Finally a reward for Boss Hog

by Ian Grant on 17 Aug 2007 Don Algie the founder of Airlie Beach Race Week had a special reason to celebrate the 18th Anniversary of the popular international regatta at the Abel Point Marina on Thursday night.

The proud owner skipper of the Warwick 66 Storm 2 the only skipper to race in all of the 18 regattas was finally presented with a title winner’s trophy to display in his ‘Hall of Fame’.

To many of the crews who contested the 2007 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week Don Algie was a winner well before he accepted the trophy as the Performance Cruising Class champion.

His vision and passion combined with personally backed financial support from the Hog’s Breath Company laid the foundation for this friendly regatta which has provided some of the World’s best sailors with a highly competitive and professionally managed event.

He has now handed over the helm after establishing the signature event which will continue to contribute a significant cash flow into the Airlie Beach community while also maintaining awareness in the national and international yachting community.

Sure there was a deserved sense of pride when the sun tanned veteran accepted his trophy on behalf of his Storm 2 crew including his twin brother Bob and old primary school mate Bob ‘Sir Robbo’ Robinson.

But there were also special memories about the mates he has met by simply opening the door for them to come and race in the tropical wonderland and the place he proudly calls home.

The Storm 2 crew traditionally celebrated their popular win with frosted and frothy fluid which was a deserved reward for a tiring workload on the race course before claiming a narrow one point title win over the Whitsunday Sailing Club husband and wife team of Jeff and Helen Shipsey in their Elan 37 Sunrise while the experienced Mooloolaba Yacht Club combination of Col Thomas and Nick Cox co-steered the Hanse 370 Hans On into third place.