Air Niugini Coral Sea Classic announces Radio Relay Vessel

by Peter Renner on 23 Feb 2003 TSDMY Inverness was today announced as the SHELL Radio Relay Vessel for the 2003 Air Niugini Coral Sea Classic from Cairns to Port Moresby which starts on Monday 12th May.

This 455 nautical mile trade win run is the feature race of the seven race Coral Sea Classic series. In the 2003 series A$20,000 in prizes will be awarded for speed records in this downhill dash.

Designed by Murray & Cormack Associates of Scotland, the Radio Relay Vessel is a Talisman design, which was the base design for English Channel Pilot boats from 1975-1990 and are still being produced with the last hull launched in October 2001.

At 15 metres overall she was built in Auckland in 1984 in triple skin Brazilian Mahogany by McMullan and Wing. Owned and skippered by PNG resident Mike Carter, Inverness in set up for safe and luxurious passage making with a range of 1,500 nm.

Although now content to be moved across oceans by twin 265hp diesels, Mike Carter is no stranger to sailing. Commencing his sailing career in Port Moresby in 1977, Mike went on to be a key member of the PNG team in the 1981 Southern Cross Cup, 1982 Sydney-Hobart, 1982 Sardinia Cup and the 1983 Admirals Cup.

With Mike’s sailing experience and having been a past Race Director of the Coral Sea Classic series, competitors can be assured of being in safe and competent hands.

First run in 1979, the Coral Sea Classic it is an international blue-water racing and cruising series for monohulls and multihull providing individual and team competition, organised by the Royal Papua Yacht Club, with the assistance and co-operation of the Cairns Yacht Club, Half Moon Bay Yacht Club and Townsville Motor Boat & Yacht Club.

Schedule of Events.

Race #1 * Monday 5th May Townsville Inshore (approx. 20 nm)

Race #2 * Wednesday 7th May Townsville-Cairns (approx. 180 nm)

Race #3* Saturday 10th May Cairns-Fitzroy Island-Cairns (approx. 40 nm)

Race #4 Monday 12th May Cairns-Port Moresby (approx. 455 nm)

Races #5 & 6 Friday 16th May Port Moresby Inshore x 2 (each approx. 12 nm)

Race #7 * Saturday 17th May Port Moresby Long Inshore (approx. 24 nm)

Races #1, #2, #3 & #7 will be run in conjunction with local fleet races. There may be modifications of start times.

The series will be open to monohull and multihull boats that meet AYF Special Regulations (AYFSR) requirements for a Category 2 event, as modified by PNGYA Prescriptions.

Boats with water-ballast, canting keels, or powered sail-handling devices shall be eligible to enter, subject to full details of those features being declared.

More information on the 2003 race, including the Notice of Race and Entry form is available at www.sail-world.com/coralseaclassic