‘Big boat regatta’: Preparations for Maggie Island Race Week begin

Sailors across Australia are starting to prepare their beloved yachts - some 18 metres, some just 6.5 - for the ‘trip of a lifetime’ up to Townsville for the Magnetic Island Race Week.

Day one at the 2024 Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week

Sailors across Australia are starting to prepare their beloved yachts - some 18m long, others just 6.5m - for the ‘trip of a lifetime’ to Townsville for the Magnetic Island Race Week.

The man with the furthest to travel is Perth local Ray Martin, who’s bringing his Farrier F85sr ship ‘Beatrix’ by road to Queensland.

“We’ve never been to a big boat regatta, so this will be the trip of a lifetime, a retirement gift for my wife Ro and I,” Mr Martin said.

“If you’re going to travel over 5000kms by road with your boat, you want to do as much as you can, so we’re committed to all the northern regattas and Magnetic Island will be our last.

“Obviously, the chance to race against other boats in beautiful tropical waters is attractive to us. My brother, Ian Martin, will race the boat with us. Ian lives in North Eton (Mackay) and comes to Townsville to sail. He calls Townsville his ‘beach house’.”

Non-spinnaker division at the 2024 Magnetic Island Race Week

Despite never having been to Magnetic Island, Mr Martin has a family link to the holiday island.

“My 92-year-old father and 88-year-old mother had their honeymoon on Maggie Island 65 years ago. They live in Brisbane and are coming over as well. We are all really looking forward to it.”

It seems nearly every entrant in the regatta has a family tie to Magnetic Island - not surprising, considering most of them come from keen sailing families.

Tim Wood is bringing his Amel 55 ‘Serenity’ north for the event - one of the larger boats taking to the water on August 28.

2023 Magnetic Island Race Week: Day one delays for Magnetic Island Race Week due to a lack of wind.

“My father (David Woods), served in WWII. He did his training in Townsville. He bought a VJ that he sailed there the whole time during his training,” Mr Woods said.

A VJ is a type of sailing dinghy, just 3.5m long and typically used as a learn-to-sail boat. It can also be carried around on land quite easily.

”My father convinced the Captain to let him take the VJ on board the (Navy) ship and sailed it in the Solomon Islands and other places where some had never seen a VJ before. He photographed the Japanese surrender at one of those islands.”

Rob Aldis is bringing his Mylius 50, ‘Daguet 2’, up from Sydney for the first time.

Comparing the various regattas up north, Aldis, who is Commodore of Middle Harbour Yacht Club said he enjoyed the Magnetic Island Race Week because of its “more casual and more intimate” attitude.

“It’s a nice way to end the northern regatta circuit before coming home,” Mr Aldis said.

Racing aside, for the 18th edition, Townsville Yacht Club will release details of the social program for this much loved event, on 17 July.

For all information including list of entries please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

Originally published as ‘Big boat regatta’: Preparations for Maggie Island Race Week begin