2011 Around Australia - Better grab a slot reservation now!!

9:37 AM Sat 4 Jul 2009 GMT

'Andrew Short Marine SHOCKWAVE 5' Andrea Francolini / Audi &copy

Ten days ago West Australian Bob Williams launched the 2011 Around Australia Race and Rally with an online newsletter to Sail-World's Australian Sailing audience. Its not just a walk in the park, its a 7500 nautical mile race, a major time commitment.

Last week, Williams quoted Reverend John Flynn who started Australia's legendary Flying Doctors Service. Flynn said 'Start a good idea and nothing can stop it!'

Williams paused and added 'Mind you the logistics of 300 boats sailing around Australia might be something else!.'

Williams provided an update this afternoon 'We opened the doors for Slot Reservations on Thursday of last week and have been staggered by the responses for both the Race and Rally - still about neck and neck in event preferences at this stage.

Skandia - 2011 Around Australia Ocean Race and Rally for Cruisers Andrea Francolini&copy

'We've gone past 40 boats now from 100 foot super maxis to Transatlantic racers and the reservations just keep rolling in. Our limit of 100 participants for the Race and 200 participants for the Rally is now looking a little small.

'It's very gratifying to see such interest in the event. It's plain that the event has such national and international appeal with Event Slot Reservations coming in from England, the USA, and New Zealand already.

'I've been getting phone calls and emails from around the world since we started.'

Now Andrew Short's 80 footer Andrew Short Marine Shockwave 5 has joined Grant Wharington's 100 footer Skandia at the front of the fleet and we expect to see more big boats this week, along with 50-60 footers. There have been some interesting 38-45 footers putting their hand up already.

'Please get your Slot Reservations in as soon as possible, the news is spreading internationally now!!'

Sail-World is backing this event, as the online media partner and will be building the complete suite of online website facilities for the sailors and the online audience and the media.

This event has the potential to generate thousands of stories for television, radio, newspapers, magazines and the internet.

Bob Williams has used the power of the internet to find out what the sailing audience wanted. His 550 survey responses have allowed him to deliver an event format that has enormous appeal.

Got to www.sailaroundaustralia.com.auto read more and fill in your Slot Reservation now

by The Sail-World Team