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Airlie Beach local 100th boat for Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach RW
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1:18 AM Mon 19 Jul 2010 GMT
‘We could still see more than 120 boats as there are still quite a few boats to enter’ says Race Director Dennis Thompson. Allan Sneddon was out whale watching, sailing past Pioneer Rock, when we spoke to him. The retired shipwright and his wife sail Pacific Phoenix as often as they can. ‘This will be our third Airlie Beach Race Week. ‘We will be sailing in the Cruising with Spinnaker division. Looking at the entry list there are some great boats, but there are few smaller, slower boats like us too so we expect to have a great time on and off the water. 'This year we will be sailing with a crew of seven,'just a good group of mates having fun, half of these guys I taught how to sail so I know exactly what I’m in for' he said. My wife Jean is also involved in race week as volunteer on the starter’s boat'. ‘Next week Pacific Phoenix comes out of the water for a scrape and a scrub, to make her look pretty before all the boys arrive. We love the atmosphere of race week, its relaxed, friendly and everyone is willing to help each other out'. Indeed there are some good boats already entered in the Cruising Division. Geoff Pettifer’s luxurious Oyster 66 Miss Molly, Airlie Beach Race Week founder Don Algie's Warwick 66 Storm II and Mal Robertson's Sydney 60 Eureka II will all be in with winning chances. Amongst the 50 footers is the ‘fastest cow on water’, John and Kim Clinton's Beneteau Oceanis 50 Holy Cow, but a host of wolves in sheep’s clothing will make it hard for the handicappers, including of course the 100th yacht to enter the 2010 regatta, Phoenix Pacific. Allan Sneddon summed up from the water. ‘This area really is just a slice of sailing heaven. Where else in Australia in the middle of winter, can you sail in a glorious 15 knot south easterly and under blue skies.’ Make sure you get your entry in as soon as possible. www.airliebeachraceweek.com.au
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