Mt Gay Mooloolaba to Airlie Race News

by Ian Grant on 10 Jul 2002 The chill factor associated with the southerly winds in the Deep South has impacted on the record number of yachts heading north to enjoy regatta racing in the warm waters of the Whitsunday Islands.

Entries for the Hog's Breath Race Week at hosted by the Whitsunday Sailing Club at Airlie Beach and the international Hahn Premium Race Week at Hamilton Island are heading for fleet records.

A fleet strong fleet including the highly competitive Sydney 38 class which will contest the 2002 Hog's Breath Australian championship are among the early entries from New Zealand, Singapore, China and Australia's leading clubs who will line up for the annual Hog's Breath Race Week before a larger fleet of 150 yachts race for the prestigious Hahn Premium Race Week class titles off Hamilton Island.

Several of these high performance ocean racing sloops will have a temporary stop over at the Mooloolaba Yacht Club's marina as they prepare to contest Queenslands longest ocean race over the Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach course.

This years race sponsored by Mt Gay Rum should prove popular with the crews as they will need to stow some of the sponsors product in the liquor locker for crew rations during the night watches in the 520 n/ml race.

It is always nice to have a splash of rum in the hot coffee to help weather the cold during the night.

No doubt all of the crews who are entered for this classic coastal race covering part of Australia's prettiest coastline will ensure they are well provisioned for the 3-4 day voyage.

Veteran Caloundra skipper Bob Robertson and his Eureka crew are one of the favourites to win the line honours trophy however an expected late entry from the Ray Robert's skippered Hollywood Boulevard has the potential to challenge for the line honours trophy.

Hollywood Boulevard launched just prior to the 2001 Sydney Hobart race is yet to realise a major place in a long distance offshore race but her skipper who has won the Sydney-Mooloolaba and Brisbane-Gladstone races with his previous yacht Australia's Challenge 2000 and Millennium believes he has the crew experience to warrant being a contender for the first to finish honour.

Both Eureka and Hollywood Boulevard are radically different in design and this contributes to an interesting duel as they are both well sailed and Robertson is determined to cap on his excellent form in recent races including winning line honours in the Brisbane to Noumea race over a longer distance.

The Eureka crew well known for their seamanship and determination to 'tough it out' in fresh winds and rough seas are hoping for a fresh South-West front to blow in which will give them the chance to set a new time for the course.

However her veteran skipper will be just as content to survive any line honours challengers and add another major trophy to his impressive list of success.

Late entries will be accepted with Mooloolaba Yacht Club officials hosting the start of Pt Cartwright on Saturday August 3rd .

Sail-World will be providing twice daily sked graphs and progressive handicap positions during the race. For more information on this years race, the NOR is available now from www.sail-world.com/qldcoaster