By Ian Grant.
Internationally respected Mooloolaba Ocean racing yachtsman Andrew Turton will take a welcome break from the cold European winter to be home for Christmas.
However his visit will only be a short meet and greet with family and friends before packing his sea bag to race in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race as a key crew member with the Bob Robertson skippered Sunshine Coast yacht Lunchtime Legend.
The two sailors have been friends for several years and Andrew Turton did not hesitate when the veteran skipper issued his Hobart Race invitation.
Bob Robertson said “It took some time to track him down in Europe but his answer was short and sweet yes I would love to do the Hobart”.
“Having the experience of Andy (Turton) on board has bolstered our chances” The experienced Hobart race veteran Bob Robertson said.
He already has the career distinction of finishing third with one of his previous yachts Queensland Maid.
But the burning desire remains to perhaps win a new Rolex watch as the fastest handicap rated performer in the 2011 blue water classic starting on Boxing Day.
His new challenger a standard European built Beneteau launched earlier this year to compete in the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week series performed strongly although still relatively well short of racing to her handicap rated potential.
However since August Lunch Time legend has progressively been programmed towards recording a strong performance in the physically demanding 628 nautical mile race to Hobart.
Naturally her veteran owner skipper who has never been known to take a backward step believes his Sunshine Coast challenger which has recently won short course races on Moreton Bay is in with a chance and her prospects have improved with the experienced Andrew Turton in the crew.
Meanwhile the World Etchells champion Bucky Smith brother of Volvo Globe racing sailor Casey who is presently struggling to remain positive after Puma was dis-masted in the South Atlantic Ocean last week has been monitoring the modifications to the former high performance racing sloop Heaven Can Wait.
Heaven Can Wait a former Brisbane to Gladstone Race line honours winner has been recently purchased by the dual Audi Australian Ocean racing champion Rod Jones and has spent several weeks in a Mooloolah River boat shed undergoing and extensive refit.
As expected skipper Rod Jones has named an impressive core crew of talented sailors including Bucky Smith and Australian Olympic coach Adrian Finglas has announced Saturday December 10 for the relaunch.
The transformation of the sloop which is programmed to contest a Rolex Sydney Hobart Race under the name of AUDI Centre Sunshine Coast is expected to fly her new ‘Battle flag’ in the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club hosted Surf to City (Southport to Sandgate) race in mid-January.
Hello to our fellow sailing clubs
The Moreton Bay Yacht Club is hosting a presentation evening on the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race on Thursday 15th December, starting at 7.00pm at the Moreton Bay Boat Club. I have attached a flyer which includes all details of the evening.
I would appreciate you broadcasting this flyer to your members and all are welcome to attend. Could you please ask your members to RSVP to The Secretary at secretary@mbyc.com.au by Monday 12th December.
Thank you
Regards
Secretary MBYC
Shona Lawrie
“Midnight Oil”
For Race information & Calendar go to www.mbyc.com.au
By Ian Grant.
Brendan Hoffman and Cedar White will take on an important sailing challenge when they represent the Whitsunday Sailing Club in the 2012 Australian Optimist Dinghy championship on Brisbane’s Waterloo Bay in January.
The two enthusiastic young skippers are among the 73 early entries including sailors from Australian, New Zealand and Hong Kong clubs.
They will face a supreme challenge of their individual sailing skill however even to race at the National level will prove to be a valuable experience for the Brendan Hoffman helmed G-Wizz and Cedar White in Junior Wings.
Racing in the championship represents the first major step for the junior Whitsunday Sailing Club skippers who are about to realise a huge difference between the racing in a small club fleet on Pioneer Bay to the challenge of protecting their sailing space when the sails are tensioned for the National championship points in an unfamiliar environment.
However they will not be alone with a high number of equally young and inexperienced sailors also testing their skills at the National regatta level for the first time.
Klaus Lorenz their resident club coach who achieved Queensland’s best ever Australian championship result of third overall earlier this year has encouraged the Whitsunday Sailing Club team including his younger sister Eva to think smart and furthermore to enjoy the opportunity to gain the valuable experience of racing at the National level.
The experience of racing in big fleets is a valuable asset and irrespective of their results both Brendan Hoffman and Cedar White will emerge with the skills to protect the opportunity to sail in clear wind and water.
It took several major regattas for Klaus Lorenz to master this important Optimist class racing advantage which promises to prove invaluable when he and his teenage crew-mate Ollie Annear compete in their first Australian 420 Open and Youth championship on Deception Bay from the December 27th to January 2nd.
They have temporally placed their school studies on hold with lengthy mid-week training sessions on Pioneer Bay in a bold bid to make sure they are physically and mentally prepared to contest a place in the front of the pack with Australia’s best 420 dinghy crews.
Both of the relatively self-taught teenage sailors who have refined the important boat handling skills in a varied range of wind and sea conditions on Pioneer Bay have the proven potential to make their presence count with an impressive maiden championship result.
By Ian Grant.
Casey Smith has been forced to experience a longer than usual time studying the cold and inhospitable nature of The South Atlantic Ocean after the dismasting of the Volvo race sloop Puma on Monday.
Naturally the dramatic incident was not the result the experienced professional Sunshine Coast Ocean racing sailor was expecting.
However a report from skipper Ken Read has confirmed all the crew are safe but extremely disappointed.
At the time Puma was handling the 23knot breeze and moderate 2.5m seas comfortably when the carbon-fibre mast failed snapping in three places as the rig fell into the sea.
Puma was in the middle of nowhere, 2100 nautical miles from the first leg finish line in Cape Town when the crew were forced to recover the 31m broken spar and sails from the sea and prepare a jury rig.
They were reported to be making slow progress at a peak speed of 5.9 knots for the closest land the remote South Atlantic island group of Tristan da Cuhuna where they will dock alongside and receive 500 litres of diesel fuel from a visiting cargo ship.
As expected in spite of their predicament a report from Puma confirms the spirit among the crew remains high as they have moved from experiencing a challenging race to a far more challenging adventure to reach Cape Town in time to re-rig for the second leg of the race to Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile Team Telifonica racing under skipper Iker Martinez continues to maintain a stranglehold on being the first yacht to sail into Cape Town.
However following the dismasting of Puma her skipper and crew have accepted that no victory is certain until they receive the official signal.
In a report shortly after hearing of the dismasting Iker Martinez said “This is a disappointment for the Puma crew”.
At the time of the dramatic and expensive incident Puma was presenting a real challenge to be the first yacht into Cape Town but that challenge unfortunately ended when the call of rig down alerted the off watch members who were enjoying a meal below deck.
They have been trained for the best and worst experiences of a Volvo Race including the adrenalin rush of recording their career best sailing speed surfing the ‘growlers’ in the screeching sixties to being becalmed in the equatorial doldrums however the unfortunate dismasting has bonded Team Puma to meet the challenge of sailing a slow course for Cape Town.
For the award winning Volvo Globe Race sailor Casey Smith being temporarily stranded a long way from the far friendlier climate of the Sunshine Coast in summer only remains as a distant memory as he deals with his day to day job as a professional deep sea sailor and living the dream of adding another Volvo Race finish to his impressive log book.
THE 17th annual Queensland Sport Awards Presentation was held on Monday evening, in the Great Hall at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Queensland sport’s black tie “night of the year” centred on the announcement and presentation of 11 Sport Award categories and this year, eleven Queensland Sport Hall of Fame members were installed as Legends.
The spotlights this year was directed at Yachting young guns Lewis Brake and Josh Franklin who proudly accepted the 2011 Queensland Junior Sport Team of the Year award. With family and friends to support them the team shared the stage with such sporting greats at John Eels, Samantha Stosur, Rob Laver and Wally Lewis.
” It is such and honour to be up on the stage, walking after the legends of 2011, its amazing” Brake said moments after accepting the award.
The Queenslander’s were nominated for the award after having earning their spot with wins in Europe and here in Australia. Racing on an international stage in the 29er class and racing against some of the best sailors in the world.helm and oldest of the pair Franklin commented on the enormous size of the event, and the pure excitement of holding the trophy in his hands. “it was crazy talking in front of 1000 people, but just such an amazing experience” What got the team to this point was all the support from family, Yachting Queensland, the Queensland Academy of Sport.
By Ian Grant.
Casey Smith has been forced to experience a longer than usual time studying the cold and inhospitable nature of The South Atlantic Ocean after the dismasting of the Volvo race sloop Puma on Monday.
Naturally the dramatic incident was not the result the experienced professional Sunshine Coast Ocean racing sailor was expecting.
However a report from skipper Ken Read has confirmed all the crew are safe but extremely disappointed.
At the time Puma was handling the 23knot breeze and moderate 2.5m seas comfortably when the carbon-fibre mast failed snapping in three places as the rig fell into the sea.
Puma was in the middle of nowhere, 2100 nautical miles from the first leg finish line in Cape Town when the crew were forced to recover the 31m broken spar and sails from the sea and prepare a jury rig.
They were reported to be making slow progress at a peak speed of 5.9 knots for the closest land the remote South Atlantic island group of Tristan da Cuhuna where they will dock alongside and receive 500 litres of diesel fuel from a visiting cargo ship.
As expected in spite of their predicament a report from Puma confirms the spirit among the crew remains high as they have moved from experiencing a challenging race to a far more challenging adventure to reach Cape Town in time to re-rig for the second leg of the race to Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile Team Telifonica racing under skipper Iker Martinez continues to maintain a stranglehold on being the first yacht to sail into Cape Town.
However following the dismasting of Puma her skipper and crew have accepted that no victory is certain until they receive the official signal.
In a report shortly after hearing of the dismasting Iker Martinez said “This is a disappointment for the Puma crew”.
At the time of the dramatic and expensive incident Puma was presenting a real challenge to be the first yacht into Cape Town but that challenge unfortunately ended when the call of rig down alerted the off watch members who were enjoying a meal below deck.
They have been trained for the best and worst experiences of a Volvo Race including the adrenalin rush of recording their career best sailing speed surfing the ‘growlers’ in the screeching sixties to being becalmed in the equatorial doldrums however the unfortunate dismasting has bonded Team Puma to meet the challenge of sailing a slow course for Cape Town.
For the award winning Volvo Globe Race sailor Casey Smith being temporarily stranded a long way from the far friendlier climate of the Sunshine Coast in summer only remains as a distant memory as he deals with his day to day job as a professional deep sea sailor and living the dream of adding another Volvo Race finish to his impressive log book.
Eight Indigenous participants in the Sail into Work Indigenous Sail Training project will visit Brisbane this week as part of their quest to learn the sport of sailing.
The Project, based out of Mission Beach in Far North Queensland is skilling participants up in the sport and recreational activity of dingy and keelboat sailing.
Commencing in October, the project runs for a year. As well as sail training, it delivers a holistic program around tourism training, cultural awareness, ready for work and other sail related training.
Project co-director Tracey Wilson said that the project aims to not only provide the opportunity for Indigenous people to learn the skills of sailing but also to source work opportunities for graduating participants in the tourism and marine industries.
Ms Wilson said the partnership with Yachting Queensland (YQ) has proven invaluable for the success of the project.
“YQ is assisting with funding sources for the sail training and has also provided assistance to the Mission Beach Sailing Club Inc as they deliver the sailing instruction to participants,” she said.
“During this week’s visit the participants will take part in crucial safety and sea and shipboard safety training which will provide crucial skills for the next component of the project and for upcoming work experience,” Ms Wilson said.
Executive officer of Yachting Qld, Mr Denis Cook, said that the project is unique and one that YQ is very interested in and keen to support.
“We have been aware that there is a lack of Indigenous sailors across the State and this project provides a perfect entry into the sport and recreational activity of sailing, with an added bonus of sustainable employment outcomes,” he said.
“If these participants can encourage their family and community groups to start sailing YQ are happy to assist where we can,” Mr Cook said.
Media is welcome to attend on Wednesday 23rd November where there will be opportunity to meet the sailors and for interviews.
Ends 21/11/11 For further information contact Tracey Wilson on 0419 688 372
By Ian Grant.
Merit the Leo Rodriguez skippered Whitsunday Sailing Club registered Volvo 60 has sailed some rough miles in a career including the physically demanding around the World race.
Late next month Merit will be in full racing mode testing her boat speed against the best Performance class yachts in Australia as a competitor in the gruelling 628 nautical mile Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.
Her nomination has been accepted by the Cruising Yacht of Australia for Merit to compete and trace the former glory of winning her class in 2008 after be granted redress for her crews role in the dramatic rescue of the crew from the sinking yacht Georgia.
Naturally her crew were proud of achieving the win in dramatic circumstances and have continued to head south each year to chase further honours without success.
Hopefully a strong spinnaker sailing forecast will prevail to allow the 1997 launched Bruce Farr designed Volvo Globe racer to challenge her handicap rating when the fleet sets sail on Boxing Day.
Merit has the proven potential to handle to gale tormented waves of the Tasman Sea but needs a high percentage of spinnaker sailing wind to repeat her previous winning result.
Similar conditions would also favour the Bob Oatley owned and Mark Richards skippered Hamilton Island Yacht Club registered Wild Oats X1 to chase the race record she set in 2005.
The Wild Oats X1 crew produced an impressive strong wind Sydney Hobart practice session when they won the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week line honours trophy with a perfect score in August.
This impressive result confirmed Wild Oats X1 to be faster downwind following structural changes to her hull.
However skipper Mark Richards and the experienced crew who remain under considerable pressure to add another line honours to their impressive 5 wins from 6 Sydney Hobart Races understand that every wave and gust of wind that blows over the deck after they clear Sydney’s South Head on Boxing Day will test their combined ocean racing skills.
As every Hobart race sailor has learnt to understand every nautical mile can be and has been spiced with gruelling physical challenges and the 67th race promises to be no different.
Meanwhile Wild Oats X1 remains the line honours favourite while the Merit crew will hope for a moderate to fresh spinnaker sailing forecast to firm their chance of repeating their 2008 Performance Handicap result.
Australia’s America’s Cup racing history has set sail for Sydney following an extensive 9 week refit in Mackay Marina Shipyard.
Both the KA-5 Australia and KA-14 Steak n Kidney have departed Mackay Harbour, this morning at 9am. The two iconic yachts are to arrive at Brisbane Rivergate Marina Thursday morning 1am and will be available for media to inspect throughout thursday and friday.
Crewed by volunteer members of the Australian 12m Historic Trust, the two iconic boats will travel the following voyage plan;
Mackay to Double Island
Double Island to Sphinx
Sphinx to High Peak
High Peak to The Child
The Child to Cape Capricorn
Cape Capricorn to Port Curtis
Port Curtis to Lady Elliot Island
Lady Elliot Island to Break Sea Spit
Break Sea Spit to Double Island Point
Double Island Point to Mooloolaba
Mooloolaba to Bribie Island
Bribie Island to Tangalooma
Tangalooma to Brisbane River Rivergate Marina
Both yachts will be monitoring Channel 16 throughout the voyage and you can contact via mobile on 0415 577 724.
Following their arrival at Brisbane Rivergate the yachts will resupply and make way for Sydney.
For more information regarding the voyage, please contact;
BENJAMIN MORGAN
President – Australian 12m Historic Trust
australian12m.com
Mobile: 0415 577 724
Email: benmorgan@australian12m.com
PRESERVING AUSTRALIA’S 12M AMERICA’S CUP HERITAGE