Magnetic Island Race Week 2007 NOR downladable now

by Magnetic Island Race Week Media on 21 May 2007 Magnetic Island Race Week 2007 starts on September 7th 2007. Magnetic Island is off Townsville on the North Queensland Coast. Go to www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au Notice of Race downloadable now.

To be sailed on the waters of Cleveland Bay off beautiful Magnetic Island, the event runs from September 7th to 11th 2007.

It is a new regatta in a new tropical location - a new adventure on the Australasian offshore scene.

Just two weeks after the Audi Race Week on Hamilton Island, Magnetic Island Race Week will have particular appeal to the owners who often leave their boats in the Whitsundays for up to a month, waiting for the more favourable winds to arrive for their trip down south.

Townsville Cruising Yacht Club Race Director Graham Donnell comments, 'While many southern sailors have enjoyed the Whitsundays on multiple occasions, further north we’ve had great sailing conditions and now we are offering a new regatta experience.'

'Most of the 200 plus boats that come north to the Whitsunday’s each winter have not ventured any further north. Magnetic Island Race Week provides both an excuse and an opportunity, to explore the glorious North Queensland Coast.

'The 120 nautical miles from Hamilton Island to Townville has great islands, great anchorages and great beaches.

'The coastal trip is almost more fun than the mid-winter regatta in the Whitsundays,’ stated Donnell.

‘We know there will be strong support from the Cairns and Mackay and Whitsunday fleets, and we expect quite a number of southern boats will venture north for a new sailing experience. We will have Denis Thompson as the Principal Race Officer and we know that Denis will as always deliver fair racing around imaginative courses.

‘A great location, good racing and it won’t be hard to do. It’s a degree or two warmer than Hamilton Island and the breezes on Cleveland Bay in September are in the 12-17 knot range, and the waters are less tide affected than down south.’

Mark Vickers from Townsville Cruising Yacht Club agrees. ‘It’s great sailing at Magnetic Island and boats that come up for the new race series should not miss an opportunity to venture even further north to the Palm Group. These are the most amazing islands with fringing coral reefs and large areas which Australian marine scientists say are the most virgin areas of the Great Barrier Reef.'

Townsville, with a population of 170,000, has grown dramatically over the last few decades. There have been major developments in the tourism sector, with an expanded range of activities available for visitors to the area. This development is never more evident than on beautiful Magnetic Island. Once a sleepy holiday home of pristine beaches and quirky village-like residential areas, the Island population has grown to more than 2,500.

Magnetic Island still maintains its glorious setting and wonderful atmosphere, but has welcomed fantastic resort style development, particularly at Nelly Bay Harbour – the home of the Magnetic Island Race Week.

Last year there were plans to run this event, however delays in completion of the Magnetic Island marina and resort facilities caused the cancellation of the event. Now everything is in place.

The Island features the brand new marina, first class resort style accommodation, great restaurants, regular shopping facilities, secluded beaches and fantastic vantage points for watching the racing.

If you would like to watch the racing, you will be able to follow the day's activities on one of the Supporter’s Craft – air-conditioned fully catered catamarans or sit ashore in the Race Week Marquee, which will offer viewing of the Harbour and the open racecourse. A fully stocked bar and catering service will operate in the Race Marquee all weekend and it will be the place to be at the end of each day’s sailing.

Each night will offer post racing presentations, followed by planned social events including a BBQ Dinner at the Magnetic International, a spectacular night on Magnetic Island and on Tuesday night, the post Race Week Closing Party at Magnetic Island Harbour. There will be both trophies and cash prizes across the divisions.

Getting around will be easy, with shuttle buses around the marina, ample docking for tender craft and buses around Magnetic Island.

A quick Sunferries trip (20 mins) takes you back to the mainland and the city of Townsville, with its top class restaurants and activities.

The Notice to Race can be downloaded from www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au Entry is online.

If you would like further information on Australia's newest regatta, please email or call one of the following Magnetic Island Race Week contacts:

TCYC Graham Donnell - gdonnell (at) ozemail.com.au
Race Week Manager Antoinette Woods Phone: 07 4721 4222 Mobile 0411 593 877 Email antoinette@challengenational.com

Principal Race Officer - Denis Thompson dthomp (at) ozemail.com.au
Media Director - Rob Kothe media (at) Tetra-Media.com +612 4977 2116

www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au