Mooloolaba Etchells Winters - Will this be the year history is made?

by Mooloolaba Etchells Winter Championship media on 30 Apr 2013 Entries have started to flow in for the 17th Mooloolaba Etchells Winters Australasian Championship, June 6-9th 2013.

Entries are open with eight teams already registering (some of these have not yet hit the website list) with two Etchells Winter winners already aiming to make history, both the 2012 Etchells World Champion Tom King (2011 Winter Champion) and last years winter winner Matthew Chew (part of Jason Muirs 2009 World Champion team) being the first of many expected to enter this year.

In 16 years of the Etchells Australasian Winter Championship there have been 16 winners - a prestigious list - Dave Rose (1997), Russell Coutts (1998), Ian Johnston (1999), Julian Plante (2000), Michael Coxon (2001), Mark Bradford (2002), Cameron Appleton (2003), Grant Wharington (2004), Rob Brown (2005), Cameron Miles (2006), Skip Lissiman (2007), Graeme Taylor (2008), Damien King (2009), Alastair Gair (2010),Tom King (2011) and Matthew Chew (2012).

Will the list continue to expand in 2013, with a 17th winner, rather than a previous champion taking a second title?

Mooloolaba Etchells Fleet Captain Trevor Martin thinks so. 'It seems the combination of very strong fleets and a wide variation in conditions means this is a tough nut to crack. '

Hong Kong sailor Mark Thornburrow, last years runner-up is one of many of the expected 50 or so skippers keen so see yet another new champion emerge come June 9th 2013. `Racing in Mooloolaba is always very competitive and we are keen to have another good crack at the title again this year ' he commented.

The Notice of Race is Here

Its time to enter online now, click Here

Etchells World titles are sailed in different venues around the world, the fact that the Asia-Pacific Etchells fleets are returning to Mooloolaba for its 17th Winter Championships speaks volumes for the venue.

Mooloolaba is an immensely popular sailor’s destination. The boat park and launching crane in Parkyn Parade is conveniently situated. The Marina is an easy sail from the offshore race course and the social venue, the Wharf Tavern is a short stroll away. Mooloolaba has plenty of competitively priced accommodation and there are lots of family entertainment options.