STARTING LINE BY KEVIN GREEN
Let the good times roll
There's plenty of action both for the active sailor and the armchair sailor around this time of the year.
Of course, an armchair was the safest place to be with the recent storms and my condolences goes out to readers who have lost boats in the storms. I've heard of several vessels suffering damage, including the beautiful Nerida that sank in Sydney Harbour. Most of us simply cowered in our houses, but not everyone could take shelter so easily, like those living aboard as my friend Bill does. So I'm glad sailors like him found a safe bed ashore to ride the weather out.
And there is plenty to wile away the time ashore with our bumper issue of Australian Yachting magazine. I hope you like our sail-only guide to the Sydney Boat Show which our special projects team put together. It lists all the sailing yachts attending the show and highlights new models, so that readers can make informed decisions, rather than having to wade through a lot of unrelated sales material. But it's our first effort so I'd welcome reader's feedback, especially those potential boat buyers, so that we can build on this for next year.
Elsewhere, there is plenty action on the water with a strong fleet anticipated for the combined Audi Sydney Gold Coast and Audi Sydney Mackay start on Saturday July 28 at 1pm on Sydney Harbour. The Mackay entrants will pass through the finish line off Southport’s Main Beach and continue on to Mackay, a total of 898 nautical miles from Sydney. An interesting duel is expected between Graeme Wood's TP52 that did well in the last Hobart and the newly arrived TP52 of Bob Steel, who has moved up from the Nelson/Marek 46 Quest: “As far as the way the rules are going, I figured this was a responsible investment,” Steel told the CYCA. “The size is about right for me and I wanted to go a bit faster… I think this boat will accommodate that need.” Another one to watch is the first Pogo 40 to arrive from Europe, CYCA director Rod Skellet’s Krakatoa II, that will be heading north toward the warm Queensland waters.
Queensland is, of course, the place to be with what promises to be a bumper Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. And as usual we have put together our annual program covering the event, our ninth in support of Race Week. Taking a nostalgic look back over those past programs, a few lines caught my eye, including a picture of a smallish cruiser racer under spinnaker in Dent Passage captioned: "Enjoying the natural beauty of the Whitsundays." Something taken for granted but good to remember when we all rock up there in August. Personally, it's a privilege to be involved in Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - from my early days as a sailor and freelance journalist to now editing this auspicious program. Having started the program way back in 1999, supporting our most prestigious regatta is a major priority for Australian Yachting magazine. But being able to continue supporting it has been helped greatly by all those who have contributed to the program - writers, fellows sailors, our publisher and our advertisers; the latter who continue to put faith in us with their hard cash. So, let the good times roll and I'll see you all on the start line, and no doubt at the bar during Audi Hamilton Island Race week.
