By Ian Grant.
Victorian Michael Hiatt has again welcomed the opportunity to escape the chill factor associated with Southern Ocean south westerlies by steering his Farr 55 Living Doll towards the warmer winter climate racing in the Whitsunday Islands.
Michael Hiatt the Living Doll fashion label chief executive and his experienced crew of ocean racing sailors including Volvo Globe race navigator Will Oxley sailing master Ross Lloyd and Ben Lamb are on the long haul to defend their Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week IRC championship later this month.
All are very familiar with the picturesque coastal scenery between the cold Victorian port of Williamstown and the friendly winter yachting paradise of Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island and have capped the experience by winning the past two “tropical shirt’ regattas hosted by the Whitsunday Sailing Club.
When the friendly Michael Hiatt accepted the championship trophy in 2010 he said” The Living Doll crew will be back for more racing in a warm friendly environment in 2011”
They have kept that promise and remain as the favourite to win their third consecutive grand prix title series in what is promising to be another highly competitive tactical regatta over the demanding Whitsunday Sailing Club courses.
Unfortunately an over sight on not listing the entries on the official Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week web site prevents an analysis to evaluate the possible challengers to the Living Doll crew.
However judging by the commitment and experience which has allowed the Living Doll crew to test their boat speed against Australia’s best in the Audi Sydney to Gold coast race has again revealed they will be race ready to defend their title.
Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Tasar Australian championship silver medallist Aaron Linton who has been the local knowledge expert with Living Doll racing team will again be on deck for the series.
Linton’s knowledge combined with owner/skipper Michael Hiatt and Ben Lamb paved the way for Living Doll to dominate the regatta in 2010.
Last August Living Doll showed she was among Australia’s best performing IRC class racing yachts and they are returning to protect that reputation when the annual Whitsunday Festival of Sails officially starts with the 31n/ml Double Cone Armit Island race on Friday August 12th.
They set up the series win with an impressive line and corrected handicap victory winning the opening Island passage race last year and their current results suggest they remain as a strong contender to also win the Audi Australian IRC championship final at Hamilton Island on August 27th.