Southern sailors already making winter escape plans

11:40 PM Sun 18 Jan 2009 GMT

'Quantum Racing. - Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week.' Sail-World.com /AUS &copy Click Here to view large photo

August is still some seven months away however sailors representing clubs from the cold latitudes south of The Tropic of Capricorn have already completed the diary to race in the warmer Whitsunday Islands.

The escape route from the chilly clutches of winter in the Deep South starts in late July when the Rolex Sydney Hobart standard fleet race for points in the Audi Australian championship over the 384 nautical mile Sydney to Gold Coast course.

Heading the challenge will be the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart race winner Bob Steel's super fast TP 52 Quest and the consistent Cookson 50 Quantum Racing which completed a top season in 2008 winning the 60th Anniversary Brisbane to Gladstone race followed by a rare line and handicap double in the Sydney to Gold Coast then produce a come from behind performance to win the Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week Grand Prix class title.

Skipper Ray Roberts and his sailing master/tactician Steve McConaghy believe the professionally managed Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week hosted by the Whitsunday Sailing Club and contested over tactically demanding island passage type courses is among the best regattas on the Australian offshore circuit.

As expected Ray Roberts was ecstatic when he added another Airlie Beach Race Week title to his impressive list of trophy wins including major regattas in South East Asia.

"Every owner I know is happy about their success and I'm no different'he said.

He had every reason to be happy after the Quantum Racing crew produced a polished performance of tactical racing to win the title over their rival Michael Hiatt's Living Doll after the equally determined Victorian Cookson 50 skipper held the lead in boat on boat and mate against mate match race when the sails were tensioned for the trophy deciding final.

Quantum Racing will again head an impressive line up in 2009 and there is a strong indication that her crew will need to step up to the plate and improve on their speed and tactical strategy to answer the challenge from Michael Hiatt's new Living Doll.

The Victorian helmsman has every intention to end his long list of minor medals at Airlie Beach by 'Going for Gold' in 2009.

Early indications suggest both the Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week and the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week will again attract the best offshore sailing crews in the Southern Hemisphere while the exciting One-Design SB3 Dart sports boats will compete for the Australian Winter championship.

Oceanburo's Tasqua youth crew winner's of the inaugural title in 2008 will defend their trophy while Bowen brothers Mike and John McLean and their long term sailing mates Steve Wallace and Joe Akacich have already set aside a few 'lazy dollars' for the traditional rum wagers on the result.

Joe Akacich better known around the Australian sailing scene as Black Joe believes he has completed the 'prep-school' and will be aiming to finish ahead of Tasqua Youth when they duel for prestigious title on Pioneer Bay later this year.

by Ian Grant

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