Hamilton pioneers launch Port Hinchinbrook Regatta

by Rob Kothe on 15 Jun 2007 Port Hinchinbrook Yacht Club has announced the inaugural Port Hinchinbrook Regatta of the North, which will be raced on the waters of the Coral Sea between 28th August and 3rd September 2007.

The first race in the series will start in Dent Passage, at Hamilton Island on August 28th and will race 245 nautical miles north to Port Hinchinbrook. The second race is the Port Hinchinbrook - Brook Island Race to be run on Saturday 1st September and the third race in the series, the Port Hinchinbrook- Purtaboi Island Race will run on Monday 3rd September. The event will be sailed and handicapped in the following classes - IRC, Performance and Cruising.

While this series is a brand new North Queensland Regatta, for Port Hinchinbrook Resort developer Keith Williams, it is familiar ground.

In the 1980's Williams began developing Hamilton Island as a tourist resort in the early 1980's. The charter yacht industry was burgeoning over on the mainland and a Melbourne sailor Dave Hutchen; one of the founders of Club Marine, was operating Banjo Paterson as a charter boat out of Airlie Beach. Hutchens teamed up with an equally keen Williams and launched the first ever Hamilton Island Yachting Regatta, in Easter of 2004.

Williams stated this week 'Dave and I are looking forward to doing this all over again. Dave will be the first Commodore of Port Hinchinbrook Yacht Club and we are anticipating our Regatta will become a major event on the Australian yachting scene.'

Williams is passionate about the beautiful waters surrounding Port Hinchinbrook. 'It's wonderful sailing round Hinchinbrook Island and further north. We have been keen to start a major regatta at Port Hinchinbrook and as the breakwater is now finished and the dredging will be complete this week, we are pleased to announce our first regatta for reasonable depth yachts – 2 metres M.L.W.S.T. (Mean Low Water Spring Tide). With a big tidal range deep drafted yachts are able to get in and out of the marina quite easily.

'My favourite part of the Queensland Coast has always been from Hamilton up past Hayman Island, and from Magnetic Island north through the Palm Group to Hinchinbrook, so we are looking forward very much to the first race. '

Regatta Director Denis Thompson commented, 'The long race is going to be a great course. With south east trades, it should be another great race like to Pittwater to Coffs Harbour and the Brisbane to Gladstone Races. At Port Hinchinbrook, the fleet will be joined by more boats from Townsville and Cairns for some excellent Island Passage races.'

After this regatta, Magnetic Island Race Week will offer more first class racing from Friday 7th to Tuesday 11th September 2007.

The Notice of Race and Entry forms for the Port Hinchinbrook Regatta are available now at www.PortHinchinbrookRegatta.com

Contacts:

Regatta Director, Denis Thompson Phone: 0417 686 640 or Email: dthomp@ozemail.com.au

Port Hinchinbrook Regatta Admin Office Phone (07) 5591 3606 Email: regatta@porthinchinbrook.com.au

Media Director, Rob Kothe Phone +612 49772116 mobile 0418 441359 Email: media@sail-world.com

Port Hinchinbrook Resort is ideally located 500 meters South of Cardwell, halfway between Townsville (165km) and Cairns (185km) in North Queensland. With a world class Marina adjacent to Hinchinbrook Island and Channel and less than an hours cruise to the Great Barrier Reef!

The entrance to Port Hinchinbrook is on the Bruce Highway for very convenient access by car or bus.

For those who prefer the train the Queensland Rail train station in Cardwell is less than 2km from Port Hinchinbrook

Port Hinchinbrook - Gateway to the Hinchinbrook Experience!

Individual luxury cabins are set amongst lush tropical surroundings while offering the usual comforts you would find in a quality resort room. Several styles of accommodation all offer you a comfortable base from which to experience a Hinchinbrook Island adventure, a Cruise in the Hinchinbrook Channel, or a day at the Great Barrier Reef.

Resort facilities offer guests swimming in the pool, floodlit tennis, biking, fishing and diving charters, boat hire, and the wonders of Mother Nature on land and on sea. There is a choice of sea and land based tour options for exploring the many spectacular Natural sights of this region.

Waterfront Marina Restaurant open every day

Hinchinbrook Island Day Tours from the on-site Marina

Cruises to the world renowned Hinchinbrook Island and Hinchinbrook Channel

Great Barrier Reef snorkeling, dive & fishing tours.

Proximity to Rainforest walking trails, waterfalls & fresh water swimming holes

Part of the Great Tropical Drive, at www.greattropicaldrive.com.au look for coastal drive loop the 'Great Green Way'

Port Hinchinbrook Resort Accommodation Richard Blanchette Phone 1-800 220 077 Email: resort@porthinchinbrook.com.au