SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week - just keeps getting better
by Tracey Johnstone on 26 Aug 2015
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SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week just keeps getting better every year. Norman Jenkin
The SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week continues to surprise and delight Australia’s sailing community in its ninth edition of the annual sailing regatta which starts tomorrow.
This year’s 61-boat fleet of ultra-competitive monohulls and multihulls through to the relaxed cruisers has continued the tradition of attracting entries from up and down the Australian east coast.
The boats will be split up across six divisions - IRC, Performance Racing, Cruising Spinnaker, Cruising Non Spinnaker, Multihull Racing and Multihull Cruising.
SeaLink’s Queensland General Manager and Race Committee Chair, Paul Victory, is unabashedly excited about the regatta and what it brings to the Townsville and island communities. “With this large, colourful fleet, there will be some great viewing from both the Magnetic Island and Townsville shoreline for visitors and locals. The sailors will ensure the competition is fierce and the parties back on Magnetic Island memorable,” Victory said.
Regatta Director Denis Thompson can’t help being pleased about the growth of the regatta. “The event definitely has its own niche. It’s a regatta a lot of people talk about.
“I think we have at least a ten per cent growth this year when a lot of events are going the other way. I don’t think we will ever get to the 150 boat-type regatta because we are limited in space. So, I am pretty pleased with 61 boats.”
Some 30 of this year’s entries come from outside of Queensland. “That’s pretty good,” a chuffed Thompson added.
Racing starts on Friday with a tight contest on Cleveland Bay. The big IRC boats will lead the fleet off to a frantic regatta start.
On Saturday the fleet will race around the stunning island where successfully playing the wind and rocky shoreline will make all the difference.
Sunday is a shorter day for the sailors as they complete a few quick races before joining the Townsville Airport Picnic Bay Beach Fair.
On Monday the sailors return to racing on Cleveland Bay before the final day of the regatta on Tuesday where every tactical decision will count as the fleet of racers and cruisers make their last ditch effort to secure the coveted regatta trophy.
For all regatta information and to follow the results, go www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au
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