Fantasea and SeaLink join forces to promote Magnetic Island

by SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week Media on 24 Aug 2011 The two transport companies providing ferry services to Magnetic Island have joined forces to promote a major Australian sailing event, which runs from September 1st to 6th on Magnetic Island.

Townsville sailor Michael Guinea from the Australian F18 Class Association explained. ‘Fantasea is the official naming rights sponsorship of the premier catamaran racing event, the Fantasea F18 Catamaran Australian Championships, being held as part of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week.

‘SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week is the fastest growing sailing regatta in Australia and the Cleveland Bay venue is rapidly becoming recognised as a key asset for Far North Queensland.

‘The Fantasea F18 Australian Championships is the qualifying event for the World Titles to be held at Long Beach California USA next year, so it’s a major event for the sport.

‘The commitment from the two transport companies supporting North Queensland sailing and Magnetic Island, bodes well for both this event and future boating events, both at a national and international level. ‘

SeaLink Queensland General Manager Jeff Davey said 'It is a very exciting opportunity for SeaLink Queensland and Fantasea to work together in conjunction with Magnetic Island Race Week 2011.

‘As SeaLink has just taken over the position of running the passenger ferry operations between Townsville and Magnetic Island in North Queensland, it is our position that the future holds exciting times with the view for both companies to work together and showcase Magnetic Island as a spectacular destination in North Queensland.

'The opportunity to host this event could only have been made possible through the support that Fantasea has provided for this exciting class of racing.

‘The support of Fantasea with this event has opened future prospects of hosting events together in the region.'

Fantasea is a gold sponsor of the Fantasea F18 Catamarans and will provide transport for a fleet of 30 boats on the company’s vehicular ferry, Fantasea Arcadia, which operates the car and passenger ferry service from Townsville to Magnetic Island. Fantasea Arcadia can accommodate 30 cars and up to 300 passengers, and provides eight return services daily, Monday to Friday, and seven return services daily on weekends, to Magnetic Island.

General Manager for Fantasea Adventure Cruising and Fantasea Cruising Magnetic, Rob Addis, said ‘The Fantasea team is excited about the F18 Nationals and pleased to be supporting Race Week.

‘It is an important event for the community and businesses of Townsville, Magnetic Island and surrounding areas.

‘We believe our support will help ensure that 2011 is a stellar year for the F18 Australian National Titles as part of the Race Week event,’ he said.

Both companies, along with the Townsville City Council and the Queensland Government have recognised the importance of sailing as part of the overall tourism mix in North Queensland.

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week is now in its fifth year and seems destined to follow the same successful route presented by the 28th Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, currently being sailed in the Whitsundays and the 22nd Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week, which was sailed last week. www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

Fantasea is an Australian owned and operated multi-award-winning cruise operator based in the Whitsundays with a fleet of high-speed, air-conditioned catamaran’s which service ferry operations between Hamilton Island Marina, Hamilton Island Airport and the Whitsundays mainland at Shute Harbour and Airlie Beach. The company also specialises in day cruises to Whitehaven Beach, Fantasea Reefworld at Hardy Reef, Hamilton Island’s Golf Club on Dent Island as well as an overnight Fantasea Reefsleep experience and private charters.

Fantasea’s new ferry terminal at the Meridien Marina development at Port of Airlie is currently under construction and is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.

www.fantasea.com.au

The SeaLink Travel Group carries almost 1.8 million ferry passengers a year in Townsville, Adelaide and Auckland.

It has ferry operations to Magnetic Island and Palm Island in North Queensland, to Kangaroo Island in South Australia and to Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island in New Zealand. The company also operates a range of other travel and tourism businesses.

www.SeaLinkqld.com.au