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 11th as a drop. Seeking Alpha (David Hamilton, NSW) did the same with his 10th 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 11th 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 complete results across all divisions, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au.
By Di Pearson/SMIRW media
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SMIRW
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/miraceweek
#MagneticIslandRaceWeek #SailingAustralia #SeaLinkRaceWeek
Interested in seeing more Racing News? Click here
SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2025
Brought to you by Townsville Yacht Club
Supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise
