6:47 AM Thu 9 Jul 2009 GMT
The Australian Sports Boat Associated rated sports boats, who have Sports Boat Measurement System (SMS) rating, will be at the 21st Airlie Beach Race Week in large numbers.
Now the number of Sports Boats racing at this iconic event is set to grow with a Cat 7 rated fleet (sailing without motors primarily on Pioneer Bay).
Race Director Denis Thompson explains. 'The Whitsundays provide some of the best winter sailor for sports boats any where in the world. We have a strong following amongst the bigger sports boats, these Cat 5 (Special Regs) rated boats, can sail the bigger courses around the Islands and now we have a growing an 'inshore fleet'.'
'For instance we are going to have at least six SB3's attending the regatta, which will be sailing under Category 7 safety configuration, in the inshore fleet.
'They will mostly be racing on windward leeward courses on Pioneer Bay. It's a large, quite protected bay with not a lot of tidal influence, so it's perfect for intense around the cans racing and if the weather conditions are suitable, a small number of passage races.
What we will be doing is having the inshore fleet with the SB3's and all the inshore will be scored as a division and the SB3s will have another separate SB3 score taken out of the results.
'This fleet will include boats like the Blazer 23 and Boatspeed 23's, which will share the SB3 start lines, although they will be scored separately.
'One thing we can be sure of' smiled Race Director Thompson, 'By mid August its tropical shirt weather in the Whitsundays and the sports boat fleets will all be having some wild and wet rides, if the south easterly trades blow as they traditionally do'
The support from the Sports Boat fleets around Australia continues to grow.
Today we talked to Royal Geelong Yacht Club skipper Cam Rae who raced the Thompson 8 Bendigo Private at Airlie Beach in 2008, and who will again be part of the big sports boat squad heading north in 2009.
Cam Rae is the secretary of the Australian Sports Boat Association and a strong supporter of the Airlie Beach event.
'We are looking forward to heading north again and escaping the Victorian winter.
'We had a ball at the regatta last year and decided before the regatta was over, that we would be back again this year!
'The racing is great and Pioneer Bay is a fabulous venue for sports boats, with its consistent trade winds.
'Blasting across the bay at 20 knots in shorts and a t-shirt is the way all sailing should be . fast and affordable!
'We will certainly have another strong fleet at Airlie this year. We are expecting over 20 boats with a high profile crew new to sports boats, they are yet to show their hand, but rumour is they will be there!'
SB3's - A special regatta will be run for the SB3's who will have their own One Design trophy.
This regatta assumes special significance for the SB3 fleet, as the SB3 World Championships will be sailed from 28th August to September 4th in Cascais Portugal. Airlie Beach will be a last chance hit out in Australia for some of the competitors.
Phil Gray, a past 505 Australian Champion who has been showing good SB3 form, said he will be working hard to beat Mike McLean, who will be heading for Portugal straight after the event.
McLean is on his 'second sporting career'. He was a Rugby League Queensland State of Origin forward, who played for Roosters and Newcastle and the Gold Coast and he swears that SB3 sailing is much better for his knees.
But these guys certainly won't have it all their own way in the SB3 fleet. Fellow Queenslander Aaron Linton, who has called tactics for 'Hollywood' Ray Roberts' Quantum Racing and Michael Hiatt's Living Doll, looms as a major threat to take that brand new trophy.
by Rob Kothe
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