Nautilus Marine Insurance's support of North Queensland sailing regattas continues with 2023 SMIRW
by Nautilus Marine Insurance 1 Sep 2023 16:56 AEST
Never fails to impress - Hamilton Island Race Week © Salty Dingo
"Beautiful sunshine, blue water, great competition, and a great vibe... if racing in North Queensland is not on your bucket list, it should be!" - Sam Newton, Australian SailGP Team member.
Hot on the heels of a successful Hamilton Island Race Week, the focus moves north for Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week, with racing commencing today. This is the 16th running of the annual event, which offers first class racing and onshore events until 6th September.
Nautilus Marine Insurance continues to be a proud partner of both Hamilton Island Race Week and Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week, with team members on hand at both events enjoying the racing and engaging with competitors.
The regattas are a popular way to escape the cold weather with sailors coming from all over the world to compete. Australian sailor Sam Newton, whose career highlights include multiple 18ft Skiff World Championships, victory in the America's Cup and now being part of the Australian SailGP Team (who are the three times defending champions of SailGP), has competed in Hamilton Island Race Week over a dozen times. "This year I was part of the crew on Andoo Comanche. We were racing head-to-head with fellow 100-footer Hamilton Island Wild Oats XI and the competition was fierce, especially since I used to race with them!"
Nautilus Marine Insurance is also a proud partner of Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney, and the appeal of North Queensland racing shows with a lot of the club's members making the trip up to compete. Middle Harbour Yacht Club Commodore Rob Aldis took second place on the podium at Hamilton Island Race Week with his Azuree 46 Kayimai and echoed a lot of the sentiments about how well-run Hamilton Island Race Week is.
"It is always a good balance between excellent conditions and great competition. This year we had a mix of 10-15 knot days, and then some with over 20 knots. Perfect." Kayimai is now competing at Magnetic Island Race Week.
Another Middle Harbour Yacht Club boat taking part in both events is Ça va crewed by Peter Lewis and a group of co-owners and friends. "Denis Thompson, the Race Director of Hamilton Island Race Week, has been telling me for 15 years I should do Magnetic Island Race Week after the Hamilton Island event, I thought I had better take his advice!" Peter said.
Lyndon Turner, CEO of Nautilus Marine Insurance, encourages all who can to enjoy the North Queensland regattas. "The whole experience is a positive one. Racing, cruising, and gathering with friends or family. It is great to see so many with the same passion for boating that the Nautilus Marine Insurance team have. Make sure we see you there next year!"
For more information visit www.nautilusinsurance.com.au.