Multi-faceted fun at Magnetic Is

Fantasia’s Andrew Stransky can’t get enough of the challenge of beating the monohulls at the SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, and nor can he get enough of all the fun the event organisers put on each year.
  
Stransky and his family team are returning for the third time to compete in this year’s ninth annual regatta from August 27 to September 1.

"We have a chance to win the Round the Island Race for the third time running," Stransky said recently. "The second year we just beat the TP52 Quest. We beat them in the last stretch down the eastern side of the island, same as we did last year with Victoire."

It was neck and neck for Fantasia and Victoire as they sped along the north-eastern shore of the island and headed towards the finish line. It was only a matter of a few seconds difference between the two boats at the gun, but that was enough for Stransky to pump the air at the end of the friendly, but fierce race between two very different types of boats.   

"We all know Magnetic Island, it’s the best fun," he said.

Stransky was so very close to taking out Multihull Racing division honours last year after dominating the fleet from the beginning with his 50-foot cat. But as the performance handicap kicked in, his chances of any overall title slipped out the door. "We just have to not win so much in the beginning. But we can’t help ourselves," Stranksy joked. 

Joining Stransky on the start line this year will be another two big racing multihulls - Mike Hodges’s 15m Schionning Renaissance and Justin Grunwald’s Crowther 50 Two Up Together.

Grunwald is wearing a different hat from when he first competed at Magnetic Island with his friend Bob Steel on Quest. "Two years ago when I sailed with Bob I thought it was such as well organised event and Pepper’s Resort was so well run, and since my wife hasn’t been up there we have decided to get up there this year, do the regatta and then turn around and head back south," Grunwald said.

This time the Pittwater-based skipper will be focused on the Multihull Racing division and working his handicap to his advantage over the similarly sized Fantasia and Renaissance. "We will be slower than Fantasia, but we may rate a lot better. We may be able to beat them on handicap, but definitely not on line.
  
Back at the dock Grunwald is looking forward to having a drink with Bob Steel and inspecting Steel’s very new Quest.

This year’s regatta will again welcome ultra-competitive monohulls and multihulls through to the relaxed cruisers and even a few vintage yachts. Seven divisions are on offer to cater for every type of racing and racer/cruiser interest. Online entry, the Notice of Race and details of these divisions are at www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

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