Count down to Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach RW

The brilliant blue waters of Pioneer Bay and the Whitsunday Passage will present a warm and challenging change when the 2008 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week fleet compete for class honours in the Double Cone-Armit Island race on Friday.

As expected the special aquatic event has attracted another high standard fleet which have travelled from distant ports to enjoy what promises to be another competitive and colourful spectacle in the land of the endless summer.

Many of the crews representing clubs from the cold climate latitudes of New Zealand and all ports south of the Tropic of Capricorn will welcome the opportunity to cast off their Ugg Boots and winter woollies to thaw out with a week of high action racing over the tactically testing Whitsunday Sailing Club courses.

The warm and brilliant blue waters of the Whitsunday Passage will present a very welcome change for many of the skippers and crews who have had limited opportunity to enjoy their sailing in recent months.

Every sailor values the opportunity to wear a Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week shirt but more importantly they have come to enjoy the tropical climate and shake off the winter blues with some high class racing.

Sydney's Middle Harbour Yacht Club skipper Geoff Pearson has returned to defend the Grand Prix IRC class championship with the Archambault A35 class sloop Arajilla.

This little pocket-rocket was expertly helmed by Sydney 2000 Soling Class Olympian Neville Wittey to be the star performer of 2007 winning the series from the match racing Cookson sloops Living Doll skippered by Michael Hiatt of Victoria and the Ray Roberts helmed New South Wales yacht Quantum Racing.

All three crews will again be the front runners but the standard of the fleet suggests the champions of 2007 will need to improve their boat speed or be seriously challenged.

Former Brisbane to Gladstone Race winners Graham Jones (Bluewater) and Bob Robertson (Cracklin Rosie) have the experience to be ranked with the class favourites.

But they too will need to produce a consistent handicap rated speed to feature in the major points.

However the recent form of Quantum Racing which outpaced strong fleets to win the Brisbane to Gladstone Race over the Easter weekend followed by an equally impressive line and handicap double in the Audi Sydney to Southport race suggests they will be the crew to beat.

Skipper Ray Roberts and his World title winning tactician Steve McConaghy will also take some value out of the opportunity to test their boat speed in the match race against Living Doll and Pussy Galore.

All three yachts are almost identical and it will take a dedicated commitment from the crews plus a superior tactical strategy to separate all three on the race course.

Interest will also focus on the battle for the Sports boat championship between several of Australia's best crews including the former Australia JOG champion Noel Leigh-Smith in Vivace.

Leigh-Smith has a respected reputation but that alone will not guarantee a series win over his rivals including former Admirals Cup skipper Bruce Tardrew in No Limits and the Bob Cowan skippered Stealthy.

For more information on Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week got to www.airliebeachraceweek.comor click here