Record field for Southern 80

by Bob Wonders on 14 Jan 2010 The 2010 Club Marine Southern 80, one of Australia's premiere' ski racing events, has attracted a record 614 boat field for the February event staged on the Murray River.

Last year, the event was severely hampered by the disastrous bushfires which caused so much loss of life and damage across Victoria, but although the recent weather has brought above average temperatures, so far the bushfire menace has stayed away.

Organisers expect competitors from all Australian states with others making the trip ‘across the ditch' from New Zealand and some crossing an even larger ditch making the trip out from the United Kingdom.


The action begins on Friday morning (February 12) with the Cantech Engineering-sponsored ‘Breakfast with the Stars' being held at a new venue, the Moama Soundshell, on Cobb Highway, Moama.

Scrutineering and competitor briefing gets underway from 12 noon at the Moama Water Sports Club (MWSC).

The official launch night, sponsored by Quest Apartments, kicks off at 7.30pm, at the Corporate Area of the Victoria Park Boat Ramp, with tickets available from the MWSC.

A spectacular static display of the competing boats, sponsored by Total Tools will be staged from 9am to 12 noon, allowing spectators to view the boats up close and take in their fabulous paint work.

Social classes will be on the river during the static display, starting from the Torrumbarry Weir and competing over the 80 kilometre run to the Victoria Park Boat Ramp.

One hundred social boats have entered and will leave the start area one minute apart as they do battle along the river, which is closed to all other boats between the weir and the boat ramp.

In the afternoon, the start line moved to the Five Mile Reserve, just outside Moama for the shorter course competitions, among them Veterans, Tadpoles, Senior Social, Disabled, 70mph Social and 60mph Social.

Youngest competitor is Carter Robertson, just eight-years-old.

Racing concludes for the Saturday with the Bakers Blitz and the President's Invitational, comprising the top 40 boats which will be racing for their pole positions for the top class racing on the Sunday.

Spectators have been catered for, with entertainment from the Victorian Water Ski Association ski show and some sprint boat racing, sponsored by McDonalds, being staged while the course is being cleared during breaks in racing.

Sunday racing begins at 8.30am with the age classes first away, estimated to number about 110 boats leaving at 30 second intervals.

The ‘big guns', the top echelon of Australian ski racing, fire their engines at 12 noon for the departure from Torrumbarry Weir.

Super Class will leave in the order of their pole positions, followed by the remaining 200 boats and crews, including the 25 starters from Saturday's President's Invitational.

The Victoria Park area is the best place to catch all the action; full catering services are available and there'll be sponsor displays to visit and a big screen to capture all the racing.

Entry charges are $20 for a day pass and $30 for a weekend pass, with children under 13-years admitted free.

For further information visit the website www.southern80.com.au