2008 Heaven Can Wait Regatta

Hosted by the Heaven Can Wait Yacht Club and Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto, this year's race attracted nearly 50 boats, from an 18-foot Careel and 19-foot Status to a Sydney 41 and 9m catamaran - and all sizes and types in between - participating in either the 24-Hour Race or the shorter One Lap Dash.

Competitors in the race came from as far away as Albury on the NSW/Victoria border (towing a Noelex 25), and Birdsville in outback Queensland, while one of the race officers flew all the way from the USA, said organisers.

The event is now in its third year and its aim is to raise funds for the Hunter Branch of the NSW Cancer Council and for the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol Swansea. This year's regatta raised more than $9000.

Commodore Shaun Lewicki, the cancer survivor who dreamed up the event and organised the 2006 and 2007 races almost single-handed, described the response to this year's race as "fantastic".

"I have to say I am thrilled by the support the event is getting and stunned by the number of people introducing themselves to me and telling me what enormous fun the race is", said Lewicki.

In spite of strong competition it was a great result for Lake Macquarie sailors, who managed to snare a lot of the silverware.

Clive Kennedy's catamaran Two Tribes was the overall line honours and handicap winner in the 24-Hour Race, ahead of Peter Hewson's Sydney 41 Wallop (RMYC Toronto) and Kim Williams' Melges 32 Rock 'n' Roll (Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Pittwater).

The teams event was won by Balmain Sailing Club for the third year in a row, with BSC Team Cockatoo taking out first place, followed by Mannering Park Yacht Club, and BSC Team Snapper in third place.

For more info, visit www.heavencanwait.com.au