Sealink Magnetic Island Race - Southerners warm up at Cape Upstart

by Tracey Johnstone on 12 Jul 2016 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week competitors don’t have to wait until they reach the island to start enjoying the 10th anniversary regatta, which runs from September 1 to 6, 2016.

They can get the party going on the shores of Cape Upstart National Park, located about 60 miles from Hamilton Island and surrounded by a dramatic vista of bushland and a long, soft white sandy beach.

After pulling up anchor at Hamilton Island or Airlie Beach, it’s a quick passage north past Gloucester Island before bearing away and drifting gently into the wide Cape Upstart bay.

There the sailors can meet up with other SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week monohull and multihull competitors.

Event organising committee chair, Mike Steel, says the club wants all race week visitors to know that going the extra distance from the Whitsunday Islands to Magnetic Island isn’t hard.

“Cape Upstart is a good anchorage in all breezes, bar a north-westerly which we don’t tend to get any of at this time of year,” Steel said.

“We want to make the competitors’ transit to Maggie even more enjoyable than usual by adding in this BBQ stop-over. We have about six TYC members there to set up and host the visiting sailors.

“I think it’s important to offer this sort of thing as a lot of our southern entries, that are first timers, don’t really know where the safe haven anchorages are,” he added.

Anchors down at Cape Upstart and then it’s time for the everyone to join in with race week hosts, Townsville Yacht Club, who after guiding visitors to the perfect anchorage, will host the mid-delivery BBQ, sponsored by Daikin Air Conditioners, on Tuesday, August 30.

“Richard Bonato from Daikin Air Conditioners has offered us his home to host the BBQ so we will have a great venue to bring people to than just the beach,” Steel said.

For those sailors who register with TYC for the halfway-point BBQ, transport to and from the beach will be provided along with BBQ steak, sausages, salads and more. The sailors just have to dig into their stores for any remaining drinks and bring them along to the beach party.

Cape Upstart is on the coast between Ayr and Bowen. The small township is only accessible from the water and is fronted by seven kilometers of pristine beach with the national park at the northern end and low-key accommodation structures at the southern end of the bay.

“There are holiday homes there ranging from tin shacks to quite up-market homes built by people mainly from the Burdekin region,” Steel explained.

The day following the BBQ it’s back to the business of sailing another day-hop north to either Townsville or straight to Magnetic Island.

If the sailors choose to stop in Townsville, TYC is offering free berthing at their marina for the night of August 31, dependent on availability. Once at the club the usual Wednesday welcome party and dinner specials will be available.

Steel reports the entry numbers for this year’s anniversary regatta are ahead of last year with all entries in with a chance to win a fabulous prize of six nights’ accommodation in a two-bedroom apartment along with breakfast for up to four people at Magnetic Island’s magnificent Peppers Blue on Blue resort.

“We expect the final rush of entries to come in the next three weeks,” Steel added.

Entry to all classes is open, click here to enter.