By Ian Grant.
The 2010 Sail Iceberg Australian Tasar Nationals to be hosted by The Whitsunday Sailing Club from July 2-10 on Pioneer Bay promises to be a spectacular event.
Already 67 crews have accepted the Notice of Race documents which suggests a popular response from the crews representing southern states to test their tactical dingy racing skills in the warm and friendly tropical environment.
Generally most sailing destinations south of the Tropic of Capricorn are accepted as a ‘no go zone’ for dinghy sailing during the winter months but that is not the case at Airlie Beach which also hosts the international standard Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week in August.
All dinghy and yacht racing crews who have discovered the experience of testing their individual sailing skill with either racing or cruising in the wonderland of the Whitsundays unanimously agree that the combination of the onshore facilities with the offshore aquatic playground is on a parallel with the best international venues.
This reputation will be further enhanced when the interstate crews trail their Tasar Dinghies into Airlie Beach in late June to prepare for what promises to be an exciting and intensely competitive Australian championship regatta involving the World’s best including the 2009 World champions Robert and Nicole Douglass in Coolit and the 2009 National champion Sway helmed by Shane Guanaria.
Both crews who were only separated by the narrow margin of 2 points at the last National championship series conducted over the McRae Yacht Club course on Port Phillip Bay have been nominated as the front runners for the 2010 Sail Iceberg Australian title Gold medal.
Heading the local challenge will be the combination of Aaron and Amy Linton who are no strangers to sailing on the tricky waters of Pioneer Bay.
Skipper Aaron a graduate from the Whitsunday Sailing Club junior sailing program has gather extensive experience in sailing his Olympic 49er to racing in the Hogs Breath Australian 38 One-design championship on Pioneer Bay.
His combined local course experience will certainly attract tactical attention from his competitors who are unfamiliar with selecting the best sail fast options on a course that has a history of testing the best against the rest.
Aaron and Amy crewing the AA Team Tasar dinghy head a strong Queensland team challenge but will it be fast enough match the pace of the 2009 World champions Robert and Nicole Douglas and the defending Australian champion Shane Guanaria.
Meanwhile the AA Team will gain valuable time with racing in the Whitsunday Sailing Club point score events on Pioneer Bay to be race ready for when the championship begins with a special invitation race on July 4 and ends with the crowning of the 2010 Sail Iceberg National champion on the rigging lawn of the Whitsunday Sailing Club on Saturday July 10.