DALE and Paul Mitchell are two brothers with more than a little passion for sailing.

On Sunday, the professional sail makers took the impressive black racing trimaran Morticia out on Pioneer Bay to trial new sails they had made themselves, right here in Airlie Beach.

But this wasn't just a sail-tweaking run - it was a full-scale tune up for the Whitsunday Sailing Club Airlie Beach Race Week.

The brothers are preparing to join a fleet of more than 100 yachts entered into this year's Tropical Festival of Sailing, starting tomorrow and running to Friday, August 14.

Morticia, skippered by Chris Williams, was the winner of Airlie Beach Race Week in 2013, is a twice national multihull champion and won the Brisbane to Gladstone Race this

year.

The vessel is based in Sydney and is here in the Whitsundays chasing glory in the 26th annual event.

Joining the crew for Sunday's trial was Gavin "Butto" Butlin, the Whitsunday Sailing Club's events manager and founder of the Airlie Beach Festival of Music.

In an effort to further motivate the boys, Mr Butlin took the coveted Boss Hog Trophy along for the ride.

The Boss Hog Trophy embodies the spirit of Airlie Beach Race Week as envisioned by the event's founder, Don Algie.

It's about great sailing and the ultimate camaraderie in one of the best sailing destinations in the world.

For the full story on Airlie Beach Race Week see the eight-page lift-out inside today.