Please select your home edition
Edition
Navico AUS Zeus3S LEADERBOARD

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week- head to head with Hobart winner

by Tracey Johnstone on 26 May 2014
Guilty Pleasures VI racing in the 2014 Brisbane to Gladstone Race. Guilty Pleasures
Townsville’s Guilty Pleasures team are more than delighted that last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Race handicap winner, Victoire, will be competing in the IRC Division in this year’s SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week.

The five days of racing, from the 28th August to 2nd September 2014, will give the Townsville team the opportunity to go head to head with the fast, offshore racer, as the Guilty Pleasures VI team prepare for their assault on the 70th Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.

The team leader and skipper Leon Thomas explained; 'Magnetic Island Race Week is our backyard, home event and there has been a Guilty Pleasures sailing boat in every Race Week. Even though it is regatta style racing, there are two things we are looking forward too. One is that it fine tunes our crew and our boat handling abilities on a short course environment.

'Secondly, it gives us the chance to go head to head with last year’s Hobart winner. That will give us a gauge on how we are performing. Even though it’s not a long offshore race, it still gives us an indication of where we can make improvements to the boat to give us a better chance to compete in the Hobart.

'Being our first Hobart race we have no illusions of grandeur, but we certainly want to do the best that we can do. But, our primary goal is to compete in the race and make sure we get down to Hobart safely. Performing well would be a bonus.

'Hobart is an Everest of sailing. It’s the closest amateur sailors can get to that sort of profile in terms of offshore sailing,' he added.



Owners of the Farr 40, Thomas, navigator Joel Bruce and watch captain Greg Dorries have mapped out an extensive eight month training program leading towards the Sydney Hobart Race start on the 26th December. It started when the team lodged their application to race, the first one for a Queensland boat.

At the end of May the team will compete in the Townsville to Airlie Beach Race and then the race back to Townsville, using these two races to test their crew numbers and roles. They will then need to complete a Category 1 qualifying sail. There is also an ongoing maintenance program in place as they complete work on the boat to make it offshore race-ready and compliant with the Category 1 safety requirements.

There is no plan for the team to compete at Hamilton Island or Airlie Beach race weeks as they keep themselves focused on their Hobart preparations. However, they will be on the start line for the SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week and ready to battle the short courses as hard as if they were competing in one of their long offshore races. 'We are looking forward to it,' Thomas said.

The Notice of Race and the online entry for the nine divisions is at www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au. Entries close Friday 22nd August 2014.

Magnetic Island Race Week is hosted by Townsville Yacht Club. Sponsored by SeaLink. Supported by Magnetic Island Marina, Tourism and Events Queensland, Yachting Queensland, Townsville Enterprise.

Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignZhik 2024 DecemberSwitch One Design

Related Articles

Admiral's Cup 2025 | Welcome from Cowes
Bow Caddy Media provide an introduction and interview with Shane Guanaria from Zen Ahead of the first race, Crosbie Lorimer provides an introduction and interviews Shane Guanaria from Zen
Posted today at 11:12 pm
Aussies hunt 'Ashes on Water' win
The BONDS Flying Roos are looking to bounce back with a vengeance in Portsmouth Fresh off a bruising weekend in New York, the BONDS Flying Roos are looking to bounce back with a vengeance as they take on long time rivals Great Britain in their home waters at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix, held in Portsmouth.
Posted today at 9:27 pm
4 Ultim rocketships to contest Rolex Fastnet Race
The giant 32m long by 23m wide flying trimarans are taking part in the 100th anniversary edition While the 50ft flying catamarans competing at SailGP Portsmouth this weekend will be impressive, charging out of the opposite western end of the Solent will be giant 32m long by 23m wide flying Ultim trimarans taking part in the 100th anniversary edition.
Posted today at 6:45 pm
SailGP comes to Portsmouth!
We speak to the sailors ahead of the weekend The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth takes place this weekend, with the 12 teams competing in F50 catamarans close to the waterfront, where a massive grandstand has been built for the spectators.
Posted today at 5:41 pm
SailGP: No practice racing at Portsmouth
The Practice Race was a fizzer, however the future of the SailGP fleet development was revealed. The scheduled Practice Day failed to fire at SailGP Portsmouth, after the forecast, admittedly light, breeze failed to male an appearance. The self propelled start marks were making a much better speed than the F50s.
Posted today at 4:14 pm
McIntyre Mini Globe Race Leg 3 Preview
The race to South Africa starts from Vuda Marina Fiji on 26th July In a world-first sailing challenge, 15 solo sailors from eight countries are navigating identical 5.8-meter (19-foot) self-built plywood yachts around the globe— The fleet has enjoyed a five week stopover in Fiji at the end of Leg 2.
Posted today at 1:26 pm
Third time Finn World No.1 for Alessandro Marega
Maintaining the top spot in the Finn World Ranking List Italy's Alessandro Marega maintains the top spot in the Finn World Ranking List for the third consecutive release. He remains World No. 1 with an 80-point lead over France's Laurent Hay.
Posted today at 1:18 pm
World Sailing Nations Cup to make grand return
After a seven-year hiatus, World Sailing has officially opened the bid process for host cities After a seven-year hiatus, the World Sailing Nations Cup, the ultimate event to crown the world's top match-racing nations, is making its much-anticipated return.
Posted today at 9:08 am
J/99s the in Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race
There will be a race within a race taking place in the 63 yacht fleet When the fleet of 63 yachts set off in the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast (NSGCYR) on 26 July, there will be a race within a race taking place.
Posted today at 6:53 am
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth Day 2
A classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and drizzle The second day of the WASZP Pre-Games served up a classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and with a hug of fresh drizzle.
Posted today at 5:25 am