Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week - Dreamagic going the distance

by Tenille De Brueys on 6 Sep 2010 Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week - Yorkeys Knob Boat Club sailor Alan Littlefield’s cruising yacht RHASearch Dreamagic relished in the fun, friendly and laid-back atmosphere of the regatta this week, before heading off on a slightly more serious sailing trip.

Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week, now in its fourth year, is held just off the coast of Townsville and is the fastest growing offshore sailing regatta in the Asia Pacific. This year a fleet of almost seventy boats enjoyed sailing the sheltered waters of Cleveland Bay and around Magnetic Island, the southern most island in the Palm Group.

Sailors from every State and Territory enjoyed the beautiful weather at this relaxed Far North Queensland regatta in the warm early spring sunshine. An increasing number of sailors are coming to this event before embarking on an adventure cruise up into Papua New Guinea and on into the Asian cruising grounds.

Cairns Yacht Club’s RHA Search Dreamagic is no exception. Alan will be participating in the Papua New Guinea’s Louisiades Rally just days after competing in Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week.

Alan said the appeal of sailing to the Louisiades Rally is the prospect of an ocean crossing and helping the underprivileged island community in Louisiades.

The crew joining Alan is a bit of a mixed bunch, consisting of an acupuncturist, ambulance officer, recruitment officer, printing company representative, and a filmmaker. However, they are all quite close. Alan said, 'friends from all over the place, Brisbane, Cairns and Sydney,' would join him on the trip.

Some of those making up the crew at Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week are first time sailors. 20-year-old German Backpacker Hannah Gauff is one of these, with only an hour of training before competing in her first Cruising with Spinnaker Division 1 race on the yacht.

'The thing with sailing is, you’re always learning, a big plus for me is watching Hannah learn to sail,' Alan said.

For more information, please go to: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au