American yacht at Hamilton Island

The 66-footer, Van Diemen, is owned by Robbie Vaughan and will represent California's Newport Harbour Yacht Club at Race Week. She was designed by Australian Warren Muir along the lines of a classic cutter created by famous American naval architect, Nat Herreshoff, more than half a century ago.

Vaughan, who was born in Tasmania, went to America in the early 1970s where he became a prominent ocean racing yachtsman before establishing a successful property development business in California.

Vaughan has cruised extensively throughout the South Pacific since the yacht was launched in NZ four years ago. He sailed Van Diemen to his home state a few months ago and recently headed north to Sydney en route to Hamilton Island.

One of the locals who will be with Vaughan for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is well known Sydney yachtsman and yacht broker, Michael 'Zapper' Bell.

"Race Week is always fun and this year is going to be even better," said Bell, who coincidentally was a crewmember aboard Peter Briggs' Hitchhiker when it won the inaugural Hamilton Island Race Week 25 years ago.

Hitchhiker, which hails from Perth, will also be at this year's regatta.

"We've entered the Cruising Division just to ensure that as guys who are now more than 30 years older, won't have to stress too much," Zapper Bell added.

"We will be racing for the fun of it. That's what Race Week is all about," he said.

With the entry of Van Diemen being the 150th, and entries for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week not closing until August 10, there is a strong possibility that last year's record fleet of 216 will be exceeded.

For more information, visit www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au