Hamilton Island Race Week 2013 and expectations were
high as JBCYC members headed north.
Mohawk had headed north early allowing plenty of time to arrive and
enjoy the cruising on the way. Rumour
had it Tony Byrnes had also taken the opportunity to arrive early to prepare
the boat and hone his skills in the amazing waters of the Whitsundays. With time constraints Steve Simpson, Mick
Linhart, Mark & Joe Bakewell, Karen
Holdsworth, Andy Wharton and Mark Tobin opted to take over a local boat for the
racing, renamed Southern Magic for Race Week. The Southern Magic boys hardly had time to
organise the new signwriting to re-badge the old charter boat before the
challenge was thrown out, Mohawk would be gunning for us. The taunts were flowing thick and fast at the
opening night cocktail party at Hamilton Island Yacht Club but the night
dancing in the mosh pit with the Angels playing live moderated the enthusiasm
before the first race start the next morning, with more than one sore head
around. Southern Magic was quick out of
the box in the first race with a second place to pick up some silverware early in
Race 1. Competition was fierce in the
large fleet with 34 boats making up what was Cruising Division 2. With a
high pressure system stuck over the central Queensland coast the weather was
picture perfect albeit leaving the racing to be done with light winds for most
of the week. The long days under the sun
making for a powerful thirst at the end of the day. By mid week the score was 2 to 1 for
Southern Magic. The ‘Green Death’ nearly
lived up to its name in Race 3 when after a flying start Southern Magic suffered
gear failure and a gybe went horribly wrong and the strong tidal waters saw the
boat narrowly miss rocks at the end of Dent Passage. Both boats performed well showing the skills
of the JBCYC members to be up there amongst the best. By weeks end Southern
Magic had finished equal 3rd but lost on a count back to come in 4th
for the series. Mohawk finished a
credible 15th with the challenge going to Southern Magic. A great week of racing and partying was had
by all and we all look forward to heading north again next year to escape the winter
for more fun.
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