scoring, with Fargo second and Team Hollywood third.

Racing unfolds off Hamilton Island against the tropical backdrop of the Whitsundays. © Salty Dingo 2026

Rare Groove powers through the Whitsundays on its way to seven line honours victories and the Gun Boat Trophy. © Salty Dingo 2026

Bruce McCracken’s IKON on the racecourse at Hamilton Island Race Week, where it was named Boat of the Week. © Salty Dingo 2026

The fleet converges during close racing off Hamilton Island, with Firefox among the boats in the foreground. © Salty Dingo 2026

Colourful spinnakers fill across the fleet during downwind racing at Hamilton Island Race Week. © Salty Dingo 2026

Division winners crowned

Grant Wharington’s Wild Thing 100 won Hamilton Island Blue, ahead of Walter Carpenter’s Caol Ila and Ben Davidson’s Sea Fever.

Hamilton Island Pink went to Brenton and Jennifer Carnell’s Phoenix49, ahead of Sharon Ferris-Choat’s Vixen Racing and John Whitbread’s Kerb.

David Lamond’s Adela X won Hamilton Island Yellow, Paul King’s Nautilass claimed Hamilton Island Orange, and Carl Nicholls’ Bonaventure took Hamilton Island Green.

In Multihull Racing, Terry Robinson’s Miyu won under OMR ahead of Troy Forrest’s Mint and Mike Peberdy’s Rare Groove.

Rare Groove also received the Gun Boat Trophy after recording seven line honours victories, the most of any boat during the week.

Under EHC, Stuart Cox’s Cut Snake secured the Multihull Racing title ahead of Mint and Gordon Beath’s Roamance.

Andrew Bruce’s Fruition won Multihull Hamilton Island White, while John Clifford’s Zikomo took the Multihull Hamilton Island Black title.

Renee Cordingley’s Bella Due won Non-Spinnaker Black and White ahead of Mark Miller’s Namadgi 3 and Glenn Myler’s Thylacine One. Bella Due also received the Don McLean Trophy as the regatta’s best-performing North Queensland boat.

Bill Barry-Cotter’s Maritimo 100 won Non-Spinnaker Grey, ahead of Remco Pen’s Bigger Day Out and Graeme Trewavis’ Asadori.

Steve Girdis’ +GST claimed the Trailable Yachts title ahead of Simon Morris’ Offshore Account and David Freedman’s Maximum Limit.

The Prix d’Elegance rounded out the presentation evening, with Sea Fever winning Best Themed Yacht for its Top Gun theme and Marguerite named Best Presented Yacht.

The 42nd Hamilton Island Race Week will be held from 20 to 27 August 2027.

hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au