Heaven Can Wait regatta -Superstars Slingsby and Outteridge on board

by Heaven Can Wait Media Centre on 7 Sep 2010 Two of Australia’s international sailing superstars, Tom Slingsby and Nathan Outteridge, will participate in this year’s Heaven Can Wait charity yacht regatta on Lake Macquarie during the October long weekend to raise funds for men’s cancer research and support program.

Sailing the latest high-tech, high-speed Foiling Moths, they will join a fleet of up to 100 sailing boats – yachts, multihulls, skiffs, dinghies, Foiling Moths and others – racing around Lake Macquarie on Saturday October 2 and Sunday October 3.

This fleet will face the starter off Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto, racing a 28.5 nautical mile course around the lake in the Heaven Can Wait (HCW) charity yacht regatta.

The regatta consists of two events: a 'One Lap Dash' once around the course, and the HCW 24 Hour Race, in which boats sail around the lake as many times as they can over 24 hours.

Boats can enter either or both races.

While the bulk of the One Lap Dash fleet will sail 3-5 person crewed 'sportsboats' – lightweight keelboats carrying giant spinnakers – yachts and trailer-sailers, there is also a growing fleet of 18 foot skiffs, which can literally leap from the water in strong conditions, as well as other skiffs, dinghies and now the spectacular 'foilers' being sailed by the likes of Slingsby and Outteridge.

Foiling Moths, the all-carbon high tech hydrofoil-powered skiffs, rise from the water with just 10 knots of breeze and can exceed 30 knots in the kind of fresh conditions seen in recent HCW events.

The longer-distance HCW 24 Hour Race will see larger yachts slogging it out around the course over 24 hours, with all the challenges of night-time sailing, in-shore navigation, proper watchkeeping and fatigue management.

The two Australian Olympians Outteridge and Slingsby both grew up on the NSW Central Coast and have done a great deal of sailing on the lake, honing their sailing skills – which have seen them with ever-growing trophy shelves.

Wangi (Lake Macquarie) sailor Nathan Outteridge is the 2008 and 2009 49er World Champion skipper, was runner-up in the 2009 Moth World Championships, won the 2010 Moth European titles just a few weeks ago and looks set to be favourite for the 2011 Worlds which will be sailed on Lake Macquarie from Belmont 16 foot skiff Club next January.

Gosford sailor Tom Slingsby, 2007 and 2008 Laser World Champion, has just won his third Laser World Championship title.

In late August, Slingsby, sailing with America’s Cup icon John Bertrand and Star Olympian Andrew Palfrey, won the 2010 Etchells World Championships and he too will be contesting the 2011 Moth Worlds.

The two will be sailing their own Foiling Moths in the One Lap Dash, and are also lending their strong support to the HCW fundraising activities, through sponsorship of their boats in the race, along with being guest speakers at the Heaven Can Wait Charity fundraising dinner at Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto the night before the race (Friday, October 1).

This will be a great opportunity for sailors racing in the event to hear these young world-class sailing stars – and there will be plenty of time for questions and answers.

Bookings for the Heaven Can Wait Charity Dinner will open next week on the event website at www.heavencanwait.com.au.

Skippers and crews of boats who have entered the HCW Charity Regatta will get first priority when booking for this dinner.

The HCW Charity Regatta is now in its fifth year. Conceived and set up by Lake Macquarie sailor and cancer survivor Shaun Lewicki, the event raises funds for men’s cancer programs run through the Cancer Council NSW – with some monies also going to Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie, which provides on-water support and rescue services.
Last year, the event raised nearly $22,000 for the charities it supports.

Entry to the race is just $30 for the One Lap Dash and $50 for the 24 hour race (or $70 for both) – with entrants paying these fees required to raise minimum amounts from crew, friends, family and supporters.

Detailed information, including the Notices of Race and other documentation, along with online Entry is available at www.heavencanwait.com.au.

Or email info@heavencanwait.com.au, ph 0419 236 704.