Australian Olympic sailors and world record holders join racers for the 2024 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race week brings boaties in from all over the country and internationally with some among them icons of the racing community.

Jami Roberts

less than 2 min read

September 2, 2024 - 6:00AM

Townsville Bulletin

Julian Bethwaite's self designed 'Don't Panic' at the 2024 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

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Among the hundreds of competitors descending on magnetic island for SeaLink Race week are a few that stand out among the pack including Olympians, world record holders and icons of the sailing community.

Australian sailor and two time Olympian, Nicky Bethwaite is experiencing the north Queensland regatta for the first time.

“I’m enjoying it. It’s beautiful sailing and we saw fish jumping today,” the NSW sailor said last evening. It’s very social here – it’s good having a regatta in a smaller area,” Bethwaite said.

“The sea breeze came in nicely. The course was around two and a half times longer than yesterday’s but we finished earlier because of the consistent breeze.”

Bethwaite and race week regular Karyn Gojnich were the first women to represent Australia in sailing at the 1988 Olympic Games before returning to the 2004 games.

Nicky Bethwaite on 51st project at the 2024 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

Fellow duel Olympian, Christine Bridge, also took time to grace the island’s waters in between winning trophies at masters events.

Another well-known name is Wendy Tuck who became the first woman to win an around the world race.

Bridget Canham, Wendy Tuck and Kathy Veel at the 2024 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

Among her crew are Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham who remain the only female crew to take part in the Two-handed division of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart.

Veel said that the three of them have been immensely enjoying their time in Townsville.

“This is my first Maggie,” Veel said

“I love it. I’ve never danced so much in my life! It (Race Week) has a wonderful sense of community among the sailors. The location is beautiful and the waterway is lovely. The entertainment and social calendar are very good.”