Seventh Heaven in 2012! 24 Hour Heaven Can Wait race's seventh year

by HCW Media on 23 Feb 2012 The seventh Heaven Can Wait 24 hour charity yacht race is on again this year, to be held on the September-October long weekend around the waters of Lake Macquarie north of Sydney.

Run in conjunction with the Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto, the 2012 Heaven Can Wait race will be held on September 29-30, commencing at 11 am.

As in past years, it raises funds for men's cancer research and support programs, with all monies raised through entries going to the Cancer Council of NSW, plus an amount to Marine Rescue NSW.

Over the past two years, the race has raised over $75,000 for these causes.

The Preliminary Notice of Race for the event has been issued, and can be viewed at www.heavencanwait.com.au.

'We are urging previous particants to tell their crew, family, friends and colleagues, as well as fellow yacht owners about this event,' said Shaun Lewicki, Commodore of the Heaven Can Wait Yacht Club, and who is also a cancer survivor and Lake Macquarie sailor.

'We will publish the full Notice of Race in the next few months, and aim to have online entries open before the end of the financial year, so that those who may wish to make donations in the 2011-12 financial year are able to do so.'

He said there has also been some very encouraging news on the Swansea Channel, which joins Lake Macquarie to the ocean, and has become increasingly silted up in recent years.

'The NSW Department of Primary Industries, which is responsible for dredging and maintaining the channel, and the Boat Owners Association recently put out a joint press release (http://www.boaters.org.au/Documents/Articles/Swansea%20Channel%20Update%20122011.pdf) promising action during 2012 for a permanent solution.

'A dredging operation for the summer of 2011-12 is currently underway, and all indications are that there will be no issues for boats with drafts up to at least 2.5 m accessing the lake,' he said.

'The Heaven Can Wait organising committee has offered its full support to the BOA in pushing for a long-term solution to the channel problem.'

Lewicki said the HCW YC is also encouraging participants and supporters to join the club as a way of helping build the event.

'Membership, through to July 2013, is just $50, with members having the option of joining Yachting Australia through the club if they wish.

'Membership of HCW YC helps us ensure we have much-needed funds to run this event, including covering expenses such as fuel for support boats, along with lights, buoys and ground tackle, and other costs.

To join, simply go to the Heaven Can Wait website (www.heavencanwait.com.au) and click on the Join HCW YC Now button, which takes prospective members to the club's secure e-commerce site.