Commodore of the Abel Point Yacht Club Rupert King described the inaugural Coral Coast race, from Airlie Beach to Magnetic Island as an “excellent race”.
Originally designed as a replacement for the popular ‘Dent to Dunk’, the race proved so successful Mr King said there was a possibility of repeating it as an annual event.
“This race was really well received by the participants and especially the people of Magnetic Island,” Mr King said.
“There was a businessman in the crowd (at the presentation on Saturday) who said if we wanted to run the race next year he’d be happy to get behind it. He couldn’t believe that five boats could generate that much interest,” he said.
Light winds for the duration of the race meant a shortened course, with participants sailing approximately 120 nautical miles overall.
Mr King explained racers were originally set to round the Palm group of islands before heading south to the final destination at Horseshoe Bay.
“I was a bit disappointed at the time (with the shortened course) but in hindsight it worked out well.”
“In the future we might look at a direct race to Magnetic Island along that same course,” he said.
The Volvo 60 round-the-world racer Spirit of the Maid scored line honours in the event, but came third on corrected time. Mr King’s trimaran Overdrive came first, with Questionable Logic taking second place.
“It was a good experimental race. Everybody had a ball. Next year we’d look at holding it over the Queen’s birthday weekend, starting on Friday morning and with the prize-giving on Saturday night. That would give everyone Sunday and Monday to get home,” he said.
To register interest in an Airlie to Magnetic Island race for next year, contact Rupert King on 0406 077 703.
No comments:
Post a Comment