Sail Paradise - Cut Snake ready for action

by Bronwen Ince on 25 Jan 2014 It’s off like a 'cut snake' to Southport Yacht Club’s Sail Paradise Regatta for Brisbane multihull sailor, Rob Dean. Rob has declared that he will be taking his very competitive, 12-metre long catamaran to Sail Paradise, which will be staged off the Gold Coast from March 14 - 16.

Apart from looking forward to some great racing against a fleet comprising both multihulls and monohulls, Rob is planning to use the regatta as part of his preparation for the 50th Brisbane to Gladstone multihull race, which will start on Moreton Bay on Good Friday.

'Everything about Sail Paradise is perfect for us,' Dean said while working on his boat on the hardstand at Coomera. 'The timing is right, and the racing promises to give us everything we need as we prepare for the Brisbane to Gladstone. We’re looking forward to an exciting and satisfying regatta on the water, and back at Southport Yacht Club.'

Dean is a relative newcomer to ocean yacht racing, but he is certainly making a mark on the sport. He was very much into sailboarding until six years ago. That was when his body started telling him it was time to look elsewhere for fun under sail.

He liked the look of offshore multihull sailing, and it was the Stealth 12 design, Cut Snake, that caught his eye. He bought the yacht, then along with some of his sailboarding mates, and others, pursued what would become a new passion.

Rob has contested three Brisbane to Gladstone races with Cut Snake. Last year his efforts were fully rewarded when the yacht took handicap honours in the 308 nautical mile classic.

He’s now hoping for a similar result at Sail Paradise 2014.

Sail Paradise 2014 is open to racing and cruising monohulls, multihulls and off-the-beach sailboats.

The Notice of Race and entry form for Sail Paradise 2014 can be found on the regatta website.