Please select your home edition
Edition
Exposure Marine

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week Day 4: Breeze picks up and spirits lift

by Di Pearson, SMIRW Media 5 Sep 2023 08:30 UTC 31 August - 6 September 2023

Breeze picks up and spirits lift

Another hard one for Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson and his team at 2023 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW), as light fluky airs necessitated three course changes from Around the Island to a race to White Rock and a further change to a course taking in Picnic Bay, Middle Reef and Cleveland Bay, for Lowes Petroleum Race Day.

Townsville Yacht Club's (TYC) annual event has been plagued by light airs since it started last Friday, but Thompson has managed to get races in each and every day, a credit to him and his experienced team. Those participating are happy just to be able to race. The beautiful surrounds and the ease of Peppers Blue on Blue, it's restaurant and marina, only add to the allure of SMIRW. However, most would dearly love more breeze.

The bulk of the fleet started in a 5 knot breeze and it died in places thereafter. However, further down the track, the speed dial hit 8 and then 10 knots, pushing and pulling the yachts, multihulls and sports boats along nicely - spinnakers billowing in the fresher breeze - the bay a mass of colour.

Division 2

Stephen Green and David Pinches' J122, Joint Venture (Qld), won Division 2 from Laurie McAllister's Beneteau First 45, Z7 (NSW). It was on all day. It means Joint Venture now leads the series by one point from Z7, with a day of racing remaining.

"It's all riding on tomorrow," Green conceded at Peppers Race Headquarters this afternoon.

Talking about today's weather, Green said, "The pressure came in, but it depends where you were in the bay. It maintained for us. It was a nice sail, provided you picked the shifts. It got down to 3 knots in a couple of spots. Mostly it was 7 to 10 knots.

"Everyone on board (seven of them) enjoyed it. It's a very competitive division - we found the clear air and got away well and kept going. It all."

Green was not exaggerating. Half the division left the start line at the same time, bang on time.

Non-Spinnaker

An ex-local boat, the Beneteau Oceanis 45 Champagne, won Non-Spinnaker Division today. Now owned by Chris Haskard and David Elliott from NSW, they beat Glenn Myler's Thylacine One, a Beneteau Oceanis 43 from Tasmania. The two were over three minutes apart when the handicaps were put in place. Joe Niven's Beneteau Oceanis 34 Daylight was third.

Sports Boats

Scott Creedon's Mustard Cutter had the goods today. The Thompson 750 from Tasmania arrived here after competing at Airlie Beach Race Week where he finished second in division at the Trailable Yachts & Sports Boats Qld Championship. Fellow Tassie, Andrew Jones' Thompson 8, Cutting Edge (Tas), was second. Series leader and local boat, Bambalam, Justin Van Stomm's VX One was third.

Van Stomm leads the series on countback to Stephen O'Rourke's M24 Panther (NSW). There are others in the picture; Burke Melia's No Mercy (NSW) and Cutting Edge are just one and two points respectively behind, so all hinges on tomorrow's final race.

"Win or lose time tomorrow," Van Stomm admitted.

On how they have kept on top, he said with a smile: "Diabolical cunning, old age and treachery and a sprinkle of local knowledge. Actually, we've been working hard. And the handicapper has stayed kind.

"We are the smallest boat in the division. We keep pushing and chasing the big boats down in front of us. Some of the best sailors on the planet are here, so we feel humbled. Tonight I'm going to eat, sleep and have another crack at it tomorrow," the local boat broker ended.

Tonight's entertainment is Tess Latu on the deck at Peppers Race Headquarters from 6pm.

The final race at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week will be held tomorrow 11am - weather permitting - and will decide the outcome across the seven divisions.

For all information including results, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au.

Related Articles

The new Y6
Intuitive solo sailing redefined We proudly announces the creation of the Y6, a groundbreaking model designed for effortless, intuitive solo sailing. Posted on 9 May
Race For Water first stop in Marseille
Campaign to raise awareness of the importance of ocean preservation First stop in Marseille for the Mediterranean campaign of the Ocean and Climate Odyssey, organized by Race For Water, aiming to raise awareness among the general public, schoolchildren, and businesses about the importance of ocean preservation. Posted on 8 May
SW108 Kiboko 4 wins Sailing Superyacht of the Year
At the 20th edition of the Boat International World Superyacht Awards Southern Wind Australia and New Zealand is thrilled to announce that the SW108 Kiboko 4has been awarded both the "Sailing Yacht" category win and the prestigious title of "Sailing Yacht of the Year" at the Boat International World Superyacht Awards. Posted on 8 May
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Lite Jacket
Will it become your new favourite jacket? We all have that one favourite jacket, which no matter what the weather or where you're going, it's the one you pick out above everything else. The new Dynamic Lite Jacket from Henri-Lloyd is set to become the new fave jacket. Posted on 8 May
Bulwarks and Bulldust – new Vodcast Show launches
Join us as we pan for the gold dust, whilst sifting out the bulldust. Bulwarks and Bulldust looks at the serious subjects from inside the world of boating, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. The show covers off everything from Off The Beach to Superyachts, Powerboats to Ocean Racing, and the marine industry itself Posted on 6 May
Team Malizia Sets Sail On A New Mission
With Their Malizia Explorer Research Vessel Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia is upscaling their climate research efforts with a new sailboat, Malizia Explorer, dedicated to science, communication and outreach. Posted on 6 May
USCG proposes changes to aids to navigation
Proposing to discontinue some buoys in the Northeast The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking public input on proposed aids to navigation (AtoN) changes in the northeast, April 30, 2025. Posted on 6 May
Yachts For Sale at Ancasta
Plus Boat Shows This Month Visit Ancasta at this year's South Coast Boat Show at Ocean Village, Southampton, where we'll be showcasing the finest models from Lagoon Catamarans, Prestige Motor Yachts, and Beneteau Power & Sail. Posted on 5 May
Explore The Remarkable Cure 55
Join Cure Marine co-founder Dave Biggar for an exclusive walkthrough Since her launch, the Cure 55 has been turning heads and earning widespread praise. Sailors have been impressed by her balanced feel, sharp responsiveness, and exhilarating performance - reaching over 21 knots SOG in just 17 knots of breeze. Posted on 3 May
Hyde Sails Job Vacancies
Yacht Sales Representative and Sales & Marketing Assistant required Hyde Sails are pleased to be hiring for two positions based in our Hamble Sales Office. Established in 1964, Hyde Sails manufacture around 40,000 sails per year from our modern factory in the far east. Posted on 2 May
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeExposure MarineCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER