SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week a highly successful event

by SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week media on 20 Sep 2011 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week was held from 1st to 6th September 2011 with a lay day for the Cruising classes. A record 90 boats entered the regatta.

Five years ago Townsville Yacht Club sailors realised the sheltered waters around Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island would be the perfect regatta setting and so SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week was born.

Regatta Director Denis Thompson commented ‘Great racing this year. Previous years have been light but this year the tropical trade winds were well established averaging 16-20 knots with gusts up to 25 for much of the regatta.

The first two days were particularly testing and sail-maker Ian Broad said sagely ‘Tropical trades - windy one day and windier the next. A tropical Hobart really, in a tropical Bass Strait.’

SeaLink Queensland General Manager Jeff Davey was particularly pleased with the support provided by Fantasea, who sponsored the Fantasea 2011 F18 Australian Championship, held as part of SeaLink Race Week 2011. He said ‘SeaLink and Fantasea have joined together to promote this great destination and we are both looking forward to seeing national and international events at this wonderful venue.’

After a tough 12 race series the Fantasea 2011 F18 Australian Champions are Team Wildcat Australasia, Jason Waterhouse and Josh McKnight. Michael Guinea (Nacra NQ) held out Adam Beattie (Nacra No 1) for second.

19 year old Waterhouse said ‘Overall it was a great series, an absolute glamour. We concentrated on making the least number of mistakes. We sailed conservatively on the first two days in the rough conditions, then we arc'ed it up as the breeze dropped.’ Michael Guinea from the F18 Class Association said ‘an intense National series, as you’d expect with World Championship slots in play.’

IRC Racing division winner Graham Donnell's Elliott 11 Quattro from the TCYC, finished one point ahead of Leon Thomas' Farr 30 Guilty Pleasures III. Gary McCarthy's Beneteau 34.7 Brilliant Pearl from Mooloolaba Yacht Club, was third. Dockside Graham Donnell commented 'We had to fight hard to hold out Leon Thomas and his crew. I want to thank my team for a great effort all season.'

The Performance Racing winner was Groove, Belinda Cooper's Sydney 32 from Cairns. John McNamara's Farr 40 Iota was second on count back from Colin Wilson’s Never a Dull Moment.

Belinda Cooper said ‘We’re seven Twisted Sisters – all from Far North Queensland. We sailed at Airlie Beach and now at Magnetic Island – we seem to be on the pace and we work well as a team.’

Multihull winner - Malice, Mal Richardson's Nacra 36 from Port Douglas.

Cruising with Spinnaker Division 1 winner - James Finch's Warrigal from TYC.

Cruising with Spinnaker Division 2 winner - Fly N High, Gary Bruce's Ross 780 from NQCYC Bowen.

Cruising Non-Spinnaker winner Freya, Russell McLaughlin’s Catalina from TYC.

In summary, a highly successful event. ‘Be there in 2012’ says Kiama NSW skipper Colin Wilson, who took his Lyons 49 ‘Never a Dull Moment’ north for the fourth time this year.

‘Magnetic Island has brought the fun back to regattas. You can be on the start line 20 minutes after putting down your coffee cup. It’s a fantastic venue, welcoming, relaxing and very enjoyable and with all the accommodation options – you get a lot more regatta for your buck!’ SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week website