Yachties go nautical nile for hard sail and partying, by Alan Kennedy - 31st July 2004
(Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)

The annual northern migration of leading yachtsmen begins today on the harbour when 75 yachts hit the start line in the Sydney to Gold Coast race.

It is the first race in a series that will bring most of the fleet racing this weekend to Hamilton Island for the island's race week at the end of August. The organisers of that event already have 165 entries, and more are expected.

Matt Allen, the owner and skipper of the 52-foot Ichi Ban, said the coming month promises hard racing and hard partying.

From Southport they race to Mackay then on to Airlie Beach for a warm-up regatta leading into race week. It is a program many other yachtsmen will follow.

"We put our best crew on for these races," Allen said.

"We are very serious about Hamilton Island, which is one of the most prestigious regattas on the calendar.

"But it is also a big social event. Anyone who is anyone in big boat sailing goes to Hamilton Island, and as an old Victorian it is like a big reunion catching up with my old mates."

Allen said the Southport race was the season opener for most of the serious yachtsmen who were looking to Hamilton Island and beyond to the Sydney to Hobart race. This year is the 60th anniversary of the race and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is expecting a huge fleet to start on Boxing Day. After the 1998 race, in which six sailors died, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia introduced strict rules ensuring only experienced sailors could race to Hobart.

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