Maxi Yacht racing mateship will be left on the dock

by Ian Grant on 30 Aug 2001 Whitsunday yacht charter industry businessmen Jim Theroux and Terry Hudson are great mates having a combined business interest in the former Global race maxi yachts The Card and British Defender.

But that friendship will be tested and almost certainly cast aside when both Theroux and Hudson become archrivals to win the line honours title in the HOT FM Great Whitsunday Fun Race over the Whitsunday Sailing Club Pioneer Bay course on Saturday.

Theroux and his traditional maxi ketch The Card are the defending title holders but that championship status is only as good as the last race and is about to be challenged by British Defender after skipper Hudson confirmed his race entry with officials today.

British Defender a recent line honours winner in Queensland's longest offshore race the Hog's Breath blue water classic sailed over 520 n/mls from Mooloolaba north to Airlie Beach has been predictably installed as The Great Whitsunday Race favourite.

But first skipper Hudson and his 24 member crew must counter the expected challenge from Jim Theroux at the helm of The Card and the big fleet representing clubs from England, America, New Zealand, Ireland and Australian states before they can accept the honour of having their yachts name engraved on the World of Yachting's most useless race prize.

'It's the honour and glory and not the pride in accepting the worthless trophy of an empty Bundaberg Rum bottle mounted on a slab of rainforest timber which makes this event the largest single one day yacht race in Australia.

'If the maxi owners were real serious about racing for the trophy alone then I doubt if the owners would even cast the mooring lines'. Said race official Jim Hayes.

However the attitude has changed with the good mates becoming rivals on the racecourse and are prepared to back their confidence with the traditional seafarers bets of Rum on the result.