Whitsunday Fun Race - Merit takes line honours

by Corrie Gardner on 19 Aug 2012 Whitsunday Sailing Club’s 35th Fun Race was held on Saturday 18th August 2012. Just when you thought the Whitsundays couldn’t get any better, after an incredibly successful Telcoinabox Airlie Beach Race Week, along came the Great Whitsunday Fun Race. With light NE 8-10 knot winds and clear blue skies, the sailing conditions were again perfect on Pioneer Bay for the near 50 yachts.

Five divisions with two classes saw popular local yacht 'Merit' take line honours for another year, ahead of 'Reignition' and 'Silent Night'. Other popular wins were 'Twister' in the 30-40ft Cruising division, 'Malice' in the Multihull Racing division and 'Oceans Apart' in the Multihull Cruising division. Gaffers and Square Riggers saw three beautiful yachts add colour to the field with 'Centurian' coming third, 'Emma Jane' second and 'Solway Lass' first in that class.

Held in conjunction with the Reef Festival, Airlie Beach was abuzz with a party mood all weekend. The pirate themed events saw reports of strange sightings of pirates and their wenches all over town. As part of the fun, skippers were expected to dress their boats and crews and pirates with long hair, swords, bandannas and eye patches were spotted on and off the water. The overall winner of both the best themed boat and best dressed crew was 'Riff Raff' with cannons blasting from all portholes. The best dressed yacht was won by 'Thylacine', a regular participant in this fun sailing event. The team trophy event was won by 'British Defender', the prettiest yacht award went to 'Tropical Dream' and the yacht from furthest away was won by 'Le Tigre' from Fremantle.

Principal Race Officer (PRO) Jim Hayes from the Whitsunday Sailing Club said, ' normally in our weekly races we can have up to about 20 yachts which is a good fleet, so to see so many yachts out on the water on Saturday was just great. It was perfect conditions and no one got their toes wet!'

The pirate crowd stormed the Sailing Club from 6pm and were entertained by live bands including 'AJ' who had everyone up dancing until the clock struck midnight. The traditional Mr Six Pack competition was hilarious with Nathan Crow from Moranbah blitzing the field of nine buff guys by strapping six empty beer cans to his chest. The competition was a bit tougher for the $500 prize money for the Miss Figurehead places with Rachael Sargent from Airlie Beach taking out first prize. Event website