It's Day 3 at Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 and the forecast is for nice south-easterly trade winds again – 17-20 knots and gusting to 28 during the afternoon, making it three days in a row of hard but enjoyable sailing – lay day tomorrow will be welcome by all for a little R&R.
On the Performance Racing course on Day 1, Geoff Hill's Santa Cruz 72, Antipodes, her huge spinnaker billowing perfectly, enthralled onlookers. She looked to be punching above her weight – the crew thought so too.
However, when they came ashore, Hill and co. discovered they were motherless last. An adjustment to the handicap yesterday resulted in a dramatic change when they finished second and moved up to sixth overall.
Amid much humour from he and the crew, Hill, who is representing Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, explained: "Yesterday was a different story, thanks to a modest adjustment of 35 percent to our handicap!"
It will be hard to catch George Kompolthy's Mr Mojo (NSW) though, the quick Super 30 has won both races to-date. That thought brought forth more mirth from the crew, one suggesting, "They should be given our first day handicap. That'll slow them down."
Leading into the day's racing, Leo Rodriguez and Iyas Shaheen's Smooth Criminal moved up to second overall in the division and Mark Beale's Bobby's Girl is in third place. Both yachts are from the host club.
Hill continued, "Our handicap on the first day meant we were unbeatable for last place. The two days of racing were ideally suited to our boat and we were happy with our result in the second race. I think today will be a bit lighter – and probably wet," he said of rain forecasted in the Whitsundays for the next week.
"Surely not in paradise," one crew quipped, but even paradise needs rain to keep things alive.
"The boat's going well," Hill shared. "We haven't broken anything this time – which is good for the poor owner."
Hill always has an interesting crew line-up and at Whitsunday Sailing Club's annual Airlie Beach Race Week, it is no different. Aboard are two successful owner/skippers in their own right, Pretty Woman's Richard Hudson and Black Sheep's Derek Sheppard.
"Richard is helming. He and the crew didn't put a foot wrong all day."
Hill loves coming to the regatta. "It's significantly better than Hamo," he states bluntly. "You see yachties you haven't seen in ages and there's more to do. It's relaxed and more cost effective. It's a very good program here with lots of different boats. It's nice being out on the course and looking back at the little boats," he says of the sports boats, F18s and Weta trimarans.
"Airlie has a broader perspective and the race management tries hard to make it good for everyone," Hill ended.
Antipodes and her Performance Racing compatriots are on Course 14 today, along with IRC/ORCi Division 2, Performance Cruising Divisions 1 and 2 and Multihull Racing Division 2. Starting on Pioneer Bay, the scenic 24 nautical mile course takes in Gumbrell Island, Grimston and the finish back on Pioneer Bay.
Multihull Division O, F18 and Wetta divisions are racing two windward/leewards on Pioneer Bay. All other divisions course areas can be found at the official race website below.
It's lay day tomorrow, so after the prize giving tonight, competitors will enjoy music from a DJ. Then it's Golden Oldies, 80s, 90s hits and Rock' N Roll from the live band Viva.
During the day, come and visit the fabulous art exhibition at WSC where you will find some exceptional artworks by locals and others. Visitors can also take a guided tour and a creative class with creative connections – sip and paint.
Ocean Dynamics and Mount howAirlie Beach Race Week 2024 is held from place from 8-15 August and
enjoys continued support from Tourism and Events Queensland, including as a feature on the It's Live! Queensland events calendar. The event also enjoys support from Coral Sea Marina Resort and d'Albora Port of Airlie Marina.
