Magnetic Island Race Week- new faces in fleet as entries near closing

by Tracey Johnstone on 21 Jul 2014 There are fresh faces among the crowd lining up to enjoy the stunning racing in this year’s SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week being held from 28th August to 2nd September 2014.

With one month to go to the close of entries, Regatta Chairman, Paul Victory, is feeling quietly chuffed by the influx of the new boats among the building fleet. 'It’s great to see some 27 new yachts at Race Week for the first time. That’s a great sign for the growth of the regatta and the continuation of the Queensland Season of Sailing interest,' Victory said.

South Australia’s Poppy is the first visiting entrant to arrive. She is snuggly tied up at Magnetic Island Marina awaiting the start of the regatta.

'We welcome people coming up from inter-state like Poppy and the Victorian team on Biddy Hu. I look forward to welcoming them all to Magnetic Island and to Townsville,' he added.

This year’s event will be held over five days in seven class – IRC, PHS, Cruising Spinnaker, Cruising Non Spinnaker, Sports Boats, Multihull Racing and Multihull Cruising. The courses will be a mix of Cleveland Bay races, windward/leewards and the highlight, the Around the Island Race.

Entries have been, so far, strongest in the Cruising Spinnaker division while the IRC, led by NSW’s Victoire, and Performance Racing, led by Queensland’s Sprit of Mateship, divisions are slowly growing.

Victory is also keeping abreast of the list of sailors looking for a place on a competing boat. His most recent request has come from an English doctor, Oliver Trevelyan Thomas, an experienced offshore and dinghy racer. He is emigrating to Townsville and has planned his arrival perfectly. 'I have booked my flights early to attend this years’ race week before starting work at the hospital the following week,' Trevelyan Thomas wrote.

The social program for the regatta is building momentum as a whole range of fun, interactive and relaxing activities are being organised for the sailors and their supporters. Victory is recommending that before the sailors leave home they should delve into the back of their wardrobes or drop into their local retro clothing store to stock up on some dress-up items from the 70s.

'Friday night is the 70s sunset gig. Everyone has a bit of 70s in their wardrobe so we would love people to bring a bit of 70s stuff for the party on Pepper’s deck on the Friday night.

'Then on the Saturday night it’s a ship-wrecked party at Gilligan’s Bar & Café with the Gilligan’s Island theme,' Victory said. That should test a few sailors as they try to remember some of the characters from that wonderful television sitcom; Ginger, Captain Howells, Mrs Howells, The Professor, Mary Ann, The Skipper and of course, Gilligan.

For those sailors and supporters who are in denial as to their wardrobe content or just simply forget to bring along a bit of dress-up, Victory said there are a few retro shops on the island that will be able to help out.

The Notice of Race and the online entry is at www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au. Entries close Friday 22nd August 2014.