UNPRECEDENTED early entries, among them Karl Kwok's Beau Geste from Hong Kong, and a new major sponsor in Carlton and United Breweries (CUB), have put Airlie Beach Race Week on course for a record-breaking year.

Now in its 27th year, the Whitsunday Sailing Club-hosted event has attracted record levels of sponsorship, with the brewing giant CUB the latest addition via the company's Great Northern brand.

Airlie Beach Race Week's Adrian Bram could not be happier, saying CUB's commitment has elevated major sponsor support levels.

"Great Northern joins Pantaenius Marine Insurance, the Whitsunday Regional Council, Radio 4MK, Star FM, At Hotels Group, 7 Local News, the Whitsunday Times and APN Newspapers as major partners, making this the biggest year on record for major sponsor support," he said.

Airlie Beach Race Week is also proudly supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland's It's Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Beau Geste, the champion TP52 owned by Karl Kwok, will no doubt be the star attraction in the IRC Racing Division

Sixty owners have already confirmed for this year's Festival of Sailing, including Kwok, a devotee of major Australian sailing events. He will come to Airlie Beach with his one-year old boat to 'fine tune', as he targets a hat trick in both the IRC Australian and NSW Championships.

Unquestionably the fastest TP52 to ever race in Australian waters, Beau Geste will represent the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Her crew includes a few Kiwis, such as Gavin Brady, who has been Kwok's right-hand man for years.

Boat captain, Cameron Ward said Kwok wanted to come and support another great Australian event "and thinks Airlie Beach Race Week is a great event to come and tune-up for the Australian IRC Championship ahead".

"The boat is already in Mackay and we've booked the accommodation and marina berth. We're ready to go," he said.

The entry list so far represents interests from Hong Kong, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, NSW and South Australia.

Entry closes at 2400 hours on Friday, August 5, 2016. Entry and Notice of Race are online at: www.abrw.com.au/sailing/entries.