On Saturday 12th February 2011 Southport Yacht Club will be hosting the Great Race for the 6th time since its inauguration in 2005. Year after year, the Great Race attracts competitors from all over Australia, looking to test their stamina and willpower in this 70km endurance race from the Gold Coast to Brisbane.
The Great Race is possibly the longest off-the-beach sailing event of its kind to be staged in Australia. Starting just outside the hosting Southport Yacht Club on the Gold Coast, competitors make their way up towards Brisbane, via the narrow and twisting waterways of the broadwater. Hopefully with the wind firmly up your rear, and the tide with you, this provides for some unreal kite runs, testing your fitness, boat handling skills and concentration! Launching out into the open vastness of Moreton Bay, fatigue starting to set in, you compete in a whole new arena providing its own set of challenges. Finally you round the last waystation and head through the finishing gate just off Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Manly, to a well earned drink and a bit of a lie down!
This is an intense race, and competition is fierce all the way. The current race record stands at 2:57:18hrs elapsed time for multihulls (Brad Collett & Lucas McDonald in their F18), and 4:07:29hrs elapsed time for monohulls (Richard Reynolds & Lisa McMillan on their B14), with the majority of the fleet taking between 4 and 6 hours to complete the course. Expect to arrive at RQYS absolutely spent and hurting, but with a strange little smile on your face only fellow competitors can understand!
We’ve picked the weekend with the most favourable tide. Now it’s just up to the breeze and to the competitors to set new race records. Entries are open to all off-the-beach dinghies with a yardstick rating less than or equal to 109, and all off-the-beach multihulls with yardstick no higher than 100. Find attached Notice of Race.
If you’re up for it, start getting fit now, read the Notice of Race to know what you can start preparing for early, including shore crew, accommodation and safety regs. Then fill out the entry form which has got to be in early, and fax it through to SYC, Hollywell Sailing Office on (07) 5537 7131. Check your latest Creek to Coast for course familiarization and stay tuned to www.southportyachtclub.com.au for further competitor info, including news updates & training suggestions!
For the Multihulls, why not make a week of it and join us from the 5th February for CAT WEEK! A fun beach party style regatta for all multi’s, incorporating the NACRA SE QLD TITLES over the weekend of the 5 & 6th! Go to our website for Notice of Races and further info! If you have any further queries, phone (07) 55377030, or email shane@southportyachtclub.com.au.
Great Sponsors! Great Prizes! Great Events! Great to see you here! Good Luck!
By Helen James, January 2011