Sail Townsville adds new dimension to Queensland regatta

by Jeni Bone on 17 Mar 2013 The inaugural 2013 Sail Townsville festival, 24 August to 3 September, is aimed squarely at promoting the lifestyle attributes and sailing assets of this idyllic North Queensland destination, with organisers teaming up with Yachting Queensland to ensure optimal scope and appeal.


Sail Townsville will launch as a 10 day International Sailing Regatta and Festival and the first of its kind to
feature on the Queensland events calendar.

The festival will be a culmination of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, ‘Townsville Alive’ a mainland Community, Arts and Entertainment Festival and a Yachting Queensland Multi-Class Regatta.

Working to deliver Sail Townsville are key players, Tourism and Events Queensland, Yachting Queensland, SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week committee and the Townsville City Council.

Paul Victory, General Manager, Sealink Queensland describes the event as 'a showcase for North Queensland and its unique sailing opportunities'.

'Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week, a partnership with Townsville Yacht Club, now in its seventh year, has grown every year to be well known as the 'North Queensland regatta'- a relaxed and fun regatta at the end of the sailing season.

'This is a marketing-driven event that will show Townsville and its lifestyle, sailing grounds, exceptional location close to the Great Barrier Reef to visitors from around Australia and around the world. At that time of year, we have the trade winds and glorious weather - just perfect for sailing.'

Yachting Queensland President, Ken Hurling says Sail Townsville's impact on local and Australian sailing will be 'monumental'.

It will provide a massive boost to sailing as a sport in one of the world’s most pristine environments for on-water competition,' he says. 'To have a pinnacle championship event combined with mass promoted participation opportunities is unique and something not achievable without the support Sail Townsville aims to generate.'

There is potential for other classes of yachts, continues Victory, 'which will add more diversity, broader appeal, colour and interest'.

In partnership with Yachting Queensland, the event intends to bid for World Championship Sailing events, including Olympic Class World and National Championships.

Sail Townsville and the associated festivals will enable businesses like SeaLink to market the region as a premier Australian tourist destination.

'SeaLink is a national marine transport and tourism company, a destination marketing company spending $5m per annum on marketing Australian Tourism destinations. Townsville and Magnetic Island are a big part of this,' says Victory.

The Sail Townsville team is currently working on securing major entertainment acts and social calendar for the event, as well as working with the locally based Australian Defence Forces on some aspects of the program.

Sail Townsville will run in Townsville and Magnetic Island from 24 August to 3 September. Information about the event can be initially sourced from Event Manager, ProExposure Australia, or via www.MagneticIslandRaceWeek.com.au and eventually, SailTownsville.com.