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 3^rd but lost on a count back to come in 4^th for the series.  Mohawk finished a credible 15^th 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.