Whitsundays Mulithull Rendezvous a resounding success

The Multihull Solutions annual Whitsundays Multihull Rendezvous was declared a resounding success in both the cruising rally and race divisions.

 Abel Point Yacht Club Commodore Rupert King said a total of 27 boats took part in the event, with ten racers and 17 in the cruising fleet.

 “A big thank you goes to Multihull solutions for supporting this event. It’s been a fantastic week,” Mr King said.

 Mr King also made special mention of the volunteers, without whom the rendezvous’ races couldn’t happen.

 For local skipper Peter Berry, winning the OMR division of the race series was the icing on the cake after also performing well in Airlie Beach Race Week and the XXXX series, just a few short weeks ago.

 “It’s been a good couple of weeks. Beautiful! Perfect weather – we’ve had everything from glassed-out to 20/25 knots,” Mr Berry said.

 Mr Berry and his crew proudly accepted the Warren Dickinson memorial trophy at the end of the regatta, named after the skipper of a catamaran called ‘Best Company’, who passed away at this time, five years ago. The trophy is now awarded for the most outstanding performance over the rendezvous week, which Mr King said was a “very well-deserved” result.

 “This guy’s boat is going like a rocket,” he said.

 Marketing manager for Multihull Solutions Kim McKee said both the racing and rally fleets had enjoyed an amazing week.

 “It’s all about multihull enthusiasts getting together and enjoying our magnificent region. It’s also nice for new multihull owners to know they can cruise around in company with the comfort and security of other boats around them, meeting new friends and having a good time,” she said.

 Rally participant Peter Murray came all the way from Melbourne for the event and was happy to win the accolade of ‘best party boat’ for his efforts.

 “We had ten people on our boat and we enjoyed it so much I think we’ve got to come back next year,” Mr Murray said.

 “The camaraderie between all of the owners and competitors each night was absolutely superb. It’s a great way to meet people,” he said.

 Even as the presentation party was in full swing, Ms McKee was already looking forward to next year’s rendezvous saying it would be “bigger and better than ever”.

 “Multihulls are certainly growing in popularity each year and they’re perfect for the Whitsundays,” she said.

Coral Coast Race a success

 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.