Weekly Sailing Summary

KEEL BOATS

Going into the final day of Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week, Benjamin (Guy) Meakin's Noosa based yacht Peggy is overall series leader with a five point break on Peter Cox’s Valhalla. ‘We normally sail on the Noosa River, so that makes us light wind specialists,’ said Guy Meakin. ‘We won our division at Airlie Beach, came third at Hamilton Island, and if we can manage to keep our boat under the mast, we should go OK here. The place has a really good vibe – just makes you want to come back - I think that’s why it’s called Magnetic.’ www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

Peter Mosely topped his winning streak when travelling on the northern racing circuit by winning the hotly contested IRC Passage 2 Division at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and then the Audi A5 Sportsback at the presentation. The ultimate winner of the Audi was chosen by the best time trial in the Audi Car Challenge from all the first placed division boats. www.mhyc.com.au

The 2010 -2011 Australian Farr 40 season will be the start of an intense four month racing and training time for the Australian Farr 40’s owners who are planning to compete in the 2011 Rolex Farr 40 Worlds in February 2011. The first regatta will take place at Port Stephens on the New South Wales central coast and will be hosted at the Peppers Anchorage resort. Following this event will be five class regattas before the 2011 Farr 40 Australian Championship and the 2011 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship in Sydney in February. www.farr40.asn.au

Mathieu Richard (FRA) and the French Match Racing Team won the ‘King of the Mountain’ title at the St. Moritz Match Race after defeating Ian Williams (GBR) in the final. Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing was third and Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN fourth. Australia’s Torvar Mirsky placed ninth. www.wmrt.com

OLYMPIC CLASSES

Australian sailor Tom Slingsby received the ultimate birthday present, a third Laser World Championship and second World title in as many weeks, on a thrilling final day of the 2010 Laser World Championship at Hayling Island in Great Britain. www.yachting.org.au

Ed Wright (GBR) won the Finn Gold Cup in San Francisco. The former world number one had not previously won a world title but had come close on a number of occasions. Rafa Trujillo (ESP) took the Silver while Giles Scott (GBR) took the Bronze. Brendan Casey, the only Australian to compete in the Medal Race, finished 10th. www.finnclass.org

HEAVEN CAN WAIT

Two of Australia’s international sailing superstars, Tom Slingsby and Nathan Outteridge, will participate in this year’s Heaven Can Wait charity yacht regatta on Lake Macquarie during the October long weekend to raise funds for men’s cancer research and support program. Sailing the latest high-tech, high-speed Foiling Moths, they will join a fleet of up to 100 sailing boats – yachts, multihulls, skiffs, dinghies, Foiling Moths and others – racing around Lake Macquarie on Saturday October 2 and Sunday October 3. www.heavencanwait.com.au

SKIING

The Mercury Pro XS Racing team, driver Peter Lewis, observer David Mailes and skiers Glenn Hannan and Jacob Ross, smashed two records at the 2010 Hawkesbury 120. Powered through the water by their OptiMax Pro XS 250, the team rewrote the record books; SMOC Expert - cutting 34 seconds from the record to finish in 53 minutes 40 seconds and SMOC Social – lowering the mark by 52 seconds, crossing the line in 25 minutes 02 seconds.

NEWS BRIEFS

Protracted negotiations between Marine Rescue NSW and the National Board of Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA) came to an end on 2 September 2010 when the two parties could not reach agreement. At issue has been the transfer of NSW Coast Guard assets which have been acquired through fundraising efforts of those units from their local NSW communities together with funds allocated by the NSW government to volunteer marine rescue units serving this state, as well as grants from various other organisations. www.marinerescuensw.com.au

Visitors to Melbourne Leisurefest from 30 September to 3 October will have a chance to win a Hobie kayak and other great prizes in the passport competition at the show, plus $4,000 worth of free fuel. www.biavic.com.au

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Sep 11 - Great Whitsunday Fun Race www.whitsundaysailingclub.com.au

Sep 12 - Try Crewing Day, various locations, NSW. All yacht clubs run regular social, twilight and racing days and evenings. An important part of the Try Crewing Day is to let you know how to become a regular part of these events. You must pre-register and you must be aged 18 years or over. www.bia.org.au

Oct 2 – 3 – Heaven Can Wait (HCW) 24 Hour Yacht Race and the associated One Lap Dash will be held on Lake Macquarie, near Newcastle, NSW. The event raises money for the NSW Cancer Council and Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie. www.heavencanwait.com.au

Oct 8 – 10 – Club Marine Mandurah Boat Show, Mandurah Offshore Fishing & Sailing Club WA www.mandurahboatshow.com

Oct 9 – 24 -- Sydney Harbour Island Hopping gives people access to the harbour islands of Sydney Harbour National Park via one looped tour, with tailored entertainment and experiences on each. Cruises will run each Saturday and Sunday. www.harbourislandhopping.com

Oct 16 – 17 -- 2010 Classic and Wooden Boat Festival, National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney - 100 boats from graceful yachts to streamlined speedboats, a festive marketplace selling all things nautical and an outstanding display of boating products. Discover the skills of traditional maritime craftsmen including blacksmiths, rope knotters, caulkers and sail makers. www.anmm.gov.au

Oct 30 - Hempel Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race www.gosfordsailingclub.com.au

Nov 7 – Try Sailing Day NSW - Sailing and yacht clubs around NSW devote their club, boats and instructors to give people of all ages, with little or no experience a chance to experience the joys of sailing for free. www.bia.org.au

Photograph: Guy Meakin's Peggy courtesy of Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week