Mackay attracts new Ocean Races

by Michelle Dunstone on 8 Mar 2006 Mackay Marina is to be the destination port for three big ocean races with attached events this year.

Rob Eacott, Commodore of Mackay Yacht Club explains: 'The Mackay Yacht Club and Mackay Marina facilities have gained a reputation as a dedestination. With the experience gained in hosting the previous Southport to Mackay Yacht Races and AMOC events the members of the yacht club are keen once again to showcase our race management skills, club facilities and renowned hospitality.

We look after our visitors well when they get here and with the increase in the popularity of these events the yachties obviously love coming back!

First up is the Mackay Marina AMOC (Australian Multihull Offshore Championships) Series at Easter, followed by the inaugural Sydney Mackay Yacht Race on July 29th that replaces the Southport to Mackay. The inaugural Port Vila to Mackay is to set off close on its heels on August 1st.

Mackay Marina AMOC Series - Multihulls only

When: Starting Brisbane on Good Friday April 14th 2006

Where: There will be three stages.
1. Brisbane to Gladstone
2. Gladstone to Yeppoon
3. Yeppoon to Mackay

Additional events: Races organised by Mackay Yacht Club around the Southern Whitsundays, Fashion Show and onshore events.

There is also the added attraction of a cruise rally, enabling cruisers to join in festivities along the way. The 2006 Cruise Rally is a non-racing fun social event for Multihull skippers who wish to cruise in company to the race destinations and festivities of AMOC 2006. Please contact Dudley Young - 0412 753 888 for more information.

To enter please see the Notice of Race on the Multihull Yacht Club of Queensland web site, http://www.mycq.org.au

Inaugural Sydney Mackay Yacht Race

Why the change? The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Sailing Committee Chairman and Rear Commodore Roger Hickman says ?eDue to a depth issue, the Club has been looking for an alternative to the Sydney Mooloolaba Yacht Race for many years.

Modern yachts are getting deeper drafts and even smaller yachts are drawing in excess of three metres. This depth issue has for years now prevented or made it difficult for the bigger boats to cross the bar to berth safety at Mooloolaba Yacht Club, with most of them having to double back to Brisbane.

This issue has affected race entries so we have sought an alternative. The first race of the CYCA's Blue Water Point score in July will now be the Sydney Mooloolaba leg of the 914 nautical mile Sydney Mackay Yacht Race.

Some of the fleet will go through the gate at Mooloolaba and finish their racing there while the remaining yachts entered in the Sydney Mackay Yacht Race will have a short stop-over of probably half an hour, to change crew and re-provision before continuing onto Mackay.

When: The starting date of the combined Sydney Mooloolaba and Sydney Mackay yacht races will be Saturday 29 July 2006.

Visit the CYCAs website for more details http://www.cyca.com.au/

Inaugural 2006 Port Vila to Mackay Yacht Race - Monohulls only

When: Will begin in Port Vila at 1100 Hours Local Vanuatu Time on Tuesday 1st August 2006.

Where: The course will be from the start off Port Vila leaving Swain Reefs Light to Starboard, thence to the finish at Mackay, a distance of approximately 1150 nautical miles.

This race follows the 1850 nautical mile Melbourne to Vanuatu race, which starts on July 4th 2006. The two races are being billed as a Boomerang, delivering the fleet to the Whitsundays in time for the Hogs Breath Race Week at Airlie Beach and the Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race.

Additionally it is expected that some of the boats sailing from New Zealand for these two Whitsunday regattas, including cruising vessels keen to join the large Whitsunday cruising fleets, will sail to Port Vila to join the race to Mackay.

George Shaw from the ORCV explained: 'Many of the offshore fleet racing out of Melbourne are preparing for the 2007 Melbourne to Osaka race and they are looking for all the sea miles they can get. The South Pacific Boomerang from Melbourne to Port Vila and then to Mackay will certainly provide plenty of those.'

For more information please visit the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's website www.orcv.org.au