Sail Mooloolaba Notices of Race and online entry now available

by Holly Kenny on 24 Feb 2011
Sail Mooloolaba’s Notices of Race for the dinghy and open divisions, together offering a choice of 17 different classes, are now available at www.sailmooloolaba.yachting.org.au. Entries can be lodged online up until 5pm on Wednesday, June 1st 2011.

The regatta, which takes place over the weekend of June 4-5th, marks the start of a week-long celebration of sailing that is Sail Mooloolaba. It also provides valuable practice for competitors entering the Musto Etchells Australasian Winter Championship the following weekend (June 9-12th).

Invited classes in the Dinghy Division are Optimist, Sabot, Sabre, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial, Laser Full Rig, 420, International Contender, International 505, 29er and 49er. Competition in two of the classes will be particularly challenging with the incorporation of the Queensland International Optimist Dinghy Association (QIODA) State Championship and the South East Queensland International Contender Championship.

Leading the Off the Beach Division’s on-land and on-water team is Colin Verrall. New to the sailing scene on the Sunshine Coast, Sail Mooloolaba’s most recent recruit brings with him 35 years of race management experience including several Australian and State championship events. In his 30 years at the helm of the Bay to Bay Trailable Yacht Race Verrall, who has competed at national level himself, was responsible for fleets of over 170 to 200 boats.

'I am pleased to have been invited to take on this opportunity to support dinghy sailing on the Sunshine Coast,' Verrall said today. 'Given favourable weather, a spirit of engaging competition at varying levels up to the elite, and principles of fair play, sportsmanship and acceptance of the racing rules, Sail Mooloolaba will provide a memorable event for competitors and spectators alike.'

The Open Division classes are IRC, multihull open, monohull spinnaker, monohull non-spinnaker, sports boats and Etchells. Mooloolaba Yacht Club’s Warren Myles, a respected race officer and experienced offshore competitor, will take responsibility for management of this division.

'Last year’s inaugural regatta drew some 200 competitors from around the East Coast of Australia, and early interest in 2011 indicates even greater numbers which is really encouraging for me and my volunteer team,' Myles said.

Supporting Myles on the water will be Melbourne-based national race officer Phill Collyer. Experienced in working with both big and small boats at international, national and state levels, Collyer will be a valuable asset. He has elected to stay for the duration of Sail Mooloolaba, assisting in the management of the match racing event later in the week before taking on the role of race officer for the Musto Etchells Australasian Winter Championship.

Access to Mooloolaba’s world class sailing waters has never been easier with Virgin Blue, Jet Star and Tiger Airways offering direct flight ‘specials’ to the Sunshine Coat from major Australian cities. Optimists are available for charter from Ozi-Opti http://www.theboatyard.com.au/category63_1.htm.

Competitors of all ages, and their families will receive a warm winter welcome from Sail Mooloolaba organizers. The wealth of activities available within walking distance of Mooloolaba Marina include fishing tours, jet ski and jet boat joy rides, scuba diving through the HMAS Brisbane, the multi-award winning UnderWater World, Humpback whale encounters on Steve Irwin’s Whale One as well as scores of shops and restaurants to suit any budget (see www.mooloolabatourism.com.au/activities).

Registration for both divisions will open on Friday June 3rd at 12 noon, and between 7am and 9.30am on Saturday June 4th . Racing starts on Saturday from 11.30am and on Sunday from 10am.

Sail Mooloolaba is proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd (regional tourism entity) and the Sunshine Coast Council, and Events Queensland.

For further information, please contact Holly Kenny, Media Manager, on mob: 0431 186511 (hollykenny@bigpond.com) or Tracey Johnstone, Regatta Director, on mob: 0438 644557.
Get on board for Sail Mooloolaba 2011 – www.sailmooloolaba.yachting.org.au