Hart set for Blue Water Challenge
Whitsunday Sailing Club skipper Shannon Hart has welcomed the opportunity to contest the 2008 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week IRC class championship in a warm and dryer environment.
'Blue Water crew'
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Hart, who is normally drenched in speed sailing spray when he skippers his super fast Thompson 8 Sports Boat Mustard Cutter in local club events on Pioneer Bay has accepted an important crew role with the Graham Jones skippered Port Douglas yacht Blue Water.
The impressively comfortable new Beneteau First 45.5 cruiser-racer which will compete under the Multiplex Living Blue Water Marina 'Battle Flag' was officially launched at the Southport Yacht Club on July 16.
This was another exciting chapter in the yachting career of experienced off shore sailor Shannon Hart who promises to be very familiar with the speed sailing potential of Blue Water when she contests her maiden event against the international standard fleet in the Double Cone-Armit Island race on Thursday August 14.
He gained some important pre-regatta 'sail fast' knowledge as the delivery skipper on the coastal voyage from Southport to Airlie Beach.
His notes will help to formulate a base strategy when the unraced Graham Jones skippered Blue Water tests her handicap rated speed in what promises to be a super competitive series.
Jones has already compiled an impressive career winning the 1983 Brisbane to Gladstone Race with Public Nuisance.
This experience combined with the local tactical racing knowledge of Shannon Hart promises to provide Blue Water with a better than even money chance to claim a major result in her maiden regatta.
by Ian Grant 
Perth, WA
