Musto Australasian Mid-Winters heading for big fleet
by Rob Kothe on 28 May 2010
Race 4 start - Musto Etchells Australian Winter Championship 2009 Sail-World.com /AUS
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Entries for the 14th annual Etchells Mooloolaba mid-winter event are running well ahead of previous numbers says Mooloolaba Etchells Fleet Captain Trevor Martin. Entries from across Australia, Asia and New Zealand are well ahead of previous years numbers, a week out from the close off date.
Etchells One design racing is both affordable and highly competitive and fleets are growing ahead of the 2012 Worlds which will be held in Sydney.
Martin believes the annual Mooloolaba offshore event assembles the largest keelboat fleet in the southern hemisphere. As he said today ‘Last year we had 54 boats and this year I think we could hit 60, but regardless it will be another great regatta.’
The first Etchells Winter Championship was conducted in Mooloolaba in 1997 and in the thirteen regattas since, there have been thirteen different winners. In this 14th year a number of the previous winners are aiming to be the first to score the double.
The winners were Dave Rose (1997), Russell Coutts (1998), Ian Johnston (1999), Julian Plante (2000), Michael Coxon (2001), Mark Bradford (2002), Cameron Appleton (2003), Grant Wharington (2004), Rob Brown (2005), Cameron Miles (2006), Skip Lissiman (2007), Graeme Taylor (2008) and Damien King (2009).
Mooloolaba Event Organiser Tracey Johnstone commented today ‘This year we are expecting another 50-60 boat fleet and the field will again be filled with some of the top names from the Asia Pacific.'
Amongst this year's fleet will be the highly regarded Kiwi skipper Alistair Gair, current Australian Etchells Champion John Bertrand and Hong Kong Champion Mark Thornburrow; all will be looking for their first ever Mooloolaba win.
Trevor Martin has two charter boats left so be quick!
More on Monday but you can enter right now. Notice of Race, entry form and online entry now
http://mooetchells.yachting.org.au/?ID=36298!NOR_&_Entry_here!now
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