A high-speed hydrofoil catamaran from New Zealand will bring an exciting new dimension to the 33rd staging of Australia’s premier big-boat regatta, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, in August.

It’s a long leap between competing at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week in a yacht that’s a fraction longer than the average-sized family sedan, and racing a near identical design single-handed, 3500 nautical miles across the Atlantic.

It’s a long way from Wellstead in the West Australian outback to Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, but that’s the life journey that has led to Roger Ellett’s Catalina 40, Satori, becoming the 100th entry for this year’s regatta.

The 30-metre long super-maxi Wild Oats XI, arguably the world’s most successful ocean racing yacht, has been confirmed as a starter in the 33rd edition of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week next August.