Musto Etchells Australasian Titles - Triple Hobart Winner joins fray

by Etchells Australasian Winter Championship Media on 3 Jun 2010 The 30 foot Etchells one design sailing boat is touted as 'the Boat they sail in Heaven' and if that is the case there are a lot of 'budding angels' heading for Mooloolaba on the June Long weekend. A fleet approaching 60 boats is expected for the Musto 2010 Etchells Australasian Winter Championship, which will be sailed from June 10-14th 2010 in Mooloolaba, on Queensland's beautiful Sunshine Coast.

Amongst the would be 'angels’ is the very high profile triple Sydney to Hobart winner Mark Richards who has in recent years spent a lot of time at the helm of the some pretty heavenly boats, most notably the 100 foot supermaxi Wild Oats XI, which he has helmed to line honours victory in three Rolex Sydney to Hobart races and the smaller 66 footer Wild Oats X, but Richards has a lot of time for the little Etchells.

'I love this class. I did my first Etchells Regatta in Newport, California when I was 17.... that was a long time ago. I sailed in the 1999 Worlds on Pittwater (NSW). I sailed quite a bit over the years with John Bertrand; we won the New Zealand titles, and I have been involved in quite a few winning regattas.

'Now I am heading back into the Etchells fleet. I’ve teamed up with Gary Smith, who has sailed a lot with Ian ‘Biggles’ Johnson, and we’ve decided to do a Worlds campaign, but this is (sort of) the starting point and we will have to do some work from here onwards. Chris Jones from Mooloolaba is sailing with us in this regatta but he is not available for a Worlds campaign, so we will be looking for a bowman.

'The Musto Etchells Australasian Mid-Winter Championship is just a fantastic event. It's always a very strong, high quality fleet and I look forward to the event; it is going to be good. Sailing offshore you have a bit of fun, you get to stretch your legs a little bit and acquire some local knowledge and I think there are a lot more competitive guys at this regatta than many other events you can sail in.'

Mooloolaba Etchells Fleet Captain Trevor Martin has seen the extra interest and believes the 2012 Etchells Worlds in Sydney will grow fleets across the Asia Pacific. 'We have some top boats from New Zealand and Asia this year at the Mid Winters and we will just keep growing' he said.

Martin believes the annual Mooloolaba offshore event already assembles the largest keelboat fleet in the southern hemisphere. ‘We are up to 41 and there are a lot of entries to come in yet. This year I think we will again exceed 50, but regardless it will be another great regatta.’

And he is right. The waters off Mooloolaba beach provide ideal conditions for the fleet.

The hospitality provided by the Moolooolaba Yacht Club is exceptional and with the loyal support of its sponsors the 2010 Musto Etchells Australasian Winter Championship is certainly shaping up to be one of the best yet!

The Notice of Race, entry form and online entry are available at http://mooetchells.yachting.org.au/?ID=36298!NOR_&_Entry_here!now

The Musto Etchells Australasian Winter Championship 2010 is sponsored by Musto Australasia, Queensland Events, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Newport Apartments, The Wharf Tavern, The Wharf Mooloolaba, Sun Air Bus Services, PropertyToday.net.au, Stockland, Ullman Sails, Sail-World.com, House, Sunsport Marine and QuestPhoto.net.