Double act at Mooloolaba's Musto Etchells Winters

1:06 AM Fri 17 Apr 2009 GMT

'Double Act Wilsons doing what they do best, playing with boats' Unknown Photographer Click Here to view large photo

Identical twins and international race officers, Ross and Kevin Wilson, have been the cornerstone of Mooloolaba's annual June long-weekend Musto Etchells Australian Winter Championship since 2005.

Dividing their time between major national and international sailing events, the two Melbourne-based brothers still find time in their hectic schedule to volunteer as regatta managers for the Sunshine Coast Regatta.

The Wilsons have impressive sailing resumes having worked around the world on a range of international events. Most recently they were the only Australian race officials appointed to the sailing events for the 2008 Olympic Games. Ross was also appointed as the Principle Race Officer for the 2008 Paralympic Games.

'China was great, especially the Paralympics. The weather was kind, the people and volunteers outstanding and we all had fun,' Kevin said.

Returning to Mooloolaba for them may have something to do with the appealing Mooloolaba winter climate. 'The event is in the Melbourne winter. Mooloolaba is a great place to spend a week or more and the weather there is warm,' Kevin said. Ross agrees. 'It's one of the great events in the Australian yachting calendar. It is the people, the venue and the sailing conditions,' he said.

It may also have something to do with the quality of competition. The Etchells Winter Championship, now in its 13th year, attracts some of the best one-design Australian and New Zealand sailors to Mooloolaba each year. Racing in a fleet of 50 plus 30-foot sleek, fast, identical yachts ensures tight competition among the fleet of Olympic, America's Cup and world champion sailors.

Organising and conducting the racing in such a great venue is not a hardship for these two very experienced and amiable sailors. For 45 years they have been sailing and working together. 'It's pretty easy because we really don't need to talk to each other. We just have that understanding that when things need to happen we know who to do it, what to do and when to do it. It just takes all the hassles out of having to explain to another person what is going on,' Kevin said.

While they are work as professionals on the water, when Ross and Kevin return to the land their cheeky spirit shines through. Dressed in the same colour volunteer shirts and hats, it is often hard to tell them apart. 'We have a bit of an understanding. Someone calls me Ross and they call Ross, Kevin and we just say yes, hello and we just move on. They would probably get the same answer from either of us.'

The Musto Etchells Australian Winter Championship is on from 4 to 7 June 2009. The Notice of Race and online entry system are accessible from www.mooetchells.yachting.org.au

The Winter Championship is sponsored by Musto and supported by Queensland Events, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Newport Apartments, The Wharf Mooloolaba, The Wharf Tavern, Sail-World.com, Sun Air Bus Services, QuestPhoto.net, Ullman Sails and Waterfront & Coastal Property.

by Tracey Johnstone

Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos: