Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week at Townsville Yacht Club - Overall

by Di Pearson, SMIRW Media 4 Sep 2019 02:24 PDT 29 August - 4 September 2019
Downwind pack drill - SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, final day © Andrea Francolini / SMIRW

Racing was delayed on the final day of Townsville Yacht Club's (TYC) SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW), as Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson and his crew waited for a five knot breeze to filter through, and Division 1 was finally away at 1305 hours.

Thompson really had his work cut out in the next to nothing and fluky breeze, forced to fly the AP ashore until midday. Arriving at the start area, the PRO finally devised three separate courses across the divisions so that everyone got a fair go.

An emotional and popular win in Division 2, as Wine-Dark Sea finally broke the second place barrier of previous years to score overall victory. Sydney owner, Peter Lowndes, was almost speechless when it registered.

"I can't believe it, because everything has been a bit of a blur," he said aboard the Lyons 49 this afternoon as the crew enjoyed a few French bubbles.

"The crew (mainly regulars) have been fantastic. Everything happened when it should. I've sailed on top boats before and those boats are quiet boats, and that's what we had all week. I'm proud of them."

Lowndes said it was "the first time we've been called a lightweight flyer," after finishing second today to win by two points from Ian Edwards' Wings (NSW), and third placed Robbo Robertson (It's Time); the Queenslander and his crew coming over to cheer on Wine-Dark Sea's crew.

It was only when Lowndes crew played today's song, appropriately Queen's 'We are the Champions', that the tears flowed as they all remembered Lowndes' partner, Sarah Goddard-Jones, who died in June. She would have loved to have been here sailing and celebrating the win. At tonight's prize giving, someone will be awarded the trophy named in her honour.

Conditions looked dodgy during the day, with spinnakers collapsing in fading breezes, but it was just a tease, and back it came. Division 1 savoured the best of the day, as one of their marks was off the Strand at Townsville where 10-15 knots awaited.

Tim Campbell sailed over the top of this morning's top three to win Division 1 from Newcastle's Mako Sunglasses (Paul O'Rourke/Adrian Kiely) which had led going into the day. Campbell, from Victoria, left his comeback until the final race, in which he finished second to Tony Ritter's Spank, crewed by Port Douglas youngsters.

"Conditions suited to us; upwind and downwind legs and no reaching," Campbell said. "We were able to sail deep downwind, which is what suits us and clinched it," he said. This is our second year here and we trail the boat all the way from Melbourne, so it's great to have a win."

"It's well organised and a fantastic atmosphere. There was good competition and we love Magnetic Island and the lay day. We'd like to see AMS included next year," Campbell finished.

Michael Unwin's Fuzzy Logic won Division 4 by a solid eight points from Rod Finucane's Fenina (Qld). "I think we just got lucky," the Brisbane sailor said. "We got faster and faster as the week went on and conditions suited us - we are small and light and the big boats couldn't get us.

"It's a brand new boat, so it was a complete unknown quantity. I was just hoping we would get through the regatta without embarrassing ourselves, so to win is really great," Unwin said.

"It's been six or seven years since I was here last, but I was here for the very first one and won on Akarana. It's been a fantastic week, unbelievably perfect weather," he ended.

Smooth Operator's owner, Charles Weatherly (Vic), used today's worst result of fifth as his drop to win the Non-Spinnaker Division, but there were just two points in it. Bill Munro's Centinela (Qld) came oh so close, but settled for second place.

Dennis Coleman discovered that father and son can be most successful when they sail together. Today they won the final race and thus climbed over the top of last year's winner, The Boat (Graeme Etherton) to win the Multihull division overall. Coleman last won here in 2017. Both boats are from Townsville, so a local win.

Eddie Mackevicius racked up a 13-point win over Craig Douglas' Popeye (NSW) and Lyndon Borgas' Effarrvescent (Qld) in Division 3. Mackevicius introduced his PR manager/cockpit crew, Peter Clark, to do the talking.

"It's always hard with handicap series, because you don't always know where you are. There are other Beneteaus here; good yardsticks, but we never know till it's over," Clark said. "Most courses didn't have any reaches and we don't reach well, so that was a bonus.

"Race Management had done a great job all week. We haven't been here before, but we've thoroughly enjoyed our first Magnetic Island Race Week. To travel all the way from Hobsons Bay (Victoria) and win, we are absolutely thrilled," Clark finished.

All good things must come to an end, and so it is with SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week for another year. It was a successful one, with record entries and a waiting list of those wanting to experience the regatta everyone is talking about.

Event Chairman, Mal Pirret, said: "Townsville Yacht Club organisers are heartened by the continuing support of competitors for our event. We had a record numbers in 2019 and look forward to similar numbers next year. I would like to thank all competitors and the volunteers who help make SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week a success each year. I also thank SeaLink and all our sponsors."

For more information and full results visit www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au.

Related Articles

Southern Wind Rendezvous overall
A Perfect Conclusion to a Perfect Event The horn sounded right on time for the fourth day of the Southern Wind Rendezvous and Trophy. Blue skies, warm sun, and 6-7 knots of breeze with gusts up to 10 knots accompanied the fleet on a 15-mile course rounding Monaci and Secca Tre Monti. Posted today at 5:54 pm
Snipe Class looking for a new Executive Director
To provide administrative and financial services to the SCIRA Board The Snipe Class International Racing Association (SCIRA) is seeking applicants for a part-time Executive Director position. This position will provide administrative and financial services to the SCIRA Board. Posted today at 1:30 pm
16th 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar concludes
Mylius 60 crossed the finish line to win the IRC Over 60 maxi class It has been a long time coming after spending much of the 2024 season finishing second and even continuing this in the recent IMA Maxi European Championship, but finally Guido Paolo Gamucci's Cippa Lippa X has won a race. Posted today at 10:07 am
5.5 Metre German Open in Warnemunde overall
Bent Christian Wilhelmsen's Otto takes the win Bent Christian Wilhelmsen's Otto (NOR 68, Lasse Berthelsen, Sam Haines, Kyle Gundersen) has won the 2025 5.5 Metre German Open in Warnemunde after only one final race was possible on Saturday in very light winds. Posted today at 9:48 am
Casa Vela Cup 2025 at St Francis Yacht Club overal
Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink Normandy team claimed a decisive victory French match racing skipper Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink Normandy team claimed a decisive victory on Saturday at the 2025 Casa Vela Cup, held in the iconic waters of San Francisco Bay and hosted by the St.Francis Yacht Club. Posted today at 7:33 am
Team Racing Worlds at Newport, RI, Day 3
Epic breeze cuts racing short; clear division between teams sets scene for final day Sunny skies met big breeze on Day 3 but by 12:30 p.m. racing was postponed, and as the wind built to 25+, the Race Committee abandoned racing at 3:00 p.m. Posted today at 12:39 am
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta overall
Southern Wind 100 Agapi Mas awarded the Willy Persico Trophy The 2025 edition of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta and the Southern Wind RendezVous concluded today with another outstanding day of racing. The event is organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of title sponsor Giorgio Armani. Posted on 31 May
11th Shenzhen Dapeng Cup Sailing Regatta
FD Future boats join the youth regatta at Seven Star Yacht Club The 2025 11th Shenzhen Dapeng Cup Sailing Regatta kicked off in Seven Star Yacht Club in Shenzhen on the 23rd till the 25th of May. FD Future boats joined the youth regatta with 11 competition groups and more than 80 youth participants. Posted on 31 May
Countdown begins for the 2025 29er Worlds
At the iconic city of Porto, Portugal The countdown is on! The 2025 29er World Championship will land in the iconic city of Porto, Portugal, with the fleet descending on Marina da Afurada - Douro Marina from 1st-8th August 2025. Posted on 31 May
Casa Vela Cup 2025 at St Francis Yacht Club Day 3
Pauline Courtois will meet Nicole Breault in the final Defending women's match racing world champion Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink Normandy Elite team from France will meet USA's Nicole Breault/ Vela Racing in the final of the 2025 Casa Vela Cup in San Francisco. Posted on 31 May
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERLloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px BOTTOMNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast