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04 Jun 2026
Hamilton Island Race Week 2026, Australia’s premier offshore sailing regatta, opens with The Race Week Residency at qualia, bringing internationally acclaimed chefs to the Whitsundays for a weekend of immersive experiences.
Michelin-starred chef Pascal Barbot of L’Astrance (Paris) and Australian chef Lennox Hastie of Firedoor and Gildas (Sydney) will take residence at qualia during the opening weekend. Alongside qualia Executive Chef Joshua Hingston, both chefs will present a bespoke dining experience. Barbot’s residency marks qualia’s first collaboration with the Paris-based chef, while Hastie returns to Hamilton Island Race Week for a third time.
On Saturday 15 August 2026, Barbot will present a bespoke multi-course menu at Long Pavilion, presented by Volvo Cars. His Paris restaurant L’Astrance held three Michelin stars for more than a decade. Trained under Alain Passard at L’Arpège, Barbot is known for cooking without a fixed menu, working instinctively with seasonal produce.
The following day, Hastie will bring his wood-fired approach to Pebble Beach, presented by American Express. After five formative years at Spain’s renowned Asador Etxebarri, he returned to Australia to open Firedoor in Sydney, one of the country’s most recognised restaurants, followed by a second venue with Gildas. Hastie has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens across Europe and was named Chef of the Year in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Awards.
Presented by American Express, the program extends beyond the table. Guests will also experience the regatta from aboard the superyacht Rascal, in partnership with Ahoy Club, moving between the energy on the water and the calm of qualia’s private setting.
Naysla Edwards, Vice President of Brand, Customer Marketing and Member Experience at American Express Australia and New Zealand, said: “At American Express, we’re passionate about creating memorable experiences that connect people through travel, dining, live sports and entertainment. We are thrilled to partner once again with Hamilton Island Race Week and qualia for this year’s highly anticipated events and welcome such incredible culinary talent.”
“There’s a wonderful contrast during Race Week between the energy of the regatta and the slower rhythm of qualia,” said Rebecca Hamey, General Manager of qualia. “Barbot and Hastie each bring a very different perspective to dining, and it’s always exciting to see how chefs respond to the ingredients, landscape and atmosphere of the Whitsundays.”
During the opening weekend, qualia will also see renowned Australian jeweller Margot McKinney in residence. A fourth-generation designer known for her bold, one-of-a-kind creations featuring rare gemstones and exceptional South Sea pearls, McKinney brings a perspective shaped by a lifelong connection to the natural world, drawing on the colour and light of Australia’s landscapes and reefs. Her residency offers guests the opportunity to connect more closely with her work through a series of intimate encounters.
Packages for the Opening Weekend at qualia
Three-night stays are available 14–17 or 15–18 August 2026, including private pavilion accommodation at qualia, exclusive access to The Race Week Residency program, and time on the water aboard the superyacht Rascal. Visit the qualia website for more information.
Reservations
luxuryevents@qualia.com.au
1300 725 172
Media enquiries
Caroline Denyer
Group Communications Manager
cdenyer@hamiltonisland.com.au
Kate Witenden
kwitenden@hamiltonisland.com.au
Images
Image selects are available here.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Hamilton Island Race Week
Hamilton Island Race Week has been a highlight of the Australian sailing calendar for decades. Now in its 41st year, Hamilton Island Race Week is Australia’s largest offshore sailing regatta, attracting more than 200 yachts, from high-performance racing yachts to trailable family favourites, and their crews from across Australia and around the world. Established in 1984, it remains one of the most anticipated events on the sporting and social calendar, combining world-class sailing with a vibrant week-long program of food, wine, music and experiences in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. For more information visit, hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au
About qualia
qualia is a private world of sensory perfection and an oasis of Australian style, combining award-winning luxury with intuitive, personalised service. Recently recognised in Condé Nast Traveler's inaugural Triple Crown, placing it among just 13 Australian properties and fewer than 400 hotels worldwide to receive the distinction, and awarded One MICHELIN Key, qualia is set on Hamilton Island's northern-most tip in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, where 61 private pavilions and two exclusive-use residences are immersed in natural bushland and capture panoramic Whitsunday views.
Dining at qualia includes Long Pavilion and Pebble Beach, where fresh, seasonal produce and a deep connection to place shape the guest experience. At the heart of the resort, spa qualia offers holistic therapies inspired by the natural beauty and tranquillity of the Whitsundays. For more information, visit qualia.com.au.
About Pascal Barbot
Pascal Barbot is the chef and co-owner of the acclaimed Paris restaurant L’Astrance, which held three Michelin stars for more than a decade. Trained under Alain Passard at L’Arpège, Barbot is known for his instinctive approach to cooking, creating dishes shaped by seasonality, spontaneity and produce at its peak. For more information, visit astranceparis.fr
About Lennox Hastie
Lennox Hastie is the chef and owner of Sydney restaurant Firedoor, internationally recognised for its elemental approach to cooking with fire. After spending five years at Spain’s renowned Asador Etxebarri, Hastie returned to Australia to open Firedoor and Gildas, now regarded as one of the country’s most distinctive dining experiences. For more information visit, firedoor.com.au
About Margot McKinney
Margot McKinney OAM is a fourth-generation Australian jeweller renowned for her bold, one-of-a-kind high jewellery creations featuring rare gemstones and exceptional South Sea pearls. Inspired by the beauty of Australia’s landscapes, oceans and reefs, her creations are celebrated for their vivid colour, remarkable scale and exceptional craftsmanship. Blending a distinctly Australian spirit with a family jewellery legacy spanning more than 140 years, Margot McKinney’s creations are held in private collections around the world. For more information, visit margotmckinney.com
About Ahoy Club
Ahoy Club is a global superyacht company built by the Malouf family, yacht owners with first-hand expertise and a genuine passion for every aspect of the superyacht world. From charters in the world's most sought-after cruising destinations to yacht sales, management, and landmark refits, Ahoy Club offers the full spectrum of superyacht services under one roof. With a portfolio that includes some of the world's most iconic yachts, the company has established itself as one of the world's leading luxury superyacht brands. For more information, visit ahoyclub.com
About Volvo Cars
Since 1927 Volvo have helped save over a million lives by sharing their patent for the three-point safety belt. It's their ambition to save millions more.
Volvo aim to be pioneers in protecting people and the planet by working towards net zero, embracing the circular economy and improving people's lives.
The Volvo Cars line up offers style, effortless luxury, safety and innovation built into each and every model. Offering petrol, plug-in hybrid or fully electric cars.
About American Express
American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.
Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, American Express’ brand is built on trust, security, service and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. We seek to provide the world’s best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations, and we build and manage relationships with millions of merchants across our global network.
For more information about American Express, visit americanexpress.com, americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/, and ir.americanexpress.com.
About Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island is Australia’s tropical island in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, offering direct flights from major east coast cities in under 3 hours. Surrounded by coral-fringed waters and pristine natural beauty, the island offers a range of accommodation, from self-contained apartments and Palm Bungalows to boutique beachfront stays at Beach Club, the private luxury retreat qualia, and the new boutique hotel The Sundays.
Guests can experience more than 20 restaurants and bars, a championship golf course, two spas, and over 60 tours and experiences, including trips to world-famous Whitehaven Beach and the iconic Heart Reef. Hamilton Island also hosts a year-round calendar of sporting, culinary and cultural events, including Hamilton Island Race Week, the Hamilton Island Endurance Series and Pas de Deux in Paradise with The Australian Ballet. For more information, visit hamiltonisland.com.au.
