White Rock Race at Magnetic Island

'Storm II at Magnetic Island Marina.' Sail-World.com/ AUS &copy Click Here to view large photo

2008 Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week Director Denis Thompson was in fine form this morning. He'd stopped for a few minutes to watch crew member Glen Orenshaw from Don Algie's Warwick 66 Storm II, with rod and reef was casting for half metre long Queen Fish at the base of the Nelly Bay marina walkway.

There is a fishing competition aboard the big Airlie Beach performance cruising and Glen's team is currently losing. His comment this morning. 'Just practicing'

Another glorious day, the overnight clouds have rapidly disappeared and wind speeds are expected to reach 18-20 knots as the day progresses, swinging from east to north east.

The battle flags on the four 50-60 footers lined up in front of the Blue on Blue restaurant deck where sailors were having coffee are moving gently but by race start time, which is expected to at 11am, the wind should have stabilized around 12 knots.

A Race Directors role is easier if there is wind and by early afternoon across Cleveland Bay there should be white caps or 'lambs in the paddock' as New Zealand born Thompson calls them and the wind should be coming in from the east.

Today's race is from Cleveland Bay in front of the marina to a laid mark upwind, then round to the east of Magnetic Island up past Orchard Rocks, across Horseshoe Bay and round White Rock and back. 15.1 nautical miles.