Magnetic Island Race Week was the place to be for a few of our customers this year, with Nick also making the trip north to join long time client Peter Russell and the crew of Vincitore for a week of racing and sunshine.
And despite having more than 20 years of racing under his belt, Nick somehow found himself back on the foredeck! Whether he still thinks he’s young enough for it, or the rest of the crew simply took a well timed step backwards, we’re not entirely sure.
Like all of the northern regattas this year, there was plenty of wind around. Unlike Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach though, the tide isn’t nearly as much of a factor at Magnetic Island, which helps keep the sea state down and makes for some great racing.
Race management was in the hands of the same team from Hamilton Island Race Week, and they did a fantastic job. The course selections and lengths were spot on, with close racing across all divisions.
Looking around the fleet, you could almost have been mistaken for thinking you were back on Port Phillip Bay, with plenty of Victorian sail numbers proudly on display. It turns out quite a few Melburnians had the same idea about escaping the last of winter!
Magnetic Island itself is a pretty special place to go yacht racing. With warm weather, beautiful scenery and some fantastic sailing, it’s easy to see why the event has become so popular. In fact, this year’s regatta sold out in just eight minutes.
What makes the week even better is the atmosphere off the water. The whole island gets behind the event and you feel welcome from the moment you arrive. When you’re not racing, there’s plenty to explore, with walking tracks leading to secluded beaches and wildlife everywhere you look.
Peter has owned Vincitore, a stunning Italia yacht, since new and this is the second year she has made the trip north for the Queensland regattas. The Inspire Marine team have raced against Peter and the Vincitore crew for several years now, and they certainly know how to get the most out of the boat.
And it turned out to be a pretty successful week on the water too. After three race wins, Peter and the crew of Vincitore finished the regatta by taking out their division overall. Which was a fantastic result and a great way to finish the week.
After a week aboard, Nick also came home with a newfound appreciation for doing yacht racing the “smart” way. His wish list now includes powered winches, additional drinks fridge, air fryer for race day sausage rolls and sails for every possible angle and condition. Safe to say his expectations have been raised!
Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Magnetic Island Race Week, so it’s sure to be a good one. If you’ve ever thought about heading north for one of the Queensland race weeks, we definitely recommend putting Maggie on the list.
Just make sure you’re ready when entries open!
