Wind at last for northern series, Magnetic Island, America´s Cup, more
by Rob Kothe & the Sail-World Team on 29 Aug 2013
ETNZ will challenging Oracle - America’s Cup Chuck Lantz
http://www.ChuckLantz.com
The Kiwi’s are confident ahead of the America´s Cup, you probably caught a wiff of that in our Sail-World America´s Cup newletter. But the calibre of their opponents in Oracle is a significant step up so interesting times ahead.
We will have a team of seven covering the San Francisco event, we will once again be the largest sailing media at that big event, as we were at London 2012 and Qingdao 2008.
Overnight we have again beefed up our Sail-World news and mail server capacity, we´ve been struggling with some huge traffic numbers as the AC approaches.
We are looking forward to getting out on the water here at Magnetic Island, the onwater speeds will be a fraction of San Francisco´s but there is no fog, no wet weather gear and the beer is definitely better.
Some 55 boats are expected to face the starter tomorrow Friday for SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2013 now in its seventh year, with more than 120 boats in all competing in Sail Townsville 2013.
While dual Sydney to Hobart winner Bob Steel and his TP52 Quest certainly adds class to the front of the fleet, the largest numbers of entries as happens in all the northern regattas will be in the cruising classes, with growing multihull fleets.
After soft breezes at Abell Point Marina Airlie Beach Race Week, even softer conditions at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, there have been plenty of smiles ahead of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2013.
It’s the morning of registration and Regatta Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson has been up early walking the foreshore as is his regatta ritual. He is smiling and his Bundy rum hipflask is still full, with no weather god sacrifices apparently needed this morning.
'Wind at last! I have been feeling jinxed after the last three events. The Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel race was sailed in 10-12 knots of wind, it was 6-10 for most of Airlie Beach Race Week, and less at Hamilton Island.
'So the current conditions and the forecasts are a great relief.
'We have whitecaps on the Magnetic Island race course area yesterday, as we came over from Townsville on the SeaLink ferry across Cleveland Bay and we are expecting 15-18 knots through the weekend and possibly 20-25 on Monday, steadying down for Tuesday, the last day of the event.
'The last few days of winter and the first few of spring will definitely be T shirt and shorts sailing, with 28 degrees today and 29 tomorrow and onwards.
'Superb sailing conditions for the winter refugees from down south.'
All the latest news and information at www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au
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