Charter a yacht for Hamilton Island and Hogs Breath Race Week

by Sally Hart on 2 Jun 2002 EOS Yacht Charter is taking two boats again to The Whitsundays for Hamilton
Island Race Week and Hogs Breath Race Week. This is the 4th year running
that EOS has entered this event and this year we are very excited to be
taking a brand new X Yacht - X 442.

Last year the cruise north from Pittwater to Airlie Beach was memorable not
only for the variety of weather conditions but also the abundance of
wildlife sighted. We had daily sightings of whales and dolphins,

The most exciting being just off Terrigal when Athena passed within 20ft of a Mother and calf that had just been born. Wonderful evenings were spent in
Mooloolaba, Fraser Island, Lady Musgrave Reef to name a few.

Emergency rations of chocolate were delivered from Roslyn Bay to Middle Percy Island by the yacht Quest One just in time for a perfect spinnaker reach all the
way to Airlie beach.

These trips were crewed by people looking to gain more
sea time and experience and all achieved a greater confidence in their own
ability as well as AYF certificates.

Hogs Breath race week was a great success last year. We had fantastic winds
for the whole event. The crew did a fantastic job even though they had never
sailed together before and after a few problems with handicap we eventually
finished 2nd against some tough competition.

One of the unusual things about
the Hogs Breath regatta is the catamaran division. This is the only event I
have ever sailed in where you need to keep a look out behind as well as in
front. In one race we had a high ratio trimaran come flying on 2 hulls up
behind us, He lost control just as he reach my stern and we had to manoeuvre
quickly out of his way to avoid wearing the lower hull into our stern. As he
flew past we were soaked by the spray coming off his bow.

Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race Week was sailed in lighter winds last year. In the cruising division, with close to 80 boats in the division, the fleet was
divided into two starts. We entered Athena a Bavaria 38 in the 1st division
and Pretty Fly, a Bavaria 42 in the 2nd division. The yachts with exotic
sails starting first.

The start line was a very exciting place to be, our division had the largest yachts and we found ourselves jostling for a place on line amongst yachts over 60 ft long. At 38 ft long it felt like charging
along the freeway with pan techs each side of you all hooting and yelling.

Our tactics for the week were very simple, we needed to distract the other
teams to maintain position. We managed this very successfully with the use
of one of our female crew who dressed each day in a different coloured
bikini. At the height of tension we would hurl tons of chocolate bars to the
opposition thanks to the generous donations of another crew member who
worked for the Mars Corporation.

Due to the lighter wind conditions our racing results were not as wonderful as previous year with the first 11 places all going to yachts over 50 ft, but the social side and the friends we made left a lasting impression on both skipper and the crew. Both weeks were again crewed by people of varying sailing experience, everybody had a fantastic week both on and off the water again everybody learnt a few new tricks to try out back in their own home territory.

This year is lining up to be another great year. We are taking 'Pretty Fly'
again. Last year she managed a very credible 7th overall in the 2nd division.

This year she has a new wardrobe of racing sails and will be in the cruising
division. We are very exited to be taking a Brand new X442 'Delight' . This
beautiful yacht is also available under sailing school for charter with a
skipper and deck hand for both Hamilton and Hogs Breath Race Week. Set up
with Kevlar headsails she can be entered in either cruising or PHS division,
accommodation can be arranged ashore.

Individual places are also available on both boats for the cruises to and from the Whitsunday's following the Southport race and the Mooloolaba race. Come and join some of the crew from last year and previous years who are coming back again. AYF certificates are available on all legs of the trip. Two race-training days are scheduled before the yachts leave for Airlie so everybody will have a chance to meet the crew before hand.

For more information on individual places or to charter the boats please contact EOS yacht charter on (02) 9979 8939. 0414 364 886 or shart@rivernet.com.au