A LIVING piece of Airlie Beach Race Week history has returned in the event's 27th year - the yacht Storm.

First bought by Race Week founder Don Algie in about 1970, Storm is set to once again race her way around the Whitsunday islands.

Mr Algie said he had sold the yacht 13 years ago only to buy it back earlier this year.

"I discovered it was sitting in New Zealand and it was being restored," he said.

"So I flew down there to see how it was. He wanted to sell the boat anyway when it was restored and I said 'Okay, I'll take it back'."

Mr Algie's first-ever boat and his proud vessel during the founding of Race Week, he said its return was becoming something of a reunion.

"I'll have some of the crew who raced with this boat years ago, so now there's a few of us coming back for Race Week this year," he said.

Reminiscing about the old days, Mr Algie remembers their unusual mantra fondly - Obnoxious in victory, surly in defeat.

"We had that on all our shirts and logos," he laughed.

While his second boat Storm 2 may have been bigger, Mr Algie will always have a special place in his heart for the original. "It's one of the oldest boats out there, but it's still got what it takes," he said.

First run in 1990, the then Hog's Breath Cruising Classic proved an instant hit with yachties from all over.

All these years later and Airlie Beach Race Week is still an action-packed affair both on and off the water.

THROUGH THE AGES

September 1990: First Hog's Breath Cruising Classic

1992: Name change to Hog's Breath Race Week

1995: Name change to Airlie Beach Race Week

2015: Name change to Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing