Doyle Sails customers continued to shine during this year’s Hamilton Island Race Week, Australia’s most premiere regatta, with RP66 ALIVE securing the overall win in IRC Gold Division in a thrilling contest against local favourites.
Doyle Sails expert and professional sailor Justin Ferris, was aboard the victorious ALIVE, shared, “It’s been an incredible week for the young crew on Alive. We brought together a group of young match racing sailors, trained them to race a Mini Maxi, and triumphed over the experienced Wild Oats team.” He added, “We couldn’t have asked for better weather or a better venue. Hamilton Island is a world-class event, and it was the perfect opportunity to test our new Square Top Furling Staysail, which made its debut on Alive this week.”
The week-long event, known for its glitz and glamour both on and off the water, attracts teams from across Australia and around the globe. This year the event featured six days of racing in ideal conditions, with many guests enjoying the spectacle from the water.
Notable results include Sydney’s TP52 MATADOR taking 1st place overall in IRC and TPR, while ZEN secured third place in both IRC and TPR. The Australian 52 fleet remains highly competitive, with Doyle-powered teams consistently out performing others -David Doherty’s Matador’s team claimed their second consecutive win, following Secret Men’s Business’s victory in 2022.
These impressive results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of Justin Ferris and Shane Guanaria from Doyle Sails, who have been closely involved with the design and development of this class over the past five seasons.
Shane Guanaria expressed his excitement about the competition, stating, “It was a fantastic week of yachting with an exceptional team on board Zen. The Australian 52 fleet is incredibly competitive, and there’s no margin for error. Mistakes are costly, but Matador and Hooligan sailed flawlessly all week. Hamilton Island Race Week was once again superbly run with excellent conditions. If you’re considering participating, don’t miss it.”
Stu Molloy, Doyle Sails New Zealand’s Production Manager, also had a memorable week aboard Zen. “We fought hard for the win on the final day, and it was fantastic.”
In the Gold/White division, Ian Box and his Middle Harbour team on Toybox2 achieved third place in IRC. Their success was bolstered by their extensive local knowledge and new sails purchased through Shane at Doyle Sails Sydney.
Billy Leonard on Secret Weapon had a strong final day, securing second place in both PHRF and IRC in the Super40 Division. Working closely with Will Hammond of Doyle Sails Perth, Leonard was the only Western Australian team to compete this year.
The largest division winner of the regatta was Zoe, with Wayne Millar and his Doyle-powered team clinching the overall handicap win in a dramatic final race. Sam Millar expressed gratitude, “We thank the Hamilton Island Race Week committee for an incredible event and Hamilton Island for hosting us once again. We also appreciate Shane and the Doyle Sails team for their support in designing and producing our winning sails.”
Wayne Arnold Seaward and his team on Cyan Moon also made a mark by winning the last race of the regatta in the Island Pink division.
Justin Ferris reflected on the event, “It was great to be part of the Alive team and to win in IRC1. What was even more impressive was seeing so many Doyle Sails on the racecourse. I’m proud of how well the Australian Doyle Sails lofts have established themselves in the racing sail market and pleased to contribute to this success.”
Doyle Sails extends a heartfelt congratulations to all our Doyle-powered teams and sailors. It was a fantastic week with superb sailing conditions for all!
ABOUT DOYLE SAILS // Doyle Sails strives to deliver success through high-performance, high-quality, custom sails that continue to redefine the boundaries of sailmaking technology and innovation; whilst connecting sailors to inspire, support and encourage sailing.
Our obsession with sailing takes us to every corner of the world and onboard every yacht. We become part of teams, share in the adventures of friends and families, sharing our knowledge and experience with those with the same passion. Sailing is in our DNA, and we are the custodians of a legacy that has been supporting sailors for four decades and counting.