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One last race decides outcomes at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

Crews raced with high hopes on this final day of 2026 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW), exciting prospects ahead for those in the running to win trophies and those looking to podium in the race – and once the day was done, the winners were decided.

Today’s finale was appropriately Peppers Race Day, as it decided the final outcome in each division and was announced at the official prize giving at Peppers Race Headquarters.

It was a beautiful summer like day and conditions were, well, perfect. The softer winds and flat sea on a hot sunny day changed up some results on extremely close scoreboards. No mistakes were left unpunished.

IRC goes to Saltwater Wine

From the outset, a battle loomed large between two NSW boats: Tom Woods’ JPK 10.80, Saltwater Wine and David Hamilton’s Farr 40 One-Design, Seeking Alpha. However, Woods’ crew held the upper hand throughout and gave no quarter. Quest, Grant Golombick’s TP52, also from NSW filled out the top three.

“We’re all very happy,” Woods said after their fifth win from six races. “I can’t say we made any mistakes, except for breaking the start in Race 2 – my fault. It’s been awesome here. A great regatta. I’m starting to work the boat out. Sailing it every day and doing some training makes a difference. This is the first regatta we’ve put the boat together and done well.

“It was good to beat the Alpha team. I know some of them and they’re very skilled. Today was the best, conditions were great and it’s back to being tropical Queensland,” said Woods who is hoping Sail Paradise on the Gold Coast in October will be as successful for them.

SeaLink Spinnaker Division 1

Yesterday’s race winner, Peter Russell and his Italia 13.98, Vincitore (Vic), came out and won again today, so toppled those who looked likely to take home the overall trophy.

The two most likely, Cinquante and Daguet, missed out altogether, as Hughie Lewis’ second with Hartbreaker (Tas) and David Lamond’s third with Adela X (NSW) means the latter finished second overall, while Hartbreaker slotted into third place.

Amazingly, Russell and all but one of his crew are quite ill with the flu, but their best results came with it! He said, “I’m quite surprised we won. It was definitely our best race though. We started well and made all the right decisions for once! We had excellent crew work.”

“A crew member piped in with, It was all part of a cunning plan.”

Russell added, “It was beautiful out there, certainly the best day we’ve had on the water. Nice breeze, an excellent day. A great effort by everyone on the boat. They’re a great crew.”

SeaLink Spinnaker Division 2

Brian Yarnall started the regatta with a win with his 49i, Mika (Vic) and stayed in the top spot throughout, though he was challenged by others throughout. Today it all changed when the Fletcher Tivey skippered Ragamuffin III from the host club, won today’s race, handing her victory. Mika missed out by one point. James Permazel’s Hanse 445, Charm Offensive, also from the host club, placed third overall.

SeaLink Spinnaker Division 3

It was wide open coming into the day, with a pile of boats with little between them. Joe Niven’s local Beneteau Oceanis 41.1, Chinook, was the one to beat, but it didn’t happen. Even though Chinook scored its worst result, there was enough in the bank. Philip Cormie’s Dreamtime (Vic) and Andrew McConaghy’s Dragonfly (Qld) filled out second and third. Brava, owned by TYC Director, Tony Muller, won the last race.

The local yachtsman said, “First of all I’d like to thank the organisers, Townsville Yacht Club, the volunteers and sponsors. Without them there is no regatta. I also thank Peppers for the great venue. And I thank the handicapper, who did a good job. Everyone has a chance – the dice rolled my way this year.”

Niven finished, “I put together a crew of Magnetic Island residents less than a year ago and they did a good job this week. We look forward to racing more on Cleveland Bay with Townsville Yacht Club and doing Magnetic Island in future years.”

SeaLink Spinnaker Division 4

Six boats were in contention is this division: Jacob McConaghy’s Thompson 870, Keep on Running (Vic) led the charge, with Daniel McSweeney’s Brigus (Qld), Jack Maguire’s Zen and the Art of Sailing (the local), David McKay’s Shaw 650, Black Betty (NSW) and Alan Grant’s Loose Cannon (NSW).

Black Betty’s third in the final race gave her the overall win from Keep on Running and Brigus. It’s a quick little boat that is well-sailed.

Non Spinnaker Division

Andrew Watson’s Beneteau Oceanis 473, Apres Vous (Qld) and Pru Bennett’s Bavaria 44, Cloudbreak (NSW), fought for pole position throughout. Nipping at their heels and on equal points coming into the last race, were Chris Males’ Roller Coast (Tas) and Tony and Jack Hennessy’s Joan Ellen (Vic).

Apres Vous came through, her third place today ensuring the series win by two points over Dreamagic and Cloudbreak. “This was a really good result for us, so we’re very happy. Today was the best conditions wise for sailing. The rest you just had to hang on because it was so windy,” Watson said.

“I love my crew. I’m crewed by the best Sandy (Sandringham Yacht Club) has to offer.” Representing Queensland, Watson explained, “I have dual Victorian and Queensland passports!

“Today’s race I dedicated to my daughter Jess, who passed away in 2023.

“Finally, thank you to all the crew who run this event and the volunteers. It was a great regatta for having everyone together,” Watson ended.

Multihull Division

The Boat (Graeme Etherton, a local) and Gordon Beath’s Roamance (NSW) were the outstanding two in the multihulls. The Boat though, had the upper hand, scoring four wins from five races to defeat Roamance by three points. Third went to West Australian entry, Beatrix owned by Ray Martin. He just could not quite get to the other two – this time.

“We only won by a minute and a half today. The other two (Roamance and Beatrix) were only three seconds apart. We’re elated to have a win. Roamance is a bigger boat, so it’s good to win against her.

“It hasn’t been nice weather at all. The Boat likes strong winds, but I don’t! I prefer conditions like today – it was a nice way to finish off the regatta. I’d like to thank my crew. One guy flew up from Sydney and two had crewed with me at Hamo and Maggie last year,” Etherton said.

This morning Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson, sent the fleet on a Strand Race, similar to Saturday’s, but with some adaptations. It meant locals and visitors got a second close-up view of racing when the boats rounded the Strand mark – bring on the Olympic Sailing!

“I’ve amended one the courses slightly so all the divisions finish in a similar direction,” explained Thompson, who said the fleet could expect 13 knots from the east, swinging south-east and then back to the east.

In this 19^th running of Townsville Yacht Club’s (TYC) signature event, the forecast was welcome relief. This has been one of the breeziest editions in memory and has left a few weary bodies after racing one after the other at the other northern regattas and feeder races. Softer conditions was a nice way to bring the regatta to a close.

Mike Steel, Event Chairman, Commodore of TYC and a competitor with his Elan E5, Boadica, thanked all competitors and volunteers, “Without them, we would not have an event.”

He also thanked the sponsors and Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson and his race management team - and the event manager, Jodie Kennedy. This was her final year at SMIRW as she is moving on to an exciting opportunity in Brisbane later this month.

“After 14 years of building our event into what it is today, Jodie will be sorely missed,” Steel commented.

Kennedy told how “I started as a volunteer in 2013 and then took on the contract in 2014. I knew how to run events, but knew nothing about sailing when I started. I’ve learnt a lot over the years from people like Denis Thompson.”

Next year marks the 20^th edition of SMIRW. “We’ve been thinking about the 20^th for the last six months and starting to plan how we celebrate it,” Steel said. When we look back at the 10^th year, we had trouble selling berths. Because the event’s become so popular, now we could sell 90, but we only have 75.

“It takes time to understand what people what, but now we have the recipe right and we don’t want to deviate too far from that. Even the opening night this year - it was so good to see everyone having so much fun. Peppers has done a great job here. They’ve also had to evolve with the event like we did. It’s a big ask. SeaLink also remains committed, for which we are thankful,” Steel said.

There are more exciting times ahead for TYC and Townsville, as it has been chosen as one of the venues for the 2032 Olympic Games Sailing Competition.

“We’ve worked hard to find solutions to run the Sailing Competition in 2032,” Steel said. “It’s not only the sailing waters we have to think about. There’s the infrastructure, such as location of shipping containers, support facilities, accommodations and everything that’s needed to run an event of that magnitude. We’re sure we can provide the right venue for the Games,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back next year for the 20th. We will advise in advance when entries are to open and I can only say we sold out in eight minutes last year, so you will need to be quick,” Steel reminded us.

SMIRW is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise and Tourism and Events Queensland.

For full results and all information, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 1 September, 2026

New contenders emerge on another big day at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

Day 4 of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW) was a 22nm Magnetic Island & Bay Rock Race for most, except SeaLink Spinnaker Divisions 3 and 4, the Non-Spinnaker and Multihull divisions did the slightly shorter Round Magnetic Island Race, starting off Peppers Blue on Blue at Nelly Bay – and the day produced some new winners.

The Visit Townsville, North Queensland race looked prettier than it felt on the race course, with some bumpy bits thrown in with fast downwind rides. A bit of everything. It is a scenic race though, particularly for newcomers who enjoyed the picturesque ride on the penultimate day of Townsville Yacht Club’s (TYC), 19^th running of SMIRW.

No movement for the top two in the IRC division. Tom Woods’ JPK 10.80, Saltwater Wine, has won four of five races, including today’s and drops a second place. David Hamilton’s Farr 40 One-Design, Seeking Alpha, was second and is four points behind her quarry. Tomorrow will decide, bur Woods’ boat is looking invincible. Grant Golombick’s TP52, Quest placed third to remain third overall on the all-NSW podium.

Peter Russell sailed his Italia 13.98, Vincitore (Vic), to victory again, having won the opening race also in SeaLink Spinnaker Division 1. Ian Fankhanel’s Salt (Vic) and John Whitbread’s Kerb (Qld) filled out the top three. Kerb’s result has her firmly in third overall.

The top two overall, Kim Jaggar’s Cinquante and Rob Aldis/Peter Byford’s Daguet 2, both from NSW, scored their worst results of the regatta, but used as drops, they are safe for now. But there is a ramp of boats waiting in the wings with few points between them.

“Two wins and two ninth places – the greatest standard deviation in the fleet – all or nothing,” Russell said laughing.

“Of the eight people staying in the house, seven of us have the flu. We’re waiting to see when the last one gets it… To win is a positive thing – we’re calling ourselves ‘The Plague Boat’. People came to congratulate us – at a distance.”

Given they are ill, Russell said, “It was a bit of hard work dragging ourselves around the course – and we’re not the youngest – the average is 64 - I’m 83 - we’ll keep sailing as long as we can. We dragged ourselves all the way from Melbourne, so we’ll drag ourselves out for one last race tomorrow.”

In an all TYC result, Nick Spanswick’s Seaya, an Adams 13e scored a first Division 2 win from Stuart Tivey’s S&S 60, Samurai and James Permezel’s Hanse 445 Charm Offensive. The result has lifted the latter boat to second overall, behind Brian Yarnall’s Mika. Four points separate them.

Spanswick was thrilled to bits they had won, exclaiming, “You’re kidding,” when told.

On the race, he said, “It was horrible, then great, then horrible again. Upwind is tough with our old boat (launched in 1999), but downwind is fantastic. Nothing got broken and everyone aboard is in good shape! We have a fairly inexperienced crew, including two of my kids (in their 20’ s), except for the steerer, Steve Shugg. So it’s great to have a win.”

The TYC member described conditions: “Beautiful at the top of the Island, but a bit rough at the bottom for our old boat. Breeze wise, we saw 20-24 knots.”

In Division 3, the suitably named ‘Gone With the Wind’, Wayne Simonsen’s Bavaria 42c (Qld), took the win from Philip Cormie’s Dehler 41, Dreamtime Solutions (Vic) and Andrew Clark’s Adams 10, Single Malt (Vic). Joe Niven’s Beneteau Oceanis 41.1, Chinook (TYC) still leads overall, by two points to Andrew McConaghy’s Northshore cruiser, Dragonfly. (Qld)

“Finally, we got it together. We had a slow start to this regatta, but we’re putting it together now and having a lot of fun,” Simonsen commented.

“Today the sea was pretty lumpy in places, but running down the back of the Island near Horseshoe Bay, with swell behind, was good. The beat up the channel was good too. The race got better as the afternoon went on.”

Simonsen said the breeze topped out at about 23-24 knots, “Conditions were better than yesterday! It was a very enjoyable race. We’ve enjoyed the whole regatta.

“For us, it’s a new crew from the beginning of the year. They’d never sailed before. This week was first time they’ve flown a spinnaker. It’s a steep learning curve but they’ve really taken it on. I’m very blessed, I have a great crew and success is starting to come. We are currently leading the Townsville Yacht Club pointscore,” Simonsen ended.

Two locals claimed the top two spots in Division 4. Alan Grant’s Elliott 770, Loose Cannon, romped home to take the honours from Jack Maguire’s Zen and the Art of Sailing, moving the latter up to series third overall. Wayne McNee’s Swarbrick S111, Celebrity (NSW) scored third place today.

“I guess the conditions suited us,” Grant surmised. “We had the No 3 jib and full main and downwind we put big spinnaker up. Paul (Linett) talked us in to keeping the big kite up – he’s a 16ft skiff sailor – we did what he said. I think that’s what won it for us.

“We were doing 15 knots in 16 knots of breeze downwind. We did well in that part of it. We don’t do that well upwind, but we had enough in the bank from the downwind,” Grant said.

In the Non-Spinnaker Division, Chris Males’ Hanse 385, Roller Coaster (Tas), rolled the opposition to take top place from Andrew Watson’s Beneteau Oceanis 473, Apres Vous (Qld) by seven minutes, but the latter has taken the series lead, while Males’ boat moves up to third place. Brian Pozzey’s Green Beacon White Swan (Qld) was third.

“We had an interesting day – misjudged the start, started early, had to restart,” Males said. The boat goes really well in the conditions we got, though. We saw 22 knots with gusts, but otherwise it was a pretty consistent 18-19 knots and that seems to suit the boat.”

Males only purchased Roller Coaster in June and the crew is family. “This is just our third day sailing the boat, we missed the first race, so it’s great to have a win. My brother-in-law Matthew Williams, whose very experienced, my wife, Claire, our daughter Lauren and my sister Liz are the crew,” he said.

Graeme Etherton’s The Boat from the host club and Gordon Beath’s Roamance (NSW) are having a ding-dong battle for the series lead. On equal points going into this race, The Boat got the better of her adversary, so is now point ahead, with one final race remaining. Ray Martin’s Beatrix from Western Australia came home third and was fast on the water.

This morning Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson told his team and competitors, “I’m pretty confident it will be around 17-18 knots for the race. It was a bit more than that, most reporting 20-24 knots and a bit of a lumpy sea in parts.

With just one day of racing remaining the pointscore is tight and tomorrow a Passage Race, starting from 11am, will decide who gets the gongs.

SMIRW is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise and Tourism and Events Queensland.

For full results and all information, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 31August, 2026

Wild weather shows ‘No Mercy’ at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

With Lay Day behind them, competitors were ready to race on Day 3 of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW), the wind already in evidence well before crews left the dock at Peppers Blue on Blue around 10am, but little did most guess what was in store – a squall that brought 35-40 knot winds that wreaked havoc.

Event Chairman, Mike Steel and his crew, went to the rescue of Burke Melia’s Melges 24, No Mercy (NSW), when she lost her rig. Steel had already retired his Elan E5, Boadica (Qld), after coming close to losing Boadica’s rig.

“Look at the backstay,” Steel said, pointing to the mess of spaghetti in the rigging caused by the backstay break. “We were very lucky…,” a relieved Steel said.

Seeing the Melges 24 in trouble, Boadica stood by, then towed the boat to entrance to Peppers Resort’s marina, before the boat’s owner, Burke Melia, motored to the pen.

No Mercy and Boadica were by no means the only retirees. Kim Younger’s local entry, the Gibsea 44.2 Master, Poppy, was first to return and shortly after Dennis Coleman’s 7.3 metre multihull, Mistress, returned to her pen. Others followed.

Most did finish, but had their share of stories. Ben and Matt Kingsberry’s Farr 11.6, Amaya II (Qld), didn’t find a squall that produced 40 knots to their liking: “We had a massive broach,” crew member Jim Nixon said.

Matt Kingsberry took up the story, “We were on the other side of the Island when the squall hit. We’d already been sailing in 30 knots and it reached 40. The seaway was lumpy with short sharp waves and over we went under spinnaker. Some of the crew went through the rails, but nobody went overboard.

“We were on our ear for around five minutes, but recovered OK. We were leading at the time and were first home in our division, despite the broach. A lot of boats were having problems.”

Amaya’s kite withstood the battering. “It’s 40 years old and survived another broach a while back,” Kingsberry said.

Nixon added, “You couldn’t kill that thing with a big stick!”

One that survived the race with no problems was Keith Masters’ Bavaria Vision 40, Windmaiden (NSW): “It was pretty wild out there,” Masters conceded. “It really came in on the other side of the Island,” he said, admitting they were lucky to be on the start line. “A couple of days ago we put it on the beach. I was happy to find the keel still in the boat!”

Dragonfly, Andrew McConaghy’s Northshore 38c (Qld) came through the race unscathed: “We flew our kite and had no problems,” he said.

While wild weather took front seat, there were winners in each division. SeaLink Spinnaker Division 2 was won by James Permezel’s local boat, Charm Offensive, a Hanse 445, by six minutes to Brian Yarnell’s Jeanneau 49i, Mika (Vic), which leads the overall series.

“Down at the Rock it was gusting through 14 to 25 knots,” Permezel said. “It made it a challenge for everyone. At one point we talked about taking the reef out and then we had 22 knots. When we got to the Cleveland Bay mark, I saw 27 knots with a big rain squall. Carrying the kite to White Rock is where I think we made our gain.

“We gybed the kite coming around Horseshoe Bay and kept carrying it, I think we were the only ones. “The only thing that went wrong was the headsail furler didn’t work. The race was challenging but fun. Everyone’s tired,” Permezel ended.

Six minutes was also the difference between the top two in Division 3, where Andrew Clark’s Adams 10, Single Malt (Vic), was the victor over Tim Lowy’s Beneteau First 34.7 Ikigai from the host club.

“We went out and thought ‘this could get very ugly’, Clark shared. “We decided to sail conservatively, no spinnaker, full headsail and main because I didn’t want to rip the rig out.

“From Orchard Rock down to White Rock, we just flew and when the big front came through. just as we came into Horseshoe Bay, we happened to be in the right place at the right time. it gave us the edge. It was 50 percent fun and 50 percent fear!

“Once you got into a rhythm, it was easy enough to sail in the breeze. It’s just that squall smacked us all. There was a bit of carnage out there – let’s say there was a bit of money spent by the weather today!”

Undaunted, Clark said, “This is a fabulous regatta. It’s my fifth or sixth. I just love it here. I have to say that Denis, Jenni (Birdsall) and Mark (Gallagher) do a wonderful job here.”

Tony and Jack Hennessy’s Joan Ellen, a Hanse 548 (Vic) took the Non-Spinnaker Division honours from Pru Bennett’s Bavaria 44, Cloudbreak (NSW). The latter leads the series.

“We had a good start and first windward work, but could see our division boats, particularly Aprez Vous and White Swan, running us down as we reached around the Island. Then the rain squall flattened the spinnaker fleet, so we reduced our sail area to comfortably sail for that period,” Jack Hennessy recalled.

“We rounded the White Rock mark and were able to sail under the boats ahead and get free air to the finish. The crew work and tactical decisions were instrumental in the win.”

Brigus, a Beneteau First 35 owned by Daniel McSweeney (Qld), won Division 4 from Kyle Hancock’s NT30. Neverland (NSW).

“Great crew, great crew work,” McSweeney commented. “We saw 35 knots on our course near Radical Bay and it went for 12-15 minutes. There was a fair bit of carnage. There were lots of ripped kites and Black Betty (David McKay’s little Shaw 650, which had been flying around the course) turtled.”

McSweeney ended, “This is our ninth year and we are committed to the next couple - God willing and good health.”

Graeme Etherton’s The Boat, representing the host club, took first place from Gordon Beath’s Roamance (NSW). They were the multis standing.

IRC and SeaLink Spinnaker Division 1 did two shorter races. In IRC, Tom Woods’ Saltwater Wine won both Races 3 and 4 from Seeking Alpha (David Hamilton), both are from NSW.

Phoenix49 (Brenton and Jennifer Carnell, Vic) won Race 3 in Spinnaker Division 1 from John Whitbread’s Kerb (Qld), while Race 4 went to Kim Jaggar’s Sydney 38, Cinquante from NSW, (which incidentally placed third in Race 3.) Second in Race 4 was Rob Aldis/Peter Byford’s Mylius 50, Daguet 2 (NSW), with Andrew Lloyd/Mary Ann Harvey’s Sydney 38, Clockwork, third.

Today was Harcourts Kingsberry Race Day and Denis Thompson, Principal Race Officer, sent IRC and SeaLink Spinnaker Division 1 on two short races. Spinnaker Division 2 and the Multihull Division did the 20nm White Rock Long Race, while the rest did the similar 15nm White Rock Race, cutting out the Cleveland Bay laid mark of the longer course.

The trick for Thompson and his team of volunteers was in the timing of fleet mark roundings and the start of Race 2 of the two short races, to avoid fleets converging on each other.

Racing will resume tomorrow from 11.00am, when the famed and scenic ‘Round the Island Race’ is on the menu.

SMIRW is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise and Tourism and Events Queensland.

For full results and all information, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 29 August, 2026

2026 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week: New winners on another glamour day

Superb sailing conditions and post racing fun continued on Day 2 at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW) and better still, the day produced new winners in every division, in spite of conditions being similar to yesterday’s.

Six Fathoms Race Day took the fleet on Strand races, giving Townsville locals and holidaymakers a special view of racing along the foreshore at lunchtime on a tropical sunny day in Far North Queensland. As the boats rounded a laid mark close to the Strand, the breeze was in and the action was fast.

It will be an amazing time up here when the Olympic Sailing Competition comes to the waters of Townsville and today’s race gave the region a taste of what to expect when the Games come to town in 2032 and for the preceding Test Events.

It was an all NSW showdown in the IRC Division. In the end Grant Golombick’s TP52, Quest (NSW), had the goods on yesterday’s winner, the JPK 10.80, Saltwater Wines (Tom Woods) and David Hamilton’s Farr 40 One-Design, Seeking Alpha.

Golombick said, “The teamwork was flawless. We made less mistakes than the rest. I was a bit worried when breeze died out like it did yesterday, but our tactician, Pete Farrugia, did a good job. They are a great bunch of guys and girls and we stuck with our plan.”

Golombick added, “Magnetic is quite a relief - it’s like the brochure advertised,” he said. The other great thing is being able to get off the boat and be in the centre of everything. It has the upper hand with non-sailors too because it has all the great activities.”

They Sydney yachtsman finished: “I have to thank Ollie (David Oliver) from Musto. He’s given us a huge amount of support with all our sailing gear.” SMIRW’s official merchandise is from Musto, which is onsite at Peppers Race Headquarters. The superior wide range of clothing is popular and the pop-up shop is open before and after racing each day.

Tasmanian Hughie Lewis scored the honours in SeaLink Spinnaker Division 1 with his RP46, Hartbreaker. In doing so, takes a very early lead in the series.

Not realising he had won, Lewis quipped, “I can sing better than I can sail!” This is in reference to Lewis’ background, concocted by A1, which had decided he is the same person as the famous American singer of the same name, despite the latter spelling his Christian name Huey!

“We thought we were fourth or fifth, but a win’s a win,” Lewis said. “It was good on the course. A nice breeze of up to 25 knots on the way home. Most of it was 15 to 18 knots.”

The Tasmanian said that when the wind pressure increased, “We put the foot down because they (Daguet 2) are quicker, but we ran a spinnaker from the south mark to the shipping mark and that’s where we took a bit of time out of them.

‘We pulled the spinnaker up for the last quarter mile to the finish just to try to take some time out of them. The crew worked very hard to get as much time as we could on Daguet 2.”

Lewis was chuffed that Daguet 2 owner, Rob Aldis, “came and congratulated us. They finished second today and we battle with them all the time. They are the boat we have to keep an eye on. We came equal fourth with them yesterday, now we are first and second overall with just a point between us!”

Crew Hartbreaker is looking forward to lay day: “We are going to the Arcadia pub for lunch and we’ll end up at Picnic Bay at some point. Last night we had a nice barbecue at Peppers in the pool area. We like to eat together as a crew.”

Division 2 went to John Kint with his Adams/Radford 57 footer, Bundaberg. Fellow Victorian entry, Mika (Brian Yarnall) was second. There was little more than a minute in it.

“Yes, we’re doing it pretty hard,” Kint said laughing. “We had a good day again (he was third yesterday). We got the double of first over the line and firs overall. The windward legs weren’t fun in the short and nasty chop, but we managed to get through it. The old is behaving very nicely,” Kint said of his 38-year-old boat.

Kint admitted the conditions suited Bundaberg, “especially on the run down under 65 to Code sail to the Townsville mark. It was perfect for us.” We are definitely working on keeping the good results up. There are no slouches in our division.”

Like the rest, Kint and his crew are looking forward to tomorrow’s lay day. “We’re going to Picnic Bay to look at the activities there and then we’re coming back to Peppers for a BBQ with our fellow Royal Geelong members on Phoenix49 (Brenton and Jennifer Carnell).”

Non-Spinnaker went the way of Apres Vous, the Beneteau Oceanis 473 owned by Andrew Watson (Vic). There was a minute in it to Pru Bennett’s Bavaria 44, Cloudbreak (NSW).

“It’s always a good day when you’re out on the water,” Watson said. “Today was Apres Vous weather, they (Beneteau Oceanis’) need breeze. We sailed well and the crew was fantastic.”

Watson and co. sailed the boat up from Airlie where it’s kept. “It was built in 2005 and still has the original sails,” he said, before adding: “This is a fantastic regatta, it’s all close and it’s a credit to the volunteers that run it.”

Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson told his volunteer on-water team this morning, “The wind will be pretty much the same as it was yesterday. He split the seven divisions between two Strand courses. IRC, along with Spinnaker Divisions 1 and 2’s course was 21 nautical miles, while the rest did a similar but slightly shorter 19.8nms.

Today was Tropical Dress Day, with prizes to be awarded to the best dressed tonight. A number of crews went to town - because they like to represent this fun tropical regatta as it should be done.

And pre the winners’ announcement, the Six Fathoms Tropical Cocktail Party, started at 5pm on the deck at Peppers Race Headquarters and was in full swing early on, as everyone was in the mood ahead of tomorrow’s lay day.

To add even more fun to the night, the crowd are to be entertained by the rock band, ‘Cranky Pants’. Back by popular demand, they play a wide repertoire from oldies to current hits, suiting the mix of ages at Race Week to a tee. The dance floor is always jammed until late into the night, as crews party bop till they drop.

A lay day full of fun and surprises awaits at the Townsville Airport Island Breeze Festival where there will be something for everyone - from kids to grown-ups - at Picnic Bay. For tomorrow only, free shuttle buses from Nelly Bay to Picnic Bay return are available from 8.30am to 5pm.

Racing will resume on Monday from 11.00am, when a Passage Race is planned for all but SeaLink Spinnaker Division 1, which will undertake two short races starting at 11.30am.

SMIRW is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise and Tourism and Events Queensland.

For full results and all information, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 28 August, 2026

2026 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week: First winners come home on a high

The sun was out ready on opening day at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW) and the breeze was piping in nice and early for Tropic Petroleum Race Day and competitors couldn’t wait to get on the waters off Maggie Island for an 11am start.

IRC Division winner, Tom Woods’ JPK 10.80, Saltwater Wine, defeated David Hamilton’s Farr 40 One-Design, Seeking Alpha (NSW) and Garth Ryan/Kate Leeson’s Wazza Red Boat (Qld) to take the win. Woods and his crew were on a high when they finished.

“We had a really good day,” Woods said. I’ve got a really good navigator from Fremantle (WA) with me (offshore yachtsman Kingsley Piesse) and David O’Dowd (another offshore sailor) on the bow. There’s some new guys since we did the Sydney Gold Coast, Brisbane Mackay (Woods finished third) and Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island race weeks.

“Sandy Higgins (2025 505 World Champion) has joined me up here. It’s good to have him on board and James Turner as well. It’s lucky I know nice people who are also good sailors,” said Woods, who himself won the 1984 505 Worlds with Dean Blatchford. My 505 was called Saltwater Wine, that’s how I named this boat,” he said.

Back on the race track today, Woods recalled, “We started at the pin and port tacked the fleet, then banged out to the right. We just had to sail low and keep moving till the pressure came in. The boat doesn’t like light air. The day worked right for us. On the way home, Kingsley rerouted the downwind leg because the breeze went back to the right and swung to the left again. It gained us a lot of ground.”

Woods finished, “I’m blessed to have people who are friends who want to come sailing with me. It was awesome coming home from the race. We talked about what we could do better, but nobody could come up with anything.”

Spinnaker Division 1 went to the Italia 13.98 Vincitore, owned by Victorian Peter Russell. Two Sydney 38’s filled out the top three – Andrew Lloyd/Mary Ann Harvey’s Clockwork (SA) and Kim Jaggar’s Cinquante (NSW). While Russell scored quite the win – there was just short of five minutes in it – there was, as expected, little between the ‘38’s’ – 49 seconds to be precise.

Russell was ecstatic with their day and win: “A slow start, but we picked a few right shifts that kept us up with the leaders,” he said. “We had a good kite run. Everything just went right today – one of those days.

“We’ve only been up north twice before. It’s all about having a bit of adventure coming up here. This is as far north as we’ve ever been and we enjoyed the 10 to 14 knots today. It touched about 20 coming home.”

Vincitore does most her sailing in Melbourne and Russell said, “We’ve had the boat for eight years. It’s one of only two Italia’s in Australia. The other is a racing model. We’ve got things like and air fryer and other comforts on board!”

In Spinnaker Division 3, Gary Davison’s Solaire, a Jeanneau 37 from Tasmania had the goods on her closest rivals, but it was close. Solaire won by 44 seconds to Keith Masters’ Bavaria Vision 40, Windmaiden (NSW). Andrew McConaghy’s Northshore 38c, Dragonfly (Qld) was third.

“We had an interesting start,” Davison confessed. “We were over early, so did a 360 degree turn to restart.” After enjoying a good beat up to Cleveland, he said, “We then had a problem finding the mark, but eventually worked out where it was. I think we picked up a bit of time with our helmswoman, ‘Marg the Magnificent’ Neeson. She’s a great downwind steerer.”

Davison came to Magnetic Island with a composite crew, “Three are retained from Hamo, where we finished second and we added three new ones for up here. We did this event two years ago and came almost motherless last, but were second at Hamo that year too.”

Among the three incoming is John Rallings. “He’s 60. We invited him because he lowers the average age of the crew (most of us are in our 70’s) And it’s his wedding anniversary today. We needed someone on the foredeck who didn’t need a mobility scooter or a walking aid – and he’s a great sailor as well!

As to being here competing, Davison said, “I was one of those very sad people who organised not to work on the day entries opened and I was ready to go ‘click’ on the entry just so we didn’t miss out. I got in just before it timed out!”

In the Multihull division, Graeme Etherton’s The Boat, from the host club, made the best of ideal conditions and local knowledge to overcome challenges from Gordon Beath’s Roamance (NSW). Ray Martin’s Beatrix from Western Australia, placed third.

“It was around 10 knots and picked up to a nice 15 and stayed that way most the day, although it dropped off towards the end. It was a nice day out, plenty of breeze to keep you going, you weren’t going to be becalmed today. No disasters to cause too much strife either, we had a good day,” Etherton surmised.

Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson, sent IRC, Spinnaker 1 and Spinnaker 2 divisions on the 22nm Four Foot Rock Race, while Spinnaker Divisions 3 and 4 along with the Non-Spinnaker division and multihulls sailed the 14 nautical mile Cape Cleveland Race.

A south/easterly of mainly 10-15 knots that bent as racing progressed, suited the chosen courses. “The sea is quite flat so they should have a good day,” Thompson said this morning. Thompson also mentioned, “It’s good to see entries up in the IRC class again.”

The six-day series hosted annually by Townsville Yacht Club (TYC) looks likely to be just what the yachties ordered: “It looks like a windy week, but not excessive. I expect to see good racing from all divisions.”

Competitors agreed. “The weather looks great for us,” one crew member on Wazza Red Boat said. “Be great to get another good result,” he said referring to their third overall at Airlie Beach Race Week earlier this month. The Adams 10 crew are particularly keen to beat Saltwater Wine. Why? “Because we beat them at Airlie, they beat us at Hamilton Island!”

Back at Peppers Race Headquarters, MC, Scott Hillier had the crowd revved up, as the day’s highlights were played on the big screen, ready for Denis Thompson to announce the daily prize winners. Following on, 45rpm were ready to get the crowd up dancing with a blend of Rock & Roll and country hits.

Racing is due to continue from 11am tomorrow.

Entries at SMIRW, supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise and Tourism and Events Queensland, are comprised of across IRC Rating, Spinnaker, Non-Spinnaker, Multihull and Trailable Yachts classes.

For full results and all information, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 19 August, 2026

Counting down to 2026 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week start!

The fun is about to start - officials at Townsville Yacht Club (TYC) are putting the final touches to SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW) as boats are already arriving, because in eight day’s time the much loved sold out event will be on again in full swing.

Quite a few are bringing their ‘A’ game, having stood on the podium at Airlie Beach Race Week earlier this month. They will be sharp and ready to race on the same waters of Magnetic Island and Townsville, where classes in the Sailing Competition for the 2032 Olympics and its Test Events beforehand, will compete. Exciting times for the region.

Kate Leeson and Garth Riley’s Wazza Red Boat (Qld) was third in a very competitive IRC Rating division at Airlie, the same class it will race in at Maggie Island. Wazza Red Boat also won Division 4 at SMIRW in 2025, her owners and crew are always on the boil.

Hughie Lewis (Tas) did the same with Hartbreaker in Performance Racing, despite hitting a reef in an early race and retiring. Lewis was second in Spinnaker Division 1 at Maggie Island last year, losing the top spot on countback – and the boat will be lifted in Townsville for a spit and polish beforehand, so beware.

Peter Byford and Rob Aldis’ Daguet 2 (NSW) was the thorn in Hartbreaker’s side at Maggie in 2025, and will likely be so again in 2026. Seeking Alpha (David Hamilton, NSW) finished third and returns, so it’s sure to be on for young and old between the trio again.

Ian Frankhanel’s Salt (Vic) just missed top place in Spinnaker Division 1, accepting second on countback. In Division 2, Burke Melia’s No Mercy (NSW) won from Matt Doyle’s La Troisieme Mitemps (NSW) and Matthew Kingsberry’s Amaya II. In a close Division 3, Phillip Cormie’s Dreamtime Solutions (Vic) won, while Geoff Adams’ Rampallion (Vic) was one point away in third.

These boats and crew should have the upper hand, although it is not always the case, as some crews change from regatta to regatta and then there is local knowledge. Event Chairman, Mike Steel (Boudica) and TYC Director, Tony Muller and wife Selena’s Brava are among those who have topped the podium before.

Here for the first time and currently competing at Hamilton Island is Thomas Woods and his JPK 10.80 Saltwater Wine (NSW). Competing alongside them is Grant Golombick’s TP52, Quest, a two-time winner of the Sydney Hobart (as Quest and as Balance), David Currie‘s Ponyo and David Hamilton’s Seeking Alpha (NSW). They will arrive at Maggie ready to go head-to-head.

Ray Martin brought Beatrix all the way from WA to compete in all three Northern Queensland tropical regattas. He missed out on a top place at Airlie, but will come ready to face his opponents: Queenslanders Dennis Coleman’s Mistress (third in 2024), Graeme Etherton’s The Boat (second last year) and Gordon Beath’s 2023 winner, Roamance (NSW).

A newcomer to SMIR is Steven Brockwell and his Neel trimaran, Triple Shot. The Victorian is looking forward to everything Race Week has to offer.

Brockwell concedes, “We’ve never been to Race Week before - we’ve never been in a race before! I think my parents took me to the Island for a couple of days when I was 14, but I don’t really remember it.

“We’re looking forward to being at Magnetic Island. It’s me and my wife, Yvonne. I also have my cousin, Marco Westmaas, a chef in Bangkok, coming with his wife,” he says of famed Dutch Master Chef, Westmaas, who is credited with revolutionising healthy and flavourful cuisine through his ‘vegetarian butchery’.

Brockwell, who bought Triple Shot near new in Europe, sailed her to New Zealand and Australia over a seven year period. “Now we spend our time sailing north from Melbourne during winter and absolutely love it,” he said.

“We’re really looking forward to meeting like-minded people at the Island and enjoying all the social activities and festivities. We’ve been told it’s the friendliest regatta, so that’s why we entered,” Brockwell finished.

The Victorian has been giving the rundown on shoreside activities: The Yachties Welcome on Thursday’s opening night, daily prize giving with live music to follow and the Leisurely Long Lunch at Peppers Boardwalk Restaurant for those who choose to stay ashore on Friday.

Lay Day Sunday’s Townsville Airport Island Breeze Festival with artisan markets, free kids paradise, food stills, Afrekete dancers, Townsville Radio Controlled Yachting Regatta, Queensland Country Bank Great Inflatable Race, mud crab races and so much more in the way of fun on the Island. The full social program is available to view at the official site.

Inaugurated in 2007, this increasingly popular event is now in its 19^th running (2020 was cancelled due to COVID). This year, Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and of course, Queensland, are represented,

SMIRW is the final stop on the Northern Queensland circuit of regattas. It is centred around Peppers Race Headquarters at Blue on Blue Resort where the sailing is first class and the fun is unlimited.

Entries at SMIRW, supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise and Tourism and Events Queensland, are comprised of across IRC Rating, Spinnaker, Non-Spinnaker, Multihull and Trailable Yachts classes.

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 30 June, 2026

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week – Expanding horizons

The main event for visiting yachties to Far Northern Queensland is SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW) – but Magnetic Island is also the pivot for owners and crews who like to expand their horizons while away from home – before, during and after the regatta held annually in late winter through to early spring each year.

‘Maggie Island’ is touted as the ‘go to’ event by competitors at Townsville Yacht Club’s (TYC) regatta, to the point where the majority of those from outside Queensland opt to arrive early or stay on the Island afterwards. It’s an ideal holiday destination – timed perfectly as the final regatta on the Northern Queensland calendar at the perfect time of year.

Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell MP, said Magnetic Island Race Week was set to once again put Townsville and North Queensland in the national spotlight and continue to firm up Queensland’s status as Australia’s events capital.

“Magnetic Island Race Week has become one of the country’s standout sailing events, and it’s exactly the kind of major drawcard that’s helping cement Queensland as the events capital of Australia,” Minister Powell said.

“We’re backing events like this because they deliver more visitors, more jobs and more opportunities for local businesses right across North Queensland.

“With more than 4,000 visitors and close to 17,000 visitor nights expected, this is a major win for Townsville and Maggie Island including for our hotels, restaurants, tour operators and the broader community,” the Minister ended.

There is so much to do and see - on and off Magnetic Island. Sightseeing, bush walking, swimming, diving, cruising relaxing, eating and so on.

Gordon Beath lives in NSW, but is originally from Queensland. He owns a 14 metre cruising catamaran named Roamance. With it, Beal is able to enjoy the best of both worlds - Maggie and beyond - with a rather soft spot for Magnetic Island and the region in general.

“In the past I’ve loaned the boat to two of my crew to do Townsville Yacht Club’s GaLS Regatta after Maggie Island Race Week. This time, I’m taking the boat to Brisbane for maintenance on the 1^st of July. It should be finished around the 7^th when I’ll be spending money in Queensland for the next four to five months,” Beath explained.

“Around the 15th to 20th of July, we’re going to cruise up to the Whitsundays and then cruise to Magnetic Island for Race Week. We’re cruising home too, with stops on the way. There are so many beautiful places to look at in and around Townsville and Magnetic Island.

Beath says Roamance has allowed he and his wife to sail and cruise where they like. That includes winning the Groupama Race around new Caledonia, cruising Fiji and more. He says, “But we love cruising Northern Queensland, because it has so much to offer.

“I can’t wait to get to Magnetic and enjoy the atmosphere again,” says Beath who has been visiting the quaint island since 1988.

“I was the original architect for the Nelly Bay resort ( it became Peppers Blue on Blue), but I didn’t end up building it. I’ve had history at the Island. I love the wilderness and I love Horseshoe Bay. The Island has nice geography and geology – it has a rustic feel and it takes you back to nature.

“My sister stayed in an Airbnb on Maggie last time. It was near the bush and she loved it there, enjoying seeing koalas, wallabies and other wildlife.”

Hughie Lewis is one of the Tasmanian entrants who likes to come in from the cold – and SMIRW provides the perfect vehicle for him to do so. Lewis has been competing at the regatta for years, most recently with his 46-foot yacht, Hartbreaker.

“The boat’s on the hardstand at Townsville having work done to it at the moment. We prefer to get it done there,” the Tassie yachtsman said. “We’re going up to Townsville on the 22^nd of June and Julie (his partner) and I will stay and tour Townsville and its outer regions for ten days.”

On Lewis’ crew are Tasmanian husband and wife, Simon and Gail Desmarchelier. “They’re coming up north late July to cruise the boat to Airlie Beach and then spend a week cruising up to Maggie Island.

“While they’re cruising the boat, Julie and I are touring around Townsville and its outer regions for around ten days,” Lewis said.

Wayne McNee is among the throngs who find the virtues of competing at SMIRW. After competing last year, the Victorian loaned his yacht, Celebrity, for the GaLS regatta afterwards, but has different plans for his 11 metre yacht this year.

“This time we’re going cruising after Maggie Island for a couple of weeks. I have crew coming from Melbourne and Sydney, so we’ll take the opportunity to sail the Palm Group (an archipelago of 16 tropical islands located about 70-80 kilometres north of Townsville).

“Orpheus and Dunk islands are just two we’d like to look at and we’re also going to the outer reef. We’ll probably spent two weeks to a month cruising before going home,” McNee said.

The Victorian is effusive about Magnetic Island too: “I love the atmosphere of Maggie Island. It’s the best event on the east coast of Australia. It sets people up to enjoy the Island and the local areas during and outside of the event. I love the camaraderie of Race Week and the friendliness of the people on the Island.”

Mary Ann Harvey, a South Australian and co-owner of the Sydney 38, Clockwork, is counting the days till Race Week after enjoying the delights of Race Week and the Island for the first time last year.

“We’re doing Maggie Island and then the GaLS regatta. Six women from different parts of Australia who raced at the 2026 Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (in Melbourne) are joining me at Maggie and four others are flying in to join us for the GaLS regatta. Then we’re heading to Sydney, stopping at a few pretty spots on the way.”

Harvey says, “Magnetic is my favourite regatta and I love the Island. We travelled around on Lay Day (a day off at the regatta) and went to look at the historic parts and then went the other way around – the transport around the island is great. We love the geography, the coffee shops, the food – it’s all fantastic.”

Joker X2’s co-owner, Peter Dowdney is sold on the entire region. “Sallie (his wife) and I fell in love with Maggie Island and hanging out at the marina there,” he said.

“We’ve been there two or three times since Grant (Chipperfield, co-owner of Joker X2) and I finished the double-handed Melbourne Osaka race (2025) and we arrived at Maggie on late June after clearing customs in Townsville. We left the boat at Maggie for six months then and we’ll probably do that again this year, then we can use the yacht when we want.”

Like others, Dowdney has pre-Maggie Race Week plans for his 13.3 metre yacht that is well set up for short-handed sailing and cruising. “Sallie and I will take a tour to Orpheus and other islands. We’ll cruise down as far as the Whitsundays, then cruise back up to Townsville and have the boat cleaned ready to race at Maggie.”

“One of the best things about cruising near Magnetic Island, Dowdney says, “is the public mooring system. You arrive at a place like Orpheus Island and pick up a mooring easily – all within five or six miles of Magnetic Island.”

While the boat is being cleaned up in Townsville for around five days, Dowdney says, “We’ll book into accommodation and spend time having a play around Townsville. We like it up there. There’s always lots to do and see.”

Magnetic Island, he says, “Was the best kept secret on the north coast – until competitors let the cat of the bag! It’s a really cool place with a nice vibe. We can be on the Island in four and half hours from where I live in Hampton (Melbourne), because the transport (plane, shuttle bus to the SeaLink ferry terminal and ferry) all lines up. That makes it easy and appealing to keep coming back,” Dowdney ends.

SMIRW is the much loved swansong of the tropical Northern Queensland circuit of regattas - and the regatta that opens the gateway to staying and playing in the region.

SMIRW is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise and all information can be found at: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

To discover tropical winters in Queensland, visit: https://tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 3 March, 2026

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week: Eight minutes was all it took

A record eight minutes was all it took for SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW) to sell-out in 2026 and officials at Townsville Yacht Club (TYC) were overjoyed that their event remains such a popular fixture on the sailing calendar, with racing to take place from 27 August to 2 September.

“Three minutes into opening entries yesterday, we were three quarters sold out - and in eight minutes it was all over. It was two minutes faster than our 10 minute record of last year,” said an incredulous Event Chairman, Mike Steel. “We were happy to see a few of the entries came from people who will be competing here for the first time.”

Among those new to SMIRW are Alan Grant’s Elliott 770 Loose Cannon, Andrew Hesselmans’ Steinman 40, Noeleen III and Kate Leeson’s Adams 10, Wazza Red Boat.

It was joy for those who managed to be quick on the keyboard. For those who missed out, Steel says, “We will take waitlist entries, in case any successful entrants are not able to make it, so don’t hesitate to contact the Club if you would like to go on the waitlist.”

TYC is also still taking entries from trailable yacht owners who are happy to keep their boats trailered on the boat ramp opposite Peppers Race Headquarters. Taking advantage of the offer means a discounted entry fee of $550 instead of the usual $700. The saving comes from not having to pay marina fees.

A few owners were able to gain entry to the 19^th running of the regatta through the On Board Sailing Partnership (OBSP), which was promoted in the lead-up and open from 15 January to 6 February only.

The OBSP was created for those who wanted to lock in an early bird entry AND give a business a fun, high-impact presence throughout the event with: Logo placement on the big screen at Peppers Race HQ, website logo placement and direct hyperlink to your website and dedicated social media post promoting your business to the MIRW audience.

Jennifer and Brenton Carnell, a yachting couple from Geelong in Victoria, were among the other quick owners (a mix of newcomers and returnees) to take advantage. The Carnells have entered their Marten 49, Phoenix49, in what will be their first appearance at SMIRW.

“Brenton heard about it (OBSP) on the grapevine and put a message on my desk and said, ‘Hey can you do something about this quickly. So I rang Jodie (Kennedy, the Event Manager) and we signed up. Our business is Brick Build Systems based in Geelong. The offer suited us,” Jennifer said.

“This will be our first Magnetic Island and it just sounds like a lot of fun. Whenever we come north (to Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach Race Weeks) we hear about it. Everyone talks about it, so now it’s our time to come to Maggie,” she said.

SMIRW is the final stop on the Northern Queensland circuit of regattas. It is centred around Peppers Blue on Blue Resort, including the race start line, a five minute motor from the resort. The social program will again be fun ladened and the lay day offers a full day of activities to suit all ages and tastes.

Entries at SMIRW, supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise, are comprised of Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker classes, along with Multihull, Trailable and Sports Boats.

For all information, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 18 February, 2026

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week: On your mark… get set…

It toppled all previous records by selling out in just shy of 10 minutes last year - and unsurprisingly, Townsville Yacht Club (TYC) has been inundated with calls from those wanting to secure early entry into 2026 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW) - the most sought after ticket on the Australian yachting scene.

“To make it fair for everyone, there is only one way to gain entry to SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week - and that is by being quick on the keyboard when entries open at 10am (Queensland time) on Monday 2^nd of March,” Event Chairman, Mike Steel, explained.

“We wish we could accommodate everyone who wants to come, but berthing numbers dictate how many entries we can take,” Steel said of the vaunted event, held every year since 2007 and to take place from 27August to 2 September this year.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming successful entrants and their family and friends to Magnetic Island again. We appreciate the support we get from the sailing community every year and we never take it for granted,” Steel stressed.

SMIRW is the final stop on the Northern Queensland circuit of regattas. It is centred around Peppers Blue on Blue Resort, including the race start line, a five minute motor from the resort. The social program will again be fun ladened and the lay day offers a full day of activities to suit all ages and tastes.

In this 19^th running of the event, the door has opened for trailable yacht owners to keep their boats trailered on the boat ramp opposite Peppers Race Headquarters. Taking advantage of the offer means a discounted entry fee of $550 instead of the usual $700. The saving comes from not having to pay marina fees and it frees up berths for non-trailable boats.

Peppers is in the throes of a full refurbishment to the entertainment deck, as it prepares for the usual onslaught of sailors. And this is a timely reminder to book accommodation at the resort as soon as entry is confirmed, because it is the popular choice for competitors and their families.

Many take advantage of enjoying a holiday before and/or after the regatta in this pretty part of the world. Easy access to Townsville opens up opportunities to partake of a variety of delights in the region.

SMIRW, supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise, is open to Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker classes, along with Multihull, Trailable and Sports Boats.

So, put 10am, 2 March in your diary, set your countdown clock and flex those fingers, as you prepare to enter at: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 4 September, 2025

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week’s recipe for success

A hands-on approach is at the heart of ensuring the strength and future success of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW), which just celebrated its 18^th birthday, much to the happiness of competitors and Townsville Yacht Club (TYC).

Race Week closes the northern circuit each year. It is held as winter burgeons into spring, a one of a kind event for myriad reasons. It was founded by Terry Dodds, Managing Director of Sunferries (now SeaLink), the major backer of the event from its inception in 2007.

Dodds recognised the value of giving those yachts competing at Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island Race Weeks one last regatta before returning to their home ports in spring. He was right. When you ask those from colder climes why they love coming here, the weather and the destination figure prominently.

Mike Steel is the enduring Commodore of TYC and Event Chairman of SMIRW, where he races his Elan E5, Boudica. He and Muller, A TYC Director who competes with his Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409, Brava, were around for the inception of the regatta and still here today, making sure it keeps thriving.

The twos passion for sailing and the event is evident. Steel stepped down as Event Chairman in 2018, but the baton was delivered back to him the following year. Muller has also been a constant in dual roles as TYC director and competitor. The pair go a step further, taking sponsors and event partners racing - and both enjoy that aspect.

Steel says he’s always loved anything to do with sailing boats: “When I was seven years old, my dad had boats on a slip in Bulimba (Queensland). In Grade 4, when the other kids were drawing pictures of cars, I was drawing boats.

“Dad had a Top Hat 25 and I remember around that time seeing the movie Jaws. We did a trip out to Palm Island on the boat and I remember being terrified a shark would get us! I never got seasick though. I started racing Sabots off The Strand in Townsville. I still have the shirt I used to wear and the certificates I was awarded.

“Sailing on little boats I’d see yachts and think, ‘I want to be on one of those’. When I turned 17, I got my first car and bought a 14 ft catamaran. At 18 I bought a Moth. I always had to have a boat.

“At 19, I started crewing on a Currawong 30 as foredeckie for Dick Greenwood. We raced in the first or second Hamilton Island Race and I loved it! We did the Coral Sea Classic. We went to Papua New Guinea in 1998 for two years and I raced on a 26 footer there. Racing consumed me. I just had to be on the water.

“I had a Ross 780 when I was 38 or 39 and was a sailing member at Townsville Yacht Club (then known as Townsville Cruising Yacht Club). I raced that boat at the first Maggie Island Race Week in 2007. Sunferries ran the event back then and the Club looked after the on-water race management.”

Steel continues, “Ten years ago the Club took over running the event and I became a director of the Club and event chair. They wanted help running the event, so I put my hand up. Then I became the Club Commodore in 2024 and have been the event chair since – except for one year.”

Steel continued to sail in tandem with his other shore-based roles and updated his yacht to a brand new Dufour 34, Boudicea. Then he updated to a Dufour 36, Boadicca. Last year, he updated again, this time to a new Elan E5, Boudica.

“Same name, four different spellings,” laughs Steel who loves SMIRW: “I love coming here. It’s a smaller regatta with everyone in one place. You get to know people. It’s fun. It’s the signature event for the Club. It’s landed Townsville and Magnetic Island on the map.

“This would have been our 19^th Race Week, but we had to cancel 2020 because of COVID. In 2021, we knew people were itching to go sailing and travel again, but were nevertheless amazed when numbers reached 35 the day entries opened. Ten days later there were 70 and it quickly escalated to 80. It’s been selling out faster since. Ten minutes for this year’s regatta!

“I couldn’t believe it,” Muller says. “We’ve been keeping a wait list for the last five years, as it become more and more popular. Muller, a member of TYC since 1985, has been on the Board since 1991 in various roles and was Commodore in the mid-2000s.

“The numbers here (SMIRW) are just right. The advantages are that everyone is parked in one spot, nearly everyone lives in the same spot, the entertainment is a one to three minute walk and the start line is a five minute motor.

“Taking sponsors out to race here – I always felt it was necessary, as they want to be part of the event – they want to experience it. It doesn’t have much meaning if they don’t experience it,” Muller explains.

“Coming first, second or third is not the be-all and end-all either. It’s the experience you come here for.”

This year, singer/guitarist, Tommy Lee Archer, stood on deck of Chris Morgan’s La Quinta and entertained us from the marina out to the start line each day, while the women on Vicki Hamilton’s Akarana, danced and sang on deck. Others dressed in costume. These are some of the experiences that make you smile and differentiate SMIRW from others.

“The other thing we have, is racing not starting until 11am and finishing by around 3.00 to 3.30pm. That way you get the best of racing and the best of the day.

“We speak to competitors every year and ask them what‘s good, bad and what to change. People say, ‘Why would you change it?’ They say, ‘We love it just the way it is’. The majority say it’s not just about being on the water, but what we offer ashore as well.

On his own sailing experience, Muller began sailing in 1985 and raced with various owners, inclusive of three Sydney Hobarts.

“In 2011, I bought Brava, my only boat. It’s 14 years old now. I love the challenge of sailing. At Maggie Island I especially love the camaraderie, the mixture of people and skills that you rely on. And you don’t have to take it too seriously!”

On putting effort into TYC and SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, Muller says, “I’ll keep going for the time being. It’s a profitable club and marina. For the last 20 years we’ve had a very good board and that’s what makes the Club and the event successful.

For all information on SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 3 September, 2025

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week comes to a close as winners declared

Today was Peppers Race Day and the final day of racing at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week and competitors have enjoyed a fabulous week of racing thanks to organisers at Townsville Yacht Club and those at Peppers Race Headquarters who make this event the unique one it is.

Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson and his team sent the boats on a 22 nautical mile passage race. Division 1 took on the Four Foot Rock Race, starting off Peppers Race Headquarters and taking in the abovementioned rock, which sits on the north-eastern tip of Townsville. The remaining divisions did the 14nm Cape Cleveland Race on Cleveland Bay.

Division 1 to Daguet 2 on countback

Peter Byford and Rob Aldis’ Daguet 2 (NSW) scored a timely seventh place to win SeaLink Division 1 on countback to Hughie Lewis’ Hartbreaker (Tas), Lewis using today’s 11^th as a drop. Seeking Alpha (David Hamilton, NSW) did the same with his 10^th today, to secure third place. The top three had been in a good tussle regatta long. Michael Lazzarini skippered the Open 60, Awen (Qld), to win the final race.

Aldis was on the Island for the first two days and Byford arrived for the next three to take charge of the striking silver/grey Mylius 50. He said, “I didn’t think we’d win on countback. The drop changed everything to bring Hartbreaker back up. We came into the marina thinking we had won it cleanly, not remembering the drop!

“I thought we sailed well the whole series – it’s a shame Rob wasn’t here for the last three races. It’s been really close racing in our division the whole regatta, which makes it more interesting,” he said.

“We got a good start today and rounded Four Foot Rock about 8-10 minutes ahead of our two rivals. We had a glorious upwind sail; the wind suited the boat. It’s fantastic to win and it’s been good on the water and good off it – lots of fun!”

Kate Leeson – Wazza Red Boat won Division 4

Kate Leeson, skippering Wazza Red Boat (Qld), ended the week by winning the final race to win Division 4 overall from Wayne Mercer’s Aye Sea Red (Vic) by four and a half points. Jack Maguire’s Zen and the Art of Sailing (Qld) placed third overall a further point away.

“The high note was to go out winning the last race. It’s the first time I’ve skippered at a regatta and I’m so proud of my crew. Our boat (an Adams 10) prefers more breeze, but we found the breeze consistent throughout the day,. The kite run was amazing - we saw 10 knots downwind surfing.

“I’ve only been sailing for four years. I do feel proud, but it’s a team effort. Everyone was quiet on board; they knew their jobs and did them. It was one of those days where it all went well. We’re an Airlie Beach boat and we’ll be back next year.

“I think the entertainment has been great, the guy (Tommy on La Quinta) was fun playing guitar and singing. It’s all very relaxed, and the competitors will come up and shake your hand, it’s friendly. The weather’s been great too. We came third at Airlie Beach, but my partner steered it, so we’ve had two great results.

“Not all of us have sailed together before, so the first day was our worst result, but we got better from there,” Leeson ended.

Storm Bay storms home to win Multihull Division

A first-timer at SMIRW, Marc Gerard saved the best till last, winning the final race with Storm Bay (Qld) to claim the overall win by a mere point from Graeme Etherton’s The Boat (Qld). The latter scored second in today’s final race.

“It’s been a great week,” Gerard acknowledged. Our biggest thing was as the days went on, we got better. Everyone in the division had a win - the handicapping was very good here – it helps. This is the first time I’ve done this regatta. To win makes it more worthwhile.

“Most definitely I’d come back. It’s hard to get into this regatta. I had to be ready as soon as entries opened and we got in this year! It’s very well run. And the competition was great, Gerard said after winning in what he called, “good company”.

Green Beacon White Swan takes Division 3

Brian Pozzey won by 2 points to Brigus and a further point to Freya. “It was my birthday yesterday, so this is my birthday present,” a happy Pozzey commented.

“Today was all to sail for. We were in second yesterday, there were three RQYS boats in the top three. We didn’t think we had enough breeze to get started and the other two boats are light and being a Swan 57, we’re heavy.

“But we had a good beat to the Cleveland mark and then a good run. The other two boats didn’t do as well and it popped them out of contention. Once we got our drop, that was it. Some of my mates on other boats say that I ‘burgled’ it (stole the win),” he said laughing.

Pozzey finished: “This is our third Maggie Race Week and I just love it. I think this is the best of the three northern regattas – it’s special. The crew are really stoked, they were great this year, half sail with us and the others are new locals. It’s part of the spirit here. Absolutely I’ll be coming back next year.”

The Secretary comes forward to claim Non-Spinnaker division

George Shaw and Robyn Brooke’s second place with The Secretary (Vic) in today’s final race helped them claim the overall win by three points to Rod Wills’ Great Xpectations (NSW). Wills had led the pointscore from Day 1, but Shaw and Brooke were more consistent in their results. Glenn Myler’s Thylacine One (Tas) took third place.

Popeye had the goods in Division 2

Despite their last race being the worst, an 11^th used as a drop, Popeye won on countback to not one, but two other boats, . I had to refresh the page three times to believe we’d won. I was so anxious, I woke up at 3am and questioned how do I get a good start – then got a bad one!

They won on countback to two other boats – Joker X2 (Grant Chipperfield, Vic) and Doug Ryan’s local boat, Shazam. The next two finishers were countback situations as well.

“I’m very surprised to win,” Douglas said. “We had 50 percent of our usual crew on board. Some have sailed together, but on different boats, but we got better and better. Tracy Richardson was tactician and did a sterling job – we have six women on board – so half the crew are women. Tracy is skippering the boat at the Women’s regatta in Townsville next week.”

On the regatta as a whole, Douglas said, “We had a blast. Great food, great friends, social, sunshine and the event is very well organised. You feel special up here. We enjoyed it thoroughly – the highlight was getting our act together from Monday. We sailed in light airs throughout which is not our forte – the boat is heavy.”

Today was another fine finish to SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week. You can’t beat it. TYC officials are welcoming, everyone has a good time – and that’s mandatory when you get to stay and race out of beautiful Peppers Blue on Blue Resort in glorious weather before heading back to work.

Three cheers to competitors, Event Manager Jodie Kennedy and her team, the Race Management team headed by Denis Thompson, volunteers and the sponsors. It was a week of great sailing and fun ashore, along with some fund raising for worthwhile causes.

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise.

For full results in all divisions, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 2 September, 2025

Everyone a winner in SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week Round the Island Race

On Day 4 of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, the fleet was sent on the sailors’ favourite – the Around the Island Race, starting off Peppers Race Headquarters and taking the fleet around Magnetic Island via the stunning Orchard Rocks on another glorious day.

The course was just shy of 21 nautical miles and although the breeze was light, it was summer-like again and the Maggie Island scenery is nothing short of spectacular.

Russell McLaughlin, Freya won Division 4 to Joe Niven’s Chinook and Justin Van Stom’s Calendar Girl in an all Townsville Yacht Club shoe-in.

McLaughlin explained how he had the goods on the rest: “We had a really good win - we went the right way! I know the Island quite well, I sail around it regularly, so I decided to go towards the Island and everyone else didn’t! Everything went well, but we did better than expected.

“The crew are from Melbourne, Canberra, Gold Coast and me from Townsville, four were with me last year and an American joined us. They are a mixed bag and we’re all getting along well. We got a second yesterday, but didn’t do too well before that. We’re not a racing boat, but we go out and do our best and have fun.”

Rod Sweeney was also enjoying his win with Rhomberg Sersa Australia, a Fusion 40 sailing in the Multihull division. It was a big win too – 20 minutes in front of nearest rival, Storm Bay (Mark Gerard, Qld).

“It was a beautiful day and the race suited us because it had lots of downwind. The boat does like upwind and we only had one of those legs, so everyone onboard is very happy.

“We weren’t going to well before that, but all things combined and we had a great day. Everyone had the spinnaker up around the back of the Island and it looked great. I’d like to thank our crew – we had a great team day, he said of the five on board his catamaran.

Another thrilled winner was Craig Douglas, the owner of Popeye, a Beneteau First 47.7 from NSW sailing in Division 2: “You know I found this boat a wreck in Thailand in 2014. I did it up and brought it home. People say, ‘why don’t you get a new boat?’ She’s 25 years-old and weighs 13 tonnes, but I love the boat and we go alright,” he explained.

Of their result, the Sydneysider said, “We had a cracking start. We had most the start to ourselves, got to the top mark first and were first at every mark after that sailing in clear air. That doesn’t happen often.

“We sailed hard and the wind suited us – we saw about 12 knots. We had a complete screw up with the spinnaker at the top mark and lost around 100 metres. It turned out that favoured us, as it pushed us towards Townsville and the breeze was there.

“We finished with a torn headsail, but we had a great day – no parking lots for us, although we were in 1 knot momentarily.”

Tim Woods had his best day this week with Serenity, (Vic), winning the Non-Spinnaker division today from Thylacine One (Tas). The latter is owned by Glenn Myler, who recently clean-swept the Melbourne to Osaka 5500nm double handed race, sailing double Sydney Hobart winner Alive with its usual skipper, Duncan Hine.

A thrilled Woods said, “It was just a nice result. We’ve had terrible results before now, so to win is good.

“We didn’t fall into any holes, because we were so far behind everybody, we could see what was going on in front of us and the boats heading in to the Island didn’t do too well. So we went out a bit wide at the northern end of Maggie where the mark was well set to avoid the shallows and reef.

“We got a good line and poled out. We had a beautiful beam reach and went as fast as we could go and I think that’s where we won it and the rest is to do with our elapsed time and handicap. The Maggie Island Race Gods were smiling on us and we’re very grateful.”

Ponyo (David Currie, Vic) took the honours in SeaLink Division 1 from Grant Golombick’s two-time Sydney Hobart winner, Quest (Qld) and Daguet, a Mylius 50 owned by Peter Byford and Rob Aldis.

“Amazing. Apparently we won by 5 seconds to Quest. We hung in there. We tried to follow Seeking Alpha around the course. We’re happy. I don’t think we saw more than 11 knots. It was fairly close with the other boats till we got to the corner, the bigger boats went out to sea, the rest didn’t, we bunched at the eastern side,” Currie said.

“We ran right down the coast with spinnaker up, had the current with us all the way and then we all sailed into a very big hole, drifted around for a time, it was whoever got out the other side. Quest went too far inshore and parked for a while, about five of us got through and beat to the finish. It was beautiful sailing, apart from falling in the hole.”

One day to go at of Townsville Yacht Club’s 18^th running of its annual event and SMIR’s official merchandise is from Musto, on site at Peppers Race Headquarters. The wide range of clothing is popular and today and tomorrow are the final opportunities to shop.

Musto CEO, David Oliver, is also racing aboard Mike Steel’s Elan 55, Boudica. Oliver is a dab hand on a boat – his accolades include winning the 2013 Rolex Sydney Hobart on Victoire.

SMIRW comes to a close tomorrow, with the final race to start from 11am – weather permitting.

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise.

For full results in all divisions, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 1 September, 2025

Picture perfect sailing day at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

It was Visit Queensland Race Day at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, following the lay day, but everyone fired up on a magical, sparkling Day 3 of Townsville Yacht Club’s annual event – the fun and laughter on board the yachts and ashore after racing, said it all.

In SeaLink Spinnaker Division 1, wins in the two windward/leeward races went to David Hows’ Open 60, Awen (Qld) and Stephen ‘ORourke’s Melges 32, Panther 32 (NSW). However, it was Hartbreaker’s (Tas) performance with 3-2 results that impressed and moved her to the top of the series leaderboard.

“A boat load of Hobart geriatrics leading the series – who would have thought – and it was nice to get the gun in both races too,” said a laughing Hughie Lewis, owner of Hartbreaker, a Reichel/Pugh 46.

Hartbreaker’s crew helped her to a glamour start in the first race of the day, firing off the pin right on the gun. “And our second start, although not as precise, was pretty good too,” said Lewis, the well-known yachtie, not to be confused with the famous US singer – A1 seems to think it is one person!

“We nailed the first start, the second was not quite as good as the first, but still OK. Our tactician, Mick Dineen picked the shifts nicely, the whole crew did a great job. Only four of my crew carried on from Airlie Beach, the rest are new on the boat, so are still learning it.”

On the conditions on their course area, Lewis said, “It went from just under to 10 knots to 14-15, but mostly around 10-12 range. A beautiful day and nice breeze.

“Denis (Thompson, Principal Race Officer) does such a great job. He talks so much to the competitors, keeps everyone informed, because he wants to see everyone have a fair race. Denis makes it plain and simple. He is terrific,” Lewis shared.

And on the boat he bought in April this year, “We are loving it. I didn’t think we’d make it here, as the boat collided with a whale on the way to Airlie Beach. We had to take the keel and bulb off and it took three and a half weeks to repair. So we are so happy to be here.

“We were surprised to do so well in the windward/leewards today, especially after doing so badly in them at Airlie Beach,” Lewis ended.

The rest of the fleet sailed a race that brought the yachts within close proximity of the Island, along Arthur and Florence Bays to Orchard Rocks (it has some of the most interesting rock formations that makes one wonder how some of them balance without toppling into the sea) and beyond to Horseshoe Bay, on a picture-perfect day.

In Division 2, Brian Yarnall's Jeanneau 49i, Mika (Vic), overcame Craig Douglas’ Beneteau First 47.7 (NSW) and Stephen Green’s J/122, Joint Venture (Qld) to take the spoils. The latter boat’s third place has moved her to the top of the overall leaderboard though.

“It was a fantastic day, we had some terrible earlier races,” Yarnall confessed. “Saturday was awful. Our furler sheet got wrapped and we had to send someone up the mast to fix it and we found some holes. So we decided we had to do well today,” Yarnall said.

"We had breeze all the way today and a fantastic view of the Island, which the crew hadn’t seen before. We had a good start, kept away from all those barging and kept up with all the other boats around the course.

“Our crew work was fantastic, we didn’t have any breakages, so a good day out!”

Chris Morgan was the big winner in Division 3 as the race win for his Jeanneau 409i, La Quinta (Qld), has given Morgan the series lead by two points to one of his main foe, Brigus, Daniel McSweeney’s Beneteau First 35. Both are from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.

Morgan can in part thank Tommy Lee Archer, he reckons. His crew come singer-guitarist, keeps the fleet and those shoreside entertained from the marina at Peppers Race Headquarters to the start line. People ashore are joining in singing and clapping. It’s fun.

“Tommy’s guitar playing absolutely helped us win today,” Morgan said.

“We didn’t get off the line really well, but we caught up pretty quickly. I think we were third around the mark at the Island. We were close with Brava and Brigus, our two target boats.

We had breeze all the way and got around the course pretty quickly, considering it was mainly around 10 knots.”

Morgan was surprised get a first today, “We thought we might have been third, which would have been nice, but we won. A bit worried about the handicap now …”

It was a much better race than Saturday when we fell into a few holes, but we got out and a bit of a puff got us over the line just inside the finish time cut-off. We were luckier than others,” Morgan said.

“It’s going to be fairly light the next two days, which isn’t good for our boat. Not to worry, we’ll take it as it comes,” the philosophical yachtie ended.

A ding dong battle in Division 4 between Rising Sun (Kevin O’Rourke, NSW), Akarana (Vicki Hamilton, Qld) and Aye Sea Red (Vic) resulted in the three finishing in this order. The trio was close all along the Island spinnaker run.

Rising Sun’s kite came down mid-run, as the Army crew struggled to get air into it, but she kept her speed up somehow. Wayne Mercer had Aye Sea Red surging ahead at times, while Akarana kept a steady pace. It was a thriller to watch all three crews concentrate on their trim, while we watched it all unfold from the media boat.

Correction to yesterday’s release. I had Great Xpectations leading Division 4 – she was leading the Non-Spinnaker division and continues to do so after a fifth place this afternoon.

Racing continues tomorrow from 11am – weather permitting.

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise.

For full results in all divisions, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 30 August, 2025

Fortune favoured the chosen ones at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

A stunning sunny start in 15-18 knots winds for The Strand Race at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, giving enthusiasts ashore at Townsville a prime opportunity to take in some of the racing while enjoying lunch outdoors.

However, never count your chickens before they hatch. Day 2, Tropic Petroleum Race Day, which doubled as Shipwrecked and Surviving Dress Up Day (meaning some great crew outfits, as witnessed by some of the photos, with prizes to be awarded to the best tonight) threw some complex conditions at competitors.

SeaLink Spinnaker Division 1, away first today, avoided the worst of what to come, but the rest were punished. When they rounded The Strand mark, the breeze started to fade and it worsened from there. Some boats from the other divisions took over five hours to finish, others gave up and retired, while the rest of their division mates were finishing in just over three hours.

Nobody was immune, including two local winners from last year. It was a bit of a lottery that left some wallowing, as Division 2 winner, Robert Davis and his Treasure VIII from the Whitsundays, explained: “At the start it was around 15-18 knots. We got a good start and we weren’t covered by anyone. All went well until the Strand mark..

“We set a kite, but we were running too square and then we went to a wrong mark and had to detour back to find the right mark, which cost us a lot of time. But that’s when the wind faded to around 4 knots and at times it was 1 knot.

“We could finally see a line of breeze coming in from the east, so dropped the spinnaker, went wide of everyone, sailed right around them and caught up the leader (Grant Chipperfield’s J/133, Joker X2).

“It was all going wrong after the Strand mark. The wind swung 180 degrees as the old breeze fought the new south-easterly sea breeze. It was a big transition – and if you got stuck in the middle, you were gone. There were big patches of no air and if you were caught, you got stuck in the holes for some time. It was an interesting day out,” Davis summed up.

Treasure VIII beat current series leader, Grant Chipperfield’s Joker X2 (Vic), to the punch by nearly three minutes today. Chipperfield has recently completed the 5500 nautical mile Melbourne to Osaka double-handed race with the boat’s co-owner, Peter Dowdney and all that sailing is paying off.

In Division 4, Rod Wills steered his X43, Great Xpectations (NSW), to her second win from two races in Division 4 and was pleased with their result considering the conditions on the Cleveland Bay course. He beat Brian Pattinson’s Beneteau First 45, Gusto (Vic) in both yesterday and today’s races to claim the spoils.

“It was a day of very mixed conditions with a heavy weather start,” said Wills, who with Mike Thackray and two others, sailed Great Xpectations all the way up here from Sydney where they regularly race.

“Trying to work out what sail plan to use as the breeze died out was difficult. It caught a lot of boats out, but we kept our boat moving, trimming, trimming, trimming the whole time,” Wills said.

An error in Division 1 scoring from the Tan Lines Distilling Race Day yesterday, means a change to the podium. Daguet, owned by Rob Aldis and Peter Byford (NSW) was declared the winner from Seeking Alpha (David Hamilton) and The Goat – all three are from NSW. The latter two were originally shown as joint winners after scoring the same corrected time, but were relegated to second place.

Mitchell Gordon’s Sydney 38, The Goat, proved her worth today, winning Division 1 to take an early series lead. Ken Christensen’s Hick 39, BKT JAMHU and David Currie’s Farr 40, Ponyo – both from Victoria – placed second and third respectively.

On board Tony and Selena Muller’s Brava (Qld) in Division 3 were SeaLink North Queensland General Manager, Darren Spearman and his chief engineer, Kelvin Gallagher.

It’s good to see our naming rights sponsors enjoying a taste of sailing, even though they were among those out on the course longer than they anticipated. Nothing to complain about though, as it was a beautiful day for a cruise back to Peppers Race Headquarters which was jumping last night, with competitors enjoying the lively prize and presentation by Scotty Hillier.

The same is happening this evening after a long day on the water - and it is lay day tomorrow, so it looks like a late night!

Tomorrow’s social program is laden. Townsville Airport Island Breeze Festival is on at Picnic Bay, starting from 9am with Artisan Markets, food stalls, Afrekete Global Roving Performance, the Queensland Country Bank Great Inflatable Race, Fundraising BBQ, Mud Crab Races (raises money for the MI Koala Hospital) and Godfathers of Funk entertaining, among other attractions.

Racing continues on Monday from 11am.

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise.

For full results in all divisions, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 29 August, 2025

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week kicks off on ideal light day

The start to SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week nearly wasn’t, as Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson flew the AP flag ashore because the breeze was too light on for racing this morning, but no matter, with the start line a five minute motor from Peppers Race Headquarters, it left crews and friends – old and new – a little time to catch up.

Thompson called for the AP to be lowered at 11.30am, but raised it again on the water for a short time before under a blue sky on a sunny summer-like day, racing got underway in Townsville Yacht Club’s 18^th running of their signature event.

It was a nice way to start, giving participants, particularly the newcomers, time to ease into the first day of racing.

A newcomer to the Aussie scene, David Hamilton (NSW) has stirred the pot early in SeaLink Spinnaker Class Division 1, sailing his Farr 40, Seeking Alpha into first place, alongside Mitchell Gordon’s Sydney 38, The Goat (NSW). The pair finished with exactly the same corrected time. Hughie Lewis (Tas) placed third with his recent purchase, Hartbreaker, a Reichel/Pugh 46.

Hamilton only returned to Australia in recent times and is already making an impression on the sailing scene, finishing third at the Sydney Harbour Regatta in March before winning at the SailFest Newcastle Regatta, Sail Port Stephens and winning Rating Division 2 at Hamilton Island Race Week.

“It’s been absolutely fantastic. I couldn’t be happier with our results and today,” commented Hamilton, who grew up on Sydney Harbour, “where my father was in Navy.

“My wife Theresa and I moved to Singapore in 1998 and I did a lot of sailing in South-East Asia. We then moved to the US, raced there, came back to Asia and raced again. Then we moved to Europe and sailed on the lakes, mainly one design boats.

“After 28 years abroad, we came back to Sydney at Christmas 2024. Just before I came back, I reached out to Mitch White to look for a boat and bought this one, which started life as Kokomo and was last known as Jason King’s Solymar, when I bought it.”

Hamilton explained that Hamilton Island and Magnetic Island race weeks “are our signature events. We’ve built a fantastic crew,” which includes White, Dick Parker, Peter Ryan on tactics and Peter Sheldrick.

“My wife, who has only been sailing 10 months and my daughter Emily, who grew up sailing in Switzerland on the lakes, are on board too.”

The Sydney yachtsman continued, “It’s a really good mix of experienced sailors and the rule on the boat is ‘no egos’ – we like to race to win but to have fun at the same time.”

Like the rest of the fleet, Division 1 got away in a 6-7 knot northerly, with the pressure building as the race wore on, allowing the boats sailed in a pleasant 10-12 knots.

“Denis did a great job being patient, waiting for conditions to be right,” Hamilton said.

Division 2 went to Eddie Mackevicius’ Beneteau 40,7, Merlion, from Grant Chipperfield’s Joker X2, a J/133. Just 44 seconds separated the two Victorian yachts. Third place was taken Queensland entry, Joint Venture, owned by Stephen Green.

Graeme Etherton’s always well-sailed The Boat (Qld) took the honours in the Multihull division from Rupert King’s Overdrive (Qld) and Ray Martin’s Beatrix, which has come all the way from WA.

“Quite light today, but nice sailing – smooth,” Etherton said. “We had some very competitive boats around us, so it was a real challenge to stay in front of them. It was light, it certainly wasn’t blowing dogs of chains, but it’s a good way to start the regatta.”

This morning, Ray Martin and his family were assembled at Beatrix. Sailing with him are his wife Mandy, sister Rosemary and brother Ian. It’s a special celebration, as parents, Dale and Margaret are here with them at Maggie Island where they previously celebrated their 60 wedding anniversary.

Racing continues tomorrow from 11am – weather permitting.

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise.

For full results in all divisions, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 8 July, 2025

Entries come from far afield as SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week prepares to unfold

Whether you are sailing the largest boats in the fleet, such as 60 footers Awen and Samurai, or the smallest, like Guilty Pleasures X and Peow Peow, at 6.50 metres each, all competitors will have equal amount of racing and fun at 2025 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW), to be held from 28 August to 3 September.

In between there are myriad interesting entries, some with a close connection to Magnetic Island. Newcomer Ray Martin, representing Nedlands Yacht Club, is Western Australia’s only entry. His Farrier F85sr, Beatrix is in the Multihull division.

“This is my first time to Magnetic Island. We’re originally from Melbourne but have been living in Perth for the last 14 years. We’ve never been to a big boat regatta, so this will be the trip of a lifetime, a retirement gift for my wife Ro and I,” Martin explains.

“If you’re going to travel over 5000 kilometres by road with your boat, you want to do as much as you can, so we’re committed to all the northern regattas and Magnetic Island will be our last.

“Obviously, the chance to race against other boats in beautiful tropical waters is attractive to us. My brother, Ian Martin, will race the boat with us. Ian lives in North Eton and comes to Townsville to sail. He calls Townsville his ‘beach house’.

“My 92-year-old father and 88-year-old mother had their honeymoon on Maggie Island 65 years ago. They live in Brisbane and are coming over as well. We are all really looking forward to it. We’re all staying at Peppers Resort and it’ll be a big celebration for all of us,” Martin ends.

Tim Woods is another entrant with a family tie. His Serenity is one of the larger boats taking part this year. The attractive Amel 55 is a ketch and that alone will make her a standout when she graces the start line of the Non-Spinnaker division.

Woods has owned Serenity since July 2018 when she caught his eye at the Sydney International Boat Show.

“We sailed it away from the Sydney Boat Show in August and straight up to Hamilton and Magnetic Island Race Weeks that year,” he says.

“I had such a good time after first sailing at Maggie on Renaissance a few years back, that I just had to come back, which I did in 2018 and again now.

“Magnetic Island and Townsville are very special to my family, because my sister and I both sailed with our father to Magnetic Island in 1989. We’re a sailing family,” Woods says.

“My father (David Woods), served in the second World War. He did his training in Townsville. He bought a VJ that he sailed there the whole time during his training. He convinced the Captain to let him take the VJ on board the ship and sailed it in the Solomon Islands and other places where some had never seen a VJ before. He photographed the Japanese surrender at one of those islands.”

Woods continues, “My sister Edwina (Kramer) is a champion sailor from Port Douglas and is joining us again at Maggie, along with her husband Andy Kramer. He’s been a skipper on Quicksilver, taking people around the Barrier Reef.”

A Melburnian who now calls Sydney home, but keeps the Melbourne connection going, Woods is a promotor: “I have the Simon and Garfunkel Story coming up in Townsville on 29 August – for once my sailing is dictating my work!

“I can’t wait to come back to Maggie Race Week to compete again. It’s quite special with the Around the Island Race and has so much to offer, including the brilliant Denis Thompson (Principal Race Officer).

“First and foremost, we plan to enjoy ourselves and to keep clear of the other boats, because the boat can be very slow to tack.”

Rob Aldis is bringing his Mylius 50, Daguet 2, up from Sydney for the first time. He says, “We were up there year before last with Kayimai. This will be our first at the Island with Daguet 2. I’ll generally be crewed by the usual crew from both boats,” he said.

Comparing the various regattas up north, Aldis, who is Commodore of Middle Harbour Yacht Club said, “We enjoy it (Magnetic Island). I think it’s a bit more casual and more intimate. It’s a nice way to end the northern regatta circuit before coming home.”

Racing aside, for the 18^th edition, Townsville Yacht Club will release details of the social program for this much loved event, on 17 July. Everyone’s favourites, including free live music on the deck at Peppers Headquarters every evening, along with the and the fun-filled community event at Picnic Bay on Lay Day, are returning.

Join Star 106.3 for our Leisurely Long Lunch proudly supported by Mater, on Friday, 29 August at SMIRW. Help us raise awareness and much needed funds for the new Mater Hospital Maternity Ward, supporting mothers and babies as they navigate one of the most powerful moments. Tickets go on sale on 17 July - so tune into SMIRW’s Facebook page to stay posted on all social events.

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise.

For all information including list of entries please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 3 March, 2025

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week sold out in a record 10 minutes!

Yes, you are reading correctly,2025 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week entry opened today and was sold out in a record 10 minutes flat - you have to be quick with the fingers to be one of the lucky ones attending Australia’s ‘must do’ regatta at the end of autumn.

Event Chairman and Townsville Yacht Club’s (TYC) Commodore, Mike Steel said, “It’s unbelievable to us how popular our event has become.

“Last year it took just short of 12 minutes before the quota was full, the year before that it was 15 minutes and before that less than four hours. We’re so pleased sailors love to come here to race and relax with family and friends. We love having everyone here,” Steel said on behalf of the host club.

Don’t panic if you have missed out – go online and enter and TYC will put you on a ‘wait list’, in case of any withdrawals.

And while a number of names are familiar from previous years, some new players are in for the 18th edition to be held from 28 August to 3 September.

Quest, the famous two-time Sydney Hobart winning TP52, was recently sold to the Great Northern Boatshare syndicate. Grant Golombick, originally from South Africa, said they had looked at a few boats. Quest has been to the Island before, but with two former owners.

“Quest was beautifully kept by Clinton Evans, so we bought it. I previously sailed when I was young in South Africa and then in the UK. I bought Miss Scarlet in New Zealand and spent every penny I had on it" Golombick said.

“We’ve never been before, but it’s the closest event to Cairns and we want everyone on the boat to have a good time. I heard it’s good. I can’t wait. I’ve already ordered a couple of new Jib Tops,” he said.

Daguet 2 is also making her SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week debut, Rob Aldis and Peter Byford joining the exodus from NSW to the warmer climes of Magnetic Island in Northern Queensland. The pair has competed here numerous in the past, but it is a first Daguet 2.

“We’re really looking forward to it. It’s a fantastic event,” said Byford, who will join the likes of David Fuller, for whom it will be a second time.

Fuller’s first experience was in 2018 with his Corby 49, Vamp and enjoyed himself so much, has made good his promise to return. This time it will be with Another Duchess, a Davidson 55.

Melburnians Grant Chipperfield and Pete Dowdney also entered for the first time in 2018. This time they will arrive with Joker X2, on their cruise home from competing in the double-handed Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race, which they start on 16 March.

“Townsville is where we clear customs, so we’ll leave the boat there around late June, then come back to Magnetic Island and probably have a holiday while we’re there,” Chipperfield said.

“We’ll (he and Dowdney and Dowdney’s wife Sally) get some friends on board and celebrate being back in Australia.

“I marked the entry open date and time on the calendar and got through on Top Yacht and got in. Isn’t that awesome! We are looking so forward to doing it again,” Chipperfield enthused.

Glenn Myler is in that boat too – he is sailing two-time Sydney Hobart winner, Alive, with Duncan Hine in the 5500 nautical mile race to Osaka, but will bring his Beneteau Oceanis 43, Thylacine One, from Tasmania to ‘Maggie’ Island.

There is also an influx of Melges 24 and 32s from NSW and Victoria, Stephen O’Rourke’s Panther, Burke Melia’s No Mercy and Andrew McDougall’s Mac 2, will join Victorian Brentan Carnell’s Phoenix 3 from Geelong.

Then there are the regulars, among them the multihull crowd, who just can’t get enough of the Maggie Island drug. And across the board entries represent Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and WA this year.

Time and again competitors are drawn to this quaint island and the regatta. From the minute you alight the SeaLink ferry at Maggie Island, you are in another world and all cares are left behind as sun, racing and fun take over. The ferry is just a minute’s stroll to Peppers Blue on Blue resort where all the action springs from.

And the secret its success? Once you’ve been to SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week you crave more – and that’s why it sells out so quickly.

For all information including list of entries please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 31.10.24 30 October, 2024

Local community benefits from SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

There is a lot more to SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW) than meets the eye, as organisers at Townsville Yacht Club continue their mission to make sure the Island’s community benefits from the annual event in more than the usual ways, while also making a positive effect on the local economy in September every year via the yachties, their families and friends.

The recent Economic Impact Survey demonstrates there is significant growth in economic and tourism impacts and shows a total spending of close to $2 million, up from the previous year’s $1.2 million.

Furthermore, 93 percent of survey respondents agree that SMIRW adds to the appeal of the Townsville region. Respondents also said they would recommend the event to others and that locals should feel proud of the sailing event and the great experience it provides.

Backing these findings, SMIRW has twice been awarded Gold and on two occasions also taken Silver as Best Destination Event in the North Queensland Tourism Awards. And Townsville Yacht Club is thrilled to announce the event is a finalist again this year.

Giving back to the community

The SOS Seafood Mud Crab Races raised just shy of $3000 for Magnetic Island Koala Hospital. As sponsors of SMIRW, SOS Seafood donated $500 of the total raised and provided mud crabs for the day that is enjoyed by locals, yachties and visitors alike.

The Koala Hospital, set up in 2000 by Yorkshire native, Dr Ali Bee and her husband Tim, a Magnetic Island local, has grown from one koala the first year to hundreds over the years. The pair remain dedicated to the cause.

“The annual donation makes an enormous difference to us. We get lots of the donations from the public, which help enormously, but they tend to be smaller. Receiving a bigger donation like this one from SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week and SOS, has meant we were able to buy a general anaesthetic machine, which is wonderful,” Dr Ali says.

On the numbers of koalas they look after, Dr Ali shares, “It varies. The first year was one, the next year three, then nine. On average since, it’s 30-40 a year, but we’ve had as many as 65 and numbers are slowly creeping up. Overall, we’ve had 440 koalas to deal with.

“We tend to get a lot of babies. The Island community is so switched on, they let us know if there are any potential problems. Tourists too, are on the lookout, which explains why we get more koalas, so every donation is critical. We run completely on donations.”

Townsville Picnic Bay Surf Club’s (TPBSC) Fundraising BBQ is another fundraising success story. The Club’s president, Melinda Cosgrove, says, “It’s a great fundraiser for the Club. We make a net profit of approximately $4,500 and that money goes back into the Club for education, patrolling, Nippers and the upkeep of the many important functions our club has.

“The day is voluntary for everyone in the Club. Fundraising, like the MIRW BBQ and Great Inflatable Race shows how valuable our youth are. They’re a fantastic bunch of kids and a very important part of the Club. They really enjoy coming to help out on these days. The Club has a number of senior members interested in the fundraising side which they energetically take on. The day is always filled with a lot of laughs and friendly banter.

“Overall, Magnetic Island Race Week is an extremely well run event that Picnic Bay SLSC are proud to be part of with SeaLink and so many others from our community,” Cosgrove ended.

TPPBSC provides volunteer support for the Weigh N Pay Great Inflatable Race, which this year resulted in cash prizes of up to $1000 awarded to the winners in each category. It’s a fun event enjoyed by all, including the volunteers who dive head first into the spirit of the occasion at Townsville Airport Father’s Day.

It is a day for visitors too, who flock in their hundreds to ‘Maggie’ Island via SeaLink ferries from Townsville.

Partnered this year with Towards Net Zero Magnetic Island, whose aim is to reduce waste, SMIRW put in place a cup library and hydration station at the Father’s Day event.

Magnetic Island Men’s Shed (MIMS) hosts a free Community Breakfast, cooking and serving over 400 free bacon and egg sandwiches, with ingredients provided by SMIRW. The Men’s Shed also puts on a community BBQ and raised their own funds for Father's Day at Picnic Bay during Race Week. It was sold out by lunch time!

In 2024, SMIRW donated $800 to MIMS as part of its commitment to giving back to the community.

Peppers Blue on Blue Resort on the Island sets the scene for the Star 106.3 Leisurely Long Lunch. This year the lunch raised $4000 and beneficiaries of this bounty were Women’s Mental Health via Liptember – and Townsville Mater Private Hospital’s Perinatal Mental Health Unit.

Mike Steel, Townsville Yacht Club Commodore and SMIRW Chairman sums up: “It was always the Club’s intention - as organisers of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week - to give back to the community. Since its inauguration in 2008, we’ve learned more about the Island and its people, which determined ways we could help. This is something we will continue to do,” he said.

Steel finished: “Planning for 2025 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, to be held from 28th of August to 3^rd September, is in full swing. Entries will open at 10am sharp on 3rd March 2025.”

For all information on SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 4 September, 2024

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week: Scores tallied – winners declared

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2024 ended abruptly this morning as conditions dictated there would be no further racing and therefore winners were declared based on overnight’s pointscores at another wonderful week of sailing in the Townsville Yacht Club hosted event.

This morning Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson, had to make a difficult call as to whether racing would be held.

Monitoring the situation, wind whistling in the background, Thompson told his team, “After consideration of everything we know and even though the breeze has dropped a little, the forecast by midday shows the wind will be back up to 30 knots. All the weather models align, so the decision is, no racing today.”

Therefore, results stand. Those divisions that contested five races, SeaLink Spinnaker Division 1 and Sports Boats, have a drop factored into their final scores, while the remaining divisions were scored on all four races sailed.

Having recently won the Sports Boat Nationals and the Sports Boats division at the Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week, Julian Bethwaite has backed up to win here as well. Don’t Panic (NSW), his self-designed 89er, pipped local boat, Bambalam (Justin Van Stom’s Thompson 7), by a lone point. The two were outstanding all week.

“Three wins from three events – perfect,” Bethwaite said. “This is a great event. It always has been. We don’t come here to win, we come here to have a great time. We just have to come up with a different scoring system for the sports boats here, but it’s great to win anyway.”

On the final race being called off, Bethwaite said, “I think Denis made the right decision in calling the race off. It’s not an easy decision, but he made a good call.”

Gordon Ketelebey’s TP52, Zen (NSW), won Division 1 from Bobby’s Girl, the Farr 40 chartered by Rob Reynolds (NSW). Zen did not look promising on the first day after finishing seventh, but her crew rallied, adding two wins and dropping the seventh.

Jason Lea enjoyed a solid regatta with Pali Pali from Brisbane, outsailing his nearest, Rhomberg Sersa Australia (Rod Sweeney, Qld) by four points to win the trophy. Dennis Coleman finished third with Mistress (Qld), a little unlucky, as they dropped down when the rudder broke in the Round the Island Race, forcing their retirement.

“I was looking forward to going out today, but we’ve won anyway. The Race Committee made the right decision. Our Club does the same. You have to look after members and the smaller boats.

“Thanks to my crew, Frank, who sails with me in Brisbane and Adrian and Allie. I also roped in a couple of guys from the Island, Brendan and Luke from Nomads backpackers, I want to thank them all,” a thrilled Lea said.

“Absolutely wonderful to win. Three years ago I went to Hamilton Island for the first time having no idea how the hold system worked. We won by one point from Rhomberg and the same thing has happened here at my first Maggie Island. It’s downhill from here,” he said laughing.

“The whole atmosphere here is great. You can’t compare it to anywhere else, Peppers has been so good to us, the social side has been marvellous and the other thing that impressed me was the bus service around the Island. We’ve loved it here,” Lea said.

Matt Doyle sailed to the top of Spinnaker Division 2 with La Troisieme Mitemps, a Beneteau Sense 50 from NSW. However, it was as close as, with Graeme Amey’s Yknot (NSW) placing second on countback in their hard fought series.

Chris Morgan’s La Quinta (Qld) won Division 3 in their tight series. Second and third were decided on countback, so it was Matt and Ben Kingsberry’s Amaya II (Qld) that finished ahead of Andrew Clark’s Single Malt (Vic).

“We’ve had a great week. I’ve done lots of regattas and this one tops it. It my first time here and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. The really nice thing about here is that everyone is close together so you see everyone. Nice to see so many white sails instead of the carbon ones too! I think we’ll be back, we have to defend our title,” Morgan ended.

It seems a week for Zens, as Zen and the Art of Sailing, a local Cavalier 34 owned by Jack Maguire, outsailed his contemporaries to take out Division 4. The margin was two points to Wayne McNee’s Celebrity (Vic). Vicki Hamilton’s local Akarana completed the trio.

“It was a fantastic week of sailing, the conditions were just perfect for us,” Maguire said of the breeze that was mainly at the lighter end of the scale, though yesterday it reached 18 knots.

“We’ve only missed one Race Week and this is our first win. I have a wonderful crew who’ve sailed together a long time. I want to thank Denis Thompson and the volunteers who did a great job. Denis does a magic job setting courses and running races.”

On the overall event, Maguire said, “It’s always pleasant afterwards with the socials – after a bit of argy bargy on the course sometimes.

The Non-Spinnaker division was claimed by Janette Syme’s Espera from the host club. Four and five points respectively distanced her from Joe Niven’s Daylight, also from the host club and Dan White and Nikki Abbott’s Riff Raff from the Whitsundays.

Mike Steel, Event Chairman, commented, “I think feedback from everyone is that they had a great time. We gave prizes to fourth and fifth places as well, because we had to abandon racing and there were some close scores. Those people were appreciative.”

On the event as a whole, Steel said, “We have a really good model that has evolved over 14 years, so I don’t think we need to make any changes.

“I want to sing some praise to Peppers (Blue on Blue). This year has been just terrific and it’s been a really enjoyable experience.

“So many people travel a lot of miles to be here so we are forever thankful for our competitors,” Steel ended.

It’s been a wonderful week of racing and social activities, thanks to TYC, the sponsors, event manager Jodie Kennedy and the entourage of people, especially the volunteers, the Club brings in to make the week the success it is. However, SMIRW would not be without the competitors. We hope to see you back in 2025.

Tonight, the official presentation dinner at Peppers Race Headquarters closes SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week.

And remember for next year folks, this year sold out in 12 minutes…

For all information including full results please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

**Ends**

Please credit photos as attached

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MIRW2024

And on Instagram: #miraceweek

Further information: Di Pearson, SMIRW media manager, phone: 0410 792 131

MEDIA RELEASE 2 September, 2024

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week: Perfect day for Round the Island Race

Zen (NSW) has taken the overall lead of Spinnaker Division 1 on Day 4 at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW) 2024, in The Yacht Sales Co. Race Day Round the Island Race, in what has been an exceptionally close series with the overall lead changing after each race.

This was ‘Zen’ master Gordon Ketelbey’s second win in as many days with his TP52. “It was quite a lot windier than the previous days. We were hoping to get a bit more but it was enough. It was a very pleasant day’s sailing, but a bit bumpy towards the end as we worked up to the finish.

“Hopefully tomorrow will happen,” Ketelbey said, referring to the final race that will conclude Townsville Yacht Club’s 17^th edition of SMIRW. This comment follows on from Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson’s advice that the wind could be as much as 25-30 knots and that could create an unpleasant seaway. Thompson will make a call to race – or not - in the morning.

Greg Tobin’s Sydney 38, 38 (Qld) made her mark today with second place from Zen and in front of the Rob Reynolds chartered Farr 40, Bobby’s Girl.

Brett and Jacinta Cooper’s Hanse 54, Katana (Tas), was top scorer in Division 2 from Matt Doyle’s La Troisieme Mitemps and Graeme Amey’s Yknot. The latter two NSW boats are currently top two respectively in the division on equal points.

“The weather was finally right for us – it got up to 18 knots – but mainly 15 knots. A beautiful day for the Round the Island Race. The boat (Katana) is heavy and she likes this kind of breeze. We’re happy with today – finally up to fourth overall,” Jacinta said, adding that Katana is for sale.

“We’ve just bought an MC38, Game On 2 from South Australia, so we’re selling the Hanse 54,” Jacinta revealed. The Tasmanian couple has owned a wide range of boats from a Melges 32, a Beneteau 57, The Hanse and an SB20!

Division 3 went to Andrew Mitchell’s Fahrenheit, a modified Farr 11.6 representing the event’s host club. Chris Morgan’s La Quinta, current leader of the pointscore, was second. La Quinta also won the best dressed crew on Saturday, looking resplendent in pineapple shirts and hats, so they are on a roll.

“I had a crew of six, had a good start, a good upwind, good downwind and fast second upwind, where we overtook a few. We got up to about 18 knots on the course, it was good,” Mitchell shared.

“Amaya and Brava were the two boats that we had good competition with. We overtook Brava (Tony and Selena Muller’s Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 from the host club also) on the last leg. It was a little rough coming back, around a metre swell, but not too bad. The upwind really suits us. The crew is happy – including the owner/skipper,” Mitchell said.

“We’re prepared to race tomorrow, but we’ll have to wait and see what the weather and race management decide,” he ended.

Lindsay Powell’s Fandango had the goods in Division 4, the Victorian’s best result by far. He pipped Gary Donnellan’s Matilda V (Qld), by just over a minute. Both boats are Beneteau Oceanis 411’s, so that’s what you call good handicapping and good racing.

“We are feeling terrific. We’ve been playing ‘We are the Champions’, ‘Scaramouche’ and ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ (the first line says: ‘We skipped the light fandango) – loudly,” an excited Fandango owner said.

“We are ecstatic. It’s been a long journey to get here (from Geelong), but we knew it was going to be worth it, because it’s such an excellent event. This is the third time we’ve been here, but usually we race with John Kint (on Bundaberg). We just love this regatta,” Powell said.

“We are absolutely delighted, as our friends came up and jumped on board the boat and we also discovered there was another Beneteau Oceanis here, the same as ours (Matilda V) and they are such nice people. It was a lovely race and we enjoyed every minute,” Powell ended.

Ashore this morning I caught up with Lyndy Sawbridge, co-owner and skipper of the Bavaria 38, Helena May, with her husband Chris. You would normally find the pair out racing at SMIRW, which they have won before, but not this year. The handy duo decided on another tack, pardon the pun!

The Sawbridges are giving back by joining the volunteers in Denis Thompson’s race management team – their first stint in this role.

“I’m really enjoying it. It’s very educational,” said Lyndy, a member of Townsville Yacht Club. “I’ve got a new appreciation for the amount of work it takes to run a regatta – and they’ve put me on the protest committee as well. I sit and critique everyone’s mistakes now,” she said, laughing.

“Seriously, it’s been really good. I hope it inspires a few other people to take it on. We’ve had quite few thankyous from different competitors, both on the water and ashore. It’s nice to be appreciated,” she said before heading out on the water with the rest of the start crew after the morning’s briefing session.

Racing concludes tomorrow, followed by Peppers Race Day Presentation Night.

For all information including results, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 2 September, 2024

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week: A change of pace and winners

Layday at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2024 was enjoyed by all yesterday, but today it was back to serious business for ‘It’s Live in Queensland Race Day’, when Division 1 and the Sports Boats were put through their paces with two windward/leeward races each, while the rest were set one longer course.

The Rob Reynolds chartered Farr 40, Bobby’s Girl (NSW), took out Race 3 in Spinnaker Division 1’s first race of the day, while Gordon Ketelbey sailed his TP52, Zen (NSW) to a win in 4.

Even so, it’s the Malcolm Roe chartered DK46, Amazing Nizam (NSW), that sits atop the leaderboard due to slightly more consistent results. However, that scoreboard is so close, just two points separate the top five boats.

“The first one (race) we loved,” Reynolds said of victory in Race 3. Not so much the second one,” he said of seventh place. The breeze was only 5-6 knots in the first one. The second one was up to 9 knots. It was a good breeze, a bit light for us, but everyone else had to suffer too.

“We had to do two races and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The Race Committee sent us on an appropriate course. Full marks to them.”

Sydneysider Reynolds brought the sails from his Farr 40 here to Magnetic Island. “Easier than bringing my Farr 40 here,” he said laughing. “This is my fifth year here - you get used to Maggie,” he said of the Island that lives up to its name.

Amaya II (Qld) had the goods in Division 2, her timely win moving her into contention for the overall win. Owned by Ben and Matthew Kingsley, their Farr 11.6 moved up to third place but is on equal points with John and Andrew McDougall’s Mac 2 after the latter scored 11^th today, her worst result (I think she underwent a handicap adjustment) following a pair of wins.

Second place in Race 3 handed Andrew Clark’s Adams 10, Single Malt, a one point overall advantage on the aforementioned pair though.

“It’s been a fabulous regatta and I’m enjoying it immensely,” Clark said this afternoon. “Fabulous people, fabulous location, fabulous sailing, fabulous everything,” he enthused. “This is my sixth time here and the third with my own boat. It’s the best regatta in Queensland!”

Today’s racing, he said, “Was beautiful – champagne sailing. Sunshine, blue skies, nice breeze, everyone sailing along nicely. Everyone is being very respectful, no crashes, very tidy, nobody barging the start.

“The course took us right over to the other side of Cleveland then all way to White Rock and home, sitting in 10-12 knots. It dropped to 8-9 knots, depending on where you were on the course and we had nice flat seas, no swell. The breeze was just enough to keep you nice and cool. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Jason Lea’s Pali Pali (Qld) continued her solid form in the regatta to-date, adding a second win to the scorecard to retain the Multihull Division lead. Rod Sweeney’s Rhomberg Sersa Australia (Qld) placed second, her best result so far.

The crew of Julian Bethwaite’s Bethwaite 89er, Don’t Panic, let their heads go and moved to the top of the Sports Boat division following third and first places in the day’s two races. However, yesterday’s leader, Justin Van Stom’s Thompson 7, Bambalam, is on equal points.

It has been interesting observing one pristine and beautifully dressed mature crew over the past few days – butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths. I’d met one of them on the ferry coming over to the Island on Thursday (we’ll call him ‘Lord Barry’ for anonymity sakes).

Lord Barry shared the crew’s dark little secret with me. He gleefully revealed their cache of golden amber, otherwise known as rum, disguised in a musician’s case. I was given a quick glimpse. This morning he informed me that what I saw was just a portion of their goodies.

Shocked, when I counted the number on the small crew, I asked if they were drinking while racing, but he assured me that “No, we save it for after racing only.” Talk about wolves in sheep’s clothing! Their secret is safe with me – no names – no pack drill.

Racing here too is official clothing partner, Musto’s David ‘Oli’ Oliver, helping Mike Steel’s E5 Elan, Boadica go fast. Musto is familiar to SMIRW, as is Oli. Crew on the winning 2013 Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht, Victoire, among his accolades, Oli is also here showcasing a new attractive women’s leisure wear line and sailing gear for all - and the range is selling well.

In other news, this morning Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson was looking at racing for today and also the days ahead. “It looks OK tomorrow, a nice breeze, but there’s a wind warning for Wednesday. I’m planning the Round the Island Race for Wednesday,“ he said.

“It’s predicted to be 25-30 knots and if that’s the case, we won’t race. If it’s 20-25, we will consider it, depending on the seaway of course,” he said.

“We may start an hour earlier (10am instead of 11am), so the smaller boats aren’t caught in the predicted building breeze, but I’ll decide on the morning, once I’ve checked the weather models again. I don’t want to make decisions too far ahead; I just want to have a contingency plan ready and do the right thing for competitors,” Thompson ended.

Racing continues tomorrow.

For all information including results, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 31 August, 2024

People you meet at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

Two balmy days of sailing away at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2024 and the fleet at Townsville Yacht Club’s (TYC) much loved annual event is as eclectic as ever, as Olympians and other champions mix it with regulars, internationals, newcomers and club sailors.

Two-time Olympian, Nicky Bethwaite is experiencing her first Race Week, sailing on 51^stProject, the Beneteau First 50 belonging to Julian Bell from Newcastle.

“I’m enjoying it. It’s beautiful sailing and we saw fish jumping today,” the NSW sailor said last evening. It’s very social here – it’s good having a regatta in a smaller area,” she mused, while enjoying post-race drinks with the crew aboard 51^st Project.

“The sea breeze came in nicely. The course was around two and a half times longer than yesterday’s but we finished earlier because of the consistent breeze.”

Bethwaite and Karyn Gojnich (who has been a regular here) were the first women to represent Australia in sailing when they were selected for the 1988 Games in the 470 Women’s. They represented again in 2004 in the Yngling. Bethwaite, the skipper, was selected in the latter class for a third Olympics, but an untimely biking accident put paid to that.

These days Bethwaite splits her leisure time sailing and playing golf. Her older brother Mark is also an Olympian, while younger brother, Julian, is a successful sailor and boat designer, having designed the Olympic class 49er and its junior version, the 29er, just two in his vast collection of designs.

Julian, from Sydney, is also competing at Magnetic Island with his self-designed 89er sports boat, Don’t Panic. He arrived here having cleaned up at Airlie Beach Race Week two weeks ago. Sailing with him, is dual Olympian, Christine Bridge.

Bridge represented Australian in the Europe single-handed dinghy class at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. These days she is dab ILCA 6 (formerly Laser Radial) sailor who is still winning trophies at Masters events.

And while his famous son Tom Slingsby is in Barcelona skippering the USA boat in the Louis Vuitton Cup ahead of the 37^th America’s Cup, his dad David, or ‘Slingshot’ as old mates call him, is here aboard Mac 2, John and Andrew McDougall’s Melges 32 from Gosford. Like Bethwaite, this entire crew is competitive, proving their point with victory in the first two races.

Until Tom came to prominence as a Laser Olympic gold medallist and multiple world champion in the class, the Central Coast sailor was the better known of the two, having ocean raced aboard the likes of Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin.

Wendy Tuck, who sailed into the record books as the first woman to win a round the world race, is competing at Maggie Island Race Week, skippering the Lyons 54, Making Waves Kayle.

When she touched down in Liverpool, England in July 2018, having skippered the Clipper yacht ‘Sanya Serenity Coast’ to overall victory in the tough Clipper Round the World Race, the NSW yachtswoman became the first female to do so.

While continuing to compete in events around the globe, Tuck also works hard to raise the profile of the Making Waves Foundation (supports young Australians living with disabilities or experiencing disadvantage) by sailing at major events on the Australian calendar. Aboard with Tuck are two other well-known NSW sailors and MWF supporters, Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham.

Mature aged women, Veel and Canham remain the only all-female crew to take part in the Two-Handed division of the Rolex Sydney Hobart. They did this on Veel’s tiny Currawong 30, Currawong, in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, they finished the race in Hobart and to a hero’s welcome at midnight, as New Year’s Eve fireworks rained down on them - unforgettable.

Veel also crewed on Belles Long Ranger in the 1989 Hobart, just the second all-female crew to do the race. The three women say those at Townsville Yacht Club have been nothing but supportive and helpful to them.

“This is my first Maggie,” Veel said with a big smile. “I love it. I’ve never danced so much in my life! It (Race Week) has a wonderful sense of community among the sailors. The location is beautiful and the waterway is lovely. The entertainment and social calendar are very good. I also like the inclusive mixed class racing.

“And we’re here for a good cause - with our Making Waves Foundation banner,” Veel said.

Among those who keep returning are Colin and Denise Wilson. They can’t make it every year, but the South Coast yachties make it as often as they can. This year they have a mix of crew, inclusive of some internationals.

“What makes Maggie Island special for us is everyone stays together after racing each day at the marina and ashore. Everyone has fun and enjoys the festivities and each other’s company,” Colin said.

“Father’s Day celebrations are brilliant. Townsville Yacht Club has something different to keep us entertained every year. We always join in and spend the day at Picnic Bay,” he said of today’s celebrations.

The event enjoys great support from local Townsville Yacht Club sailors too, such as club racers Akarana (Vicki Hamilton), Brava (Tony and Selena Muller), Salacia (Owen Day), Soul Sister (Donna Heath) and Warragal (James Finch).

Mike Steel, Commodore of TYC and enduring Event Chairman of SMIRW, is also a competitor at Race Week. A division winner last year, this year he is skippering an Elan E5, Boudica, that he recently acquired.

Steel says of the wide assortment of people and boats attracted to this unique event, centred around Peppers Race Headquarters every year, “It proves that people do need to wind down at some stage and Maggie is the perfect place to do it.

“Magnetic Island was virtually undiscovered until SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week came along and the people who come to our event would probably never even known it existed before. Some of our competitors are investing in the island and bring money to the Island,” he says.

One such story is that of Victorian James Permezel, who with a mate bought a house and a commercial premises in picturesque Picnic Bay and built a microbrewery, ‘Maggie Island Brewery’, which opened last year and featuring a lovely beer garden and tapas. Permezel and his yacht Charm Offensive live on the Island now and he is a member of Townsville Yacht Club.

Steel continued, “We had our first regatta here with 25 boats and Peppers wasn’t built then. It’s come a long way over those 17 years.”

On his latest yacht, Boadica, Steel said, “It’s actually quite funny how it all happened. I went to the Sydney Boat Show and the boats were too expensive and then this boat came up for sale in Brisbane, so we had a look and bought it. We love the boat. You can do a good regatta with it but it’s still very comfortable below.

“My new life starts next week,” shared Steel, who recently retired from work life. “We’ll do some family cruising. We’re training the dog to come along too.”

And this is what makes SMIRW special – people from all walks of life with various sailing skill sets, here to race and enjoy the bucket loads of fun the event provides. I’m off to the mud crab races shortly! There is no other regatta like it, no island as quaint. It speaks volumes that Race Week was sold out in 15 minutes in 2022 and all it took was 12 minutes this year.

For all information including full results please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 30 August, 2024

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week: Nice light day to start proceedings

The opening day of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2024 was not to everyone’s liking, as it was a little light on for breeze, but you couldn’t otherwise fault the beautiful warm and sunny day and flat water that was served up to the competitors taking part across the four classes split into seven divisions.

SeaLink Spinnaker Division 1 went to Leo Rodriguez’ Smooth Criminal (Qld), his RP36 pulling up nearly 10 minutes in front of Colin and Denise Wilson’s MKL 49, Never A Dull Moment (NSW).

Regular attendee, Ian Edwards has sailed his Dehler 46, Wings (NSW), into an early lead in Division 2, almost six minutes ahead of David Newton’s second placed Yknot.

“We all had to wait around for the wind, but it didn’t really come,” Edwards said of the delayed start, with officials originally intending to start at 11am.

“Denis (Thompson, the Principal Race Officer) did his best and eventually found there was more wind inshore. It was light in the 5-7 knot range when we had our spinnaker up, so we were sailing angles to try and get our way down to the mark,” Edwards explained.

“The wind built a little coming back – only to around 8 knots though. That was fine, because like others, we have some crew who sailed with us at Hamo and some new ones here, so we haven’t sailed together as a team before. I’d rather the first day be like this than say 20-30 knots” he said.

“Our team did well - tacked well, gybed well - it was good day out and I’m really impressed with Denis getting us a race in.”

Division 3 went to the Melges 32, Mac 2, sailed by brothers Andrew and John McDougall (NSW). They beat last year’s overall division winner, Private Equity, owned by Tim Campbel (Vic).

“It was really light,” Andrew McDougall agreed. “We had a good start on the pin end and that enabled us to get in front of the fleet on that side of the course. We were able to put our asymmetrical spinnaker up at the first mark and kept moving forward from there.

“The Melges always goes well in light conditions. We mainly sail Etchells at Gosford Sailing Club and campaign the Melges at regattas,” said McDougall, explaining they were keeping an eye on Joust, a J111 owned by Simon Cruickshank from the Northern Territory, which seemed to be in contention today but ended up fifth.

“This is our first time here. We were lucky we got in. It’s a great regatta. Very social. We’re finding it relaxed and professionally run on the water by Denis (Thompson). We’re impressed by the location and accommodation as well,” McDougall ended.

Daniel McSweeney’s Brigus (Qld), a Beneteau First 35, stitched up Division 4, with Jack Maguire’s Zen and the Art of Sailing, from the host club, taking second place.

Kim Younger’s Poppy prevailed in the Non Spinnaker division, taking exactly 11 minutes out of nearest rival in Dan White and Nikki Abbott’s Riff Raff. Both are from Queensland. One expects the handicapper will be making some adjustments…

Dennis Coleman is no stranger to the winner’s circle at this event with his Corsair Sprint MK1, Mistress (Qld). Today he topped the points table in the Multihull class from Will Ford’s Second Wind (NSW), which finished just 14 seconds adrift of Mistress.

In the Sports Boats, Justin Van Stom’s local boat Bambalam got the better of Julian Bethwaite’s Don’t Panic (NSW) by 13 minutes, so there could be a tweak or two to a handicap there too.

Townsville Yacht Club’s (TYC) annual event is now in its 17^th year and becomes more popular with as each edition comes around.

Racing continues tomorrow from 11am.

For all information including full results please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

Further information: Di Pearson, SMIRW media manager, phone: 0410 792 131

MEDIA RELEASE 24 July, 2024

Delights of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week don’t begin and end with sailing

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2024 sold out in an unprecedented 12 minutes - minus a few seconds – but it’s more than the sailing that attracts competitors, their families and friends to this quaint island paradise.

Townsville Yacht Club’s (TYC) annual event is loved by all for its well thought out social program. There is something to appeal to all tastes, from kids up to grandparents, water babies and landlubbers. Just ask anyone from those lucky enough to make the cut this year – and the hopefuls on the waiting list.

On the opening night, Thursday 29 August, crews will be welcomed and enjoy dancing the night away to sounds from high energy rock band, Shots Fired – Power 100 at Peppers Race Headquarters.

On Friday morning, before the first race, a free Community Breakfast and Star 106.3 outside broadcast is on offer at Nelly Bay Terminal.

From noon until 3pm that day, those who aren’t sailing can join in the Star 106.3 Leisurely Long Lunch, which raises funds for Liptember and Mater Private Hospital. To be held at Peppers Boardwalk Restaurant, it is normally a sellout, so go to the official site to book your place, or a table, now.

After lunch, DJ Delicious will keep things moving on the deck ahead of the daily prize giving and entertainment for the night.

An enduring crowd pleaser is Townsville Airport Father’s Day on Sunday at Picnic Bay. Race organisers declare a lay day for crews, whose families and friends also get into the spirit of the day. Maggie Islanders are joined by Townsville locals and holidaymakers, who jump aboard SeaLink discounted ferries and take advantage of the free buses for the day.

The day features markets, free kids’ activities, food stalls, the Amazing Grace Early Learning sand castle competition and the Weigh N Pay Great Inflatable Race with cash prizes to be won. Teams and individuals are encouraged to pre-register online at the official SMIRW site, or on the day from 9am near the Picnic Bay jetty. Don’t miss out – it’s too much fun!

There’s more! At Picnic Bay Surf Lifesaving Club there is an all-day fundraising BBQ, with licensed bar, mud crab races (raising funds for the MI Koala Hospital) and from noon until 5pm, the throngs hits the dance floor for Godfathers of Funk. So catchy is their music, yachtsman Graeme Boyd, broken foot in boot, crutches and all, could not stay off the dance floor last year!

For those with the stamina to kick on, singer/song writer Tess Latu will entertain on the Peppers Race Headquarters deck from 6pm. Those having dinner at Peppers can also take advantage of the entertainment too.

Others lined up to entertain after racing each night include: GenXis with music from the ‘70s and ‘80s, Karaoke DJ rock ‘n roll with 45RPM, a crew party at Maggie Island Brewery, the Ensign Yachts Sponsors and Skippers Evening at TYC.

Topping off a wonderful week, there is the official prize presentation, accompanied by a gourmet barbecue dinner. Cranky Pants will entertain – so bring your dancing shoes or moon boot!

Why wouldn’t you want to be there?

Since he first discovered SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, NSW yachtsman, Colin Wilson, can’t get enough and is coming up for his ninth: “It’s fantastic,” he enthuses. We missed out last year. We were too late in getting our finger on the button,” Never A Dull Moment’s owner says of last year’s attempt to enter the event that sold out in 16 minutes.

“We weren’t going to miss out this time, so we practiced entering,” Wilson said. And just as well, as such is its popularity, Race Week was booked out even more quickly this time.

“What makes Maggie Island special for us (he and wife Denise) is everyone stays together after racing each day at the marina and ashore. Everyone has fun and enjoys the festivities and each other’s company.

“The afternoon prize givings after racing (at Peppers on the deck) with Scotty Hillier (of Creek to Coast fame) with the big screen showing highlights and the bands after are just the best.

“Father’s Day celebrations are brilliant. Townsville Yacht Club has something different to keep us entertained every year. We always join in and spend the day at Picnic Bay. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for us this year.”

Wilson adds, “Our crew are really going to enjoy themselves. We have a German friend flying in from Germany to sail with us. It will be a first for him and he’s very excited about it. He’s heard all about Race Week from us and has been looking forward to it for 12 months.”

For all information including list of entries please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media

MEDIA RELEASE 4 March, 2024

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week: Entries sold out in 12 minutes!

Entries opened for Townsville Yacht Club’s (TYC) SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week on Friday amid a flurry of activity, the much loved event was sold out in an unprecedented 12 minutes – minus a few seconds.

“It was incredible,” a stunned Event Chairman, Mike Steel said of the 17^th running of the regatta, to be held from 29 August to 4 September in 2024.

“Last year it took 15 minutes, the year before it was just under four hours.

“We feel so fortunate that competitors have taken our annual event to heart over the last few years. It’s nice to see regulars mixed with those who return when they can, along with fresh faces every year. They make our event,” Steel said.

You had to be quick off the mark and Tim Campbell from Victoria was fastest. His Corby 25, Private Equity, was the first entry received.

“I was sitting at my computer waiting to go into Top Yacht,” Campbell said. You had wait for the link to come up. When it did, I clicked straight away. Hopefully that’s an omen,” he said, hopeful of repeating his winning experience of last year.

“We love it there,” continued Campbell. “I’ll drive up from Melbourne trailing the boat (a Corby 25) again. I’ll have the same crew from last year.”

Among the familiar faces will be locals Vicki Hamilton with her Farr 1104, Akarana and Leon Thomas with his Shaw 650 Guilty Pleasures X, along with James Permezel’s Hanse 445, Charm Offensive. Permezel hails from Victoria but has a business and residence on Magnetic Island these days, so spends most his time there.

Returning after a seven-year break are Colin and Denise Wilson with Never a Dull Moment from Sydney. The pair was last here in 2017, but as Colin says, “It’s the happiest regatta in Australia, with the friendliest people.”

Malcolm Roe, on the other hand, is yet to experience the regatta. Roe, owner of the Swan 45, Amazingrace, said, “I was so happy to get in. I was sitting at my computer for the previous hour waiting... I’m delighted. This is my first time to the regatta. I’ve heard it’s very good. I can’t wait,” he ended.

This year entries represent Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

Major stakeholders of the event, SeaLink, Townsville City Council, Peppers Blue on Blue Resort, Tourism and Events Queensland and Magnetic Island Marina are overjoyed at the interest the event continues to attract.

Competitors are drawn to the distinctive regatta for so many reasons. Rolling off the SeaLink ferry at Maggie Island, it is a one-minute stroll to Peppers Blue on Blue where all the action emanates from.

For Race Week, Peppers becomes Peppers Race Headquarters. Most competitors and officials stay and have their meals there. The marina is part of the package and the racecourse is a five minute motor away where Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson and his volunteers, are ready to start races in this beautiful part of the world.

The daily post-race prizegiving is also held at Peppers Race Headquarters where the music flows after a video recap of the day’s action. Hosted by Scotty Hillier, it is a lot of fun. TYC also organises lots of other fun activities, especially on lay day, which coincides with Father’s Day.

As a bonus, IGA is a stone’s throw from the resort, as is the local bottle shop, with many restaurants within walking distance. If you fancy a short bus ride, there are other great restaurants dotted around the pretty and unspoilt island.

Why wouldn’t you want to be there?

For all information including list of entries please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

By Di Pearson/SMIRW media