Wednesday Sailing in the Whitsundays
Want to try your hand at sailing in the world-famous Whitsundays? We recommend heading to the Whitsunday Sailing Club on a Wednesday afternoon and joining their weekly twilight sailing race!
Whether you're a sailing novice or you don't know your bow from your stern, the Sailing Club staff are open to new participants. The social race typically consists of 20 to 30 sailing boats racing around a set of markers in Pioneer Bay, Airlie Beach, and is so much fun that it often draws an eager crowd.
Some vessels often need extra crew on board or have space for visitors to join them in the race. If you show up to the Sailing Club early and ask around, you could find yourself sailing in no time at all! The twilight sailing races are a great way to experience real sailing in the Whitsundays and meet some great people along the way.
When and where are Twilight Races held in the Whitsundays?
Twilight Races take place most Wednesday afternoons year-round at the Whitsunday Sailing Club at The Point in Airlie Beach.
Those eager to join are advised to come down to the club at 2:00pm on the day of the race so that they can get set up by staff with their first ride and ensure they get one of the limited places. Races begin at around 4:30pm and typically last between an hour and an hour and a half.
What does the twilight sailing race course look like?
The twilight sailing race course is usually a triangle shape carved out by buoys in the water on Pioneer Bay. While Multihull boats and Monohull boats must sail three laps of the course, slower monos sail just two laps.
Can non-members race?
You do not have to be an official member of the Whitsunday Sailing Club or have an Australian Sailing number in order to hitch a ride on one of the racing boats. You will, however, need to buy a SailPASS membership, which essentially allows guests to be a club member for a day.
A SailPASS is required to cover personal accident insurance while you're out on the water. They cost just AUD$15, and this is the only charge. Twilight races are otherwise free to join.
Do you need experience to race?
You can join the Whitsundays Sailing Club's twilight races with absolutely no sailing experience. All you need to do is show up early and prove you're eager.
After you get assigned to a race boat on your first day, there's a good chance you'll get a feel for the thrill of sailing and be eager for more. Depending on how busy the races are, and how often you join in, you could soon find yourself becoming a regular member of the crew!
What to bring to the twilight sailing race
If you're coming along to race for the first time, you don't need to bring much along with you. Just remember AUD$15 for your SailPASS, wear some clothes you don't mind getting splashed in, and bring along something to drink if you'd like!
After the race, head back to the Whitsunday Sailing Club for a great-value buffet night, some drinks, and the winner's presentation!
Are you interested in sailing further into the Whitsundays? Take a look through our sailing day tour options.
