Hahn Premium - Hamilton Island Race Week boats for charter

by Steve Danne on 10 May 2002 The brochure boasts 'If the scenery doesn't take your breath away. The world class sailing will.' I'm reading it, I've been there….. I agree.

After seven consecutive 'Hamilton Island Race Weeks' what else can you do but agree. This idyllic holiday island, situated in the heart of the Whitsundays with its tropical weather, blue waters, dramatic tides , steady winds and best of all, bulk Bundy is once again the place to be at the end of August.

The last time I contributed an article, our little band of off the beach cat sailors, or 'catamorons' as we have now been affectionately dubbed by various tacticians, bowmen and trimmers alike, had just taken delivery of 'Into The Mystic' a Sydney 38. We were at the bottom of the learning curve with the summit out of sight. We were keen to learn, we would learn and we would start winning.

Well a lot has changed since December 2000. The reality of 'big boat' racing has hit home. We are a lot wiser but just as cocky. We have sailed 'Into The Mystic' from Melbourne to Hamilton Island and back again. We have contested Race Week, we have sailed in the Victorian State Titles and we have competed twice at the 'Bundaberg Rum' Festival of Sail. We haven't won yet, but we are getting closer and improving every time we race.

I can't recall if I relayed this story to you last time but it sticks in my head…. Our first real big boat regatta was the 'Bundaberg Rum' Festival of Sail in January 2001. We were soundly beaten by John Savage and Lou Abrahams in the windward and return races around the cans on the Thursday, but on the Friday, the passage race from Williamstown to Geelong we exceeded our wildest expectations and beat them both across the line. We were ecstatic. Our first regatta and we had beaten these legends of sailing. We tied up at the dock and started cleaning up the boat just as Lou brought his boat alongside and rafted up to us. My words of wisdom to the crew were 'humble in victory … humble in defeat!'. They all agreed so I congratulated Lou on a good race and we went on cleaning the boat. I guess we were into our 2nd can of Bundy or maybe it was our 3rd when our bowman, my mate 'Brownie', who is not renowned for his shy and retiring nature, stood up, looked over at Lou and shouted at the top of his voice - 'we kicked your arse…'

Well, you guessed it, we didn't win another race during that regatta, but we did get close. 'Rooster one day, Feather duster the next'. That's what sailing in one design Sydney 38s is all about.

We know 'Into The Mystic' can do it - she won the Quinns Port Lincoln Regatta in South Australia in January this year. Unfortunately we weren't on board, but Kym Clark, who chartered the boat for the week, proved that our Quantum sails were equal to the task.

We entrusted the management of our pride and joy to Sunsail Australia who have a Whitsundays base on Hamilton Island. They are developing a fleet of S38s specifically for sailing school, special events & corporate sailing regatta. The boats are managed by dedicated skippers and crew who ensure they are kept in racing trim all year round.

Sunsail has also just launched the new Hamilton Island Sydney 38s Special Events Calendar, which will see this state-of-the-art fleet let loose in a series of professional regattas in late 2002 and 2003, with a comprehensive package of accommodation, flights and entertainment to make the off-water activities just as great as the sailing.

The only downside to placing your yacht in the Sunsail fleet is you occasionally have to share it with legitimate charter clients! However we have first right of refusal at Race Week, unlimited standby use as well as the option to redeem our Owner's Use at any of the Sunsail Worldwide bases, and…. the boat is in Sydney for the months of November and December and in Melbourne for the months of January, February and March.

This year we have decided to mix it with the fleet at the Sydney 38 National Titles at Airlie Beach. The Hogs Breath Regatta is held the week immediately preceding Hahn Premium Race Week on Hamilton Island and the competition is hot…hot...hot. This means that we cannot use our Sunsail yacht for Hahn Premium Race Week and it opens up an opportunity for another group of sailors to charter the yacht and experience the exhilaration that a Sydney 38 delivers.

If anyone is interested they can call me on 03 9876 9748 or Kellie Cornwell at Sunsail on 07 4948 9505 or email kelliec@sunsail.com.au