Entry for Townsville Yacht Club’s (TYC) SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2023 will open in one week’s time at 10am (Queensland time) on 1 March – so if you want to be there, you will need to be fast on the button; within 15 minutes of entries opening last year, the event was at 50 percent capacity and less than four hours later, was a complete sell-out.

As Event Chairman, Mike Steel said at the time, “It was an unprecedented response for any major Australian sailing event and we had a similar experience in 2021, when we were at capacity within a few days of entry opening.”

Steel and his fellow organisers at TYC were thrilled with the response at the time and Steel says, “Judging by enquiries already received in the last couple of weeks, I think we’re in for a similar result, so I implore all those interested to enter as quickly as they can. We don’t like to see anyone miss out, but we are restricted by the berthing availability at the Island.”

“It’s a beautiful Island in a beautiful part of the world and I think SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week offers something a little different to all other regattas,” Steel said, rationalising the ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ sell-out.

This year marks the 16th running of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, to be held from 31 August to 6 September 2023.

 Competitive racing in tropical paradise – SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week © Andrea Francolini

Success of the week-long event can be attributed to many factors. Everything from the proximity of the ferry terminal to Peppers Blue on Blue Resort, local supermarket, bottle shop and restaurants – they are just minutes apart.

Those staying at the beautifully appointed rooms and apartments at Peppers will also find themselves a minute’s walk to breakfast, pools, barbecue area and the marina – with a five minute motor to the start area for racing!

Add to that the warm welcome you receive from Townsville Yacht Club organisers. It is a very social event and the racing is made interesting, with courses set and laid by Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson and his team.

Daily prize giving shifts to party time at Peppers – SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week – photo © Andrea Francolini

The daily prize-giving is also held at Peppers Race Headquarters where party time ensues afterwards, so the atmosphere at the resort and aboard boats before after sailing is unprecedented.

It is a unique regatta – and its uniqueness is what everyone loves.

In the worlds of money guru, Paul Clitheroe attending for the first time in 2018 with his TP52, Balance: “Quite a few people told me I was missing something special – Darryl Hodgkinson, Bob Steel and others – so Magnetic Island here we come.”

Clitheroe added at the end of the event: “An unforgettable regatta. There were people here I sail against at home (Sydney) that I’ve never really got to know until I came here. The whole set-up and socialness allow that to happen here (Magnetic Island).”

David Fuller, who brought his Corby 49, Vamp, to the event from Sydney for the first time: “I love it here – it’s been a very pleasant surprise. I’m so glad I’ve done it,” he said with a big smile.

A mix of boats from monohull racers, cruisers, sports boats to multihulls are expected to take part from Australian ports.

For entry and Notice of Race, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au.

by Di Pearson, SMIRW Media

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