Lady Elliot Island to Port
by Rob Kothe on 28 Mar 2002
Lady Elliot Island - visit the island and see sand turtles Lady Elliot Island Island
The Brisbane to Gladstone race has an interesting mark of the course,
some 80 miles from the finish.
It is the most southerly coral atoll on the Great Barrier Reef, situated
80 miles north east of Bundaberg and less than 30 miles north west of
the tip of Breaksea Spit.
Half a mile long and even less wide with fringing reef, a small resort
occupies the highest point.
It is the home for some 50,000 sea birds throughout their nesting
seasons and it is an important rookery for both the green and loggerhead
turtles, hatching from February to April.
Lady Elliot is an increasing popular dive location, with its distance
from the mainland, its unique coral attractions and visibility that
regularly exceeds 20 metres makes this one of the world’s best scuba
diving locations.
The Island has a radio tower and small landing strip, taking light
aircraft flying daily out of Hervey Bay and Bundaberg.
The VHR radio tower is being utilised by the QCYC for the 2002 Brisbane
to Gladstone race.
Drawing the short straw are race officials Don Young, QCYC committee
member and coast guard member of 18 years and another Coast guard member Joe Thompson are flying in provide additional VHF and satellite phone
support monitoring round the rock for the duration of the race.
Many of the racing crews will hardly see more than the 7.5 second
flashing white as they gybe around the Island and set course for the
Gladstone finish line in the wee hours of Easter Saturday morning, but
the sooty terns and turtles will no doubt wave as they go by.
For more information on one of the best yacht racing marks of the
course,
www.ladyelliot.com.au
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