Audi Etchells Queensland Championship great lineup

by Suellen Hurling on 1 Dec 2007 Former World Champion Peter McNeill and last year's World Champion runner up Alistair Gair will be arriving in Brisbane in the new few days for the Audi Etchells Queensland Championship.

McNeill was crowned World Champion when the regatta was held in Mooloolaba in 2004 and will be hoping for state success when he returns to Queensland waters.

'The rough conditions that we could be facing are exciting but my crew and I are looking forward to racing against some of the best Etchells sailors in the country. We can't wait to mix it up with the likes of Bertrand! We hope to do well and believe we are in with a chance. The Audi Etchells Queensland Championship is a great way to plan strategies for the Audi Etchells Australian Championship in January that we will definitely be back for,' said McNeill.

McNeill will be racing with his World Champion counterpart Greg Torpy as well as former 505 World Champion Dean Blatchford who is joining them for this regatta.

'I guess you could say we are a team of World Champions!' laughed McNeill.

Etchells and their crews have started to drive through the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron gates with some choosing to race on the Championship course this Saturday as part of the regular Squadron racing program.

The course will be situated east of St Helena Island.

Audi continue their relationship with the Etchells class as event sponsor of the Audi Etchells Queensland Championships 2007 as well as the Audi Etchells Australian Championships 2008. International sailing clothing supplier SLAM is the regatta clothing supplier with many national businesses supporting the events; these include Gage Roads Brewery, North Sails, Harken Equipment. Local support comes from Moreton Bay Signs, Muir Marine, Barramundi Boys Fish Café and The Globecast as webmasters.

Both events are being run in conjunction with the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. The Squadron has been noted in the past as producing many Olympic sailors as well as past Queensland and Australian Champions in the International Etchells Class.