SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week draws from afar

by Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week media on 31 Mar 2013 With the Notice of Race and online entry now active, entries have started flowing and the attractions of the event is drawing sailors from afar.

Of the first five boats registering for Magnetic Island Race Week 2013, one is from Tasmania, one from Melbourne and one from Port Douglas. One of the two local boats, Wayne Millar’s 41 footer (12m) Zoe who won Magnetic Island Race Week back in 2008, will be sailing from Lord Howe Island for the 2013 Race, 1835 kilometres, a thousand nautical miles away.

At her last Gosford to Lord Howe Island Race back in 2003, Zoe won the blue water classic and now Millar and his Townsville crew are hoping they will sail north as winners again.

Crew member Wes Bailey has sailed in every one of the six Magnetic Island Race Weeks. The Townsville Yacht Club sailor commented today ‘Overall, the regatta has been great for sailing in Townsville and it seems that it’s going to be big this year.‘

‘It’s interesting that a few of the largest racing yachts are now looking at using Magnetic as a stopping off point on the way to Asia. That is very logical because we have very high quality marine services in Townsville and from here, it’s a relatively straight forward passage through the Great Barrier Reef via Magnetic Passage.‘

The second entry in the IRC Racing Class was Doug Ryan´s Beneteau 44.7 (13.4 m) Shazam (formerly Ultimate Positioning from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron on Moreton Bay, Brisbane), now racing out of Port Douglas Yacht Club.

The first entry in the very popular Cruising with Spinnaker was Robert Green´s Sandringham Yacht Club Melbourne entry, Dream - a very well-travelled 15 metre performance cruising yacht. She has cruised through the Pacific, sailed north to Airlie Beach Race Week back in 2011 and has now ventured further north.

It is a much easier passage for Townsville local, Donna Dewhurst´s 31 foot Hunter cruising Soul Sister who will be enjoying her first Magnetic Island Race Week just eight nautical miles from home.

The first entry in the Cruising Non Spinnaker division is Jacinta and Brett Coopers Beneteau 57 Mistraal, hailing from Tasmania´s Bellerive Yacht Club 3100km, almost 1700 nm south.

As Jacinta explained, ‘We are cruising north with our two children for four months. Mistraal has a furling mainsail and she weighs 25 tonnes, she is set up for cruising and she won’t be breaking any records. But we will have lots of fun.'

That they will and that is the reason that sailors are coming such long distances.

SeaLink and the Townsville Yacht Club have obviously made the Magnetic Island regatta plain old fashioned, affordable fun. It’s not rocket science. A great venue, good breezes, a strong social program, experienced regatta management, friendly locals, plenty of accommodation options and a stunning island location, close to a major regional city with good air connections.

Regatta Director Denis Thompson, considered by many to be the best in his field on the Australian scene, has been heading up the on water management team since the inaugural regatta.

‘This is a very enjoyable regatta at every level. The course area starts just outside the marina and it’s a very picturesque sailing area. It’s a wonderfully laid back event and as the last in the Northern series, it is plainly just going to keep growing.

Eligible boats shall enter online soon via the event website.
Click here for Online Entry
Click here to view NOR.
Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week website