2014 Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race - Preview

Mooloolaba Harbour, still a safe port with extensive boating facilities © Waterfront Agents

Welcome to Mooloolaba Harbour

In less than three weeks' time the 1pm Sydney Harbour start of the revived Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race will mark the return of an iconic offshore race and opportunity to be part of the traditional feeder to the Brisbane to Gladstone race over the Easter weekend.

Mooloolaba Yacht Club (MYC) Commodore Gary Schulz is delighted to see the event back on the racing calendar. "I have been on the Coast for many years and involved in the support team for the race in the old days. This year we expect the event to have small entry numbers, but from next year onwards it will be huge for the competitors and for our whole sailing community.

"MYC members are raring to go to ensure all competitors are warmly welcomed. We have the experienced Warren Myles in place to manage the Mooloolaba team and he will be in Sydney for the race briefing. Working with him are quite a few club members who have been part of the finish team in previous years," Schulz said.

The Point Cartwright light still heralds the approach to the Mooloolaba Harbour. With the entrance now designated as a coastal bar the Queensland Government is actively supporting an ongoing project of surveying and dredging of the entrance.

The most recent report is online and shows the entrance survey and chart datum, go here.

A recent hydrographic survey shows a least depth of 2.2 metres at LAT for the channel's centreline, as well as 1.7 metres at LAT for the channel's eastern extremity adjacent the end of the eastern breakwater.

A Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) departmental spokesperson reminds that as the Mooloolah River entrance is a designated coastal bar entry should always be treated with caution.

"It's important to remember that conditions of the coastal bar can change very quickly. It's also important that skippers carefully consider vessel draft and the stage of the tide before crossing the coastal bar. Deeper draft vessel should navigate the deepest water."

MSQ can provide electronic and hard copies of the latest hydrographic surveys on request. All competitors will be provided with an updated river entrance survey report at the mandatory race briefing on Monday April 7 at Middle Harbour Yacht Club, the organising authority.

Once inside Mooloolaba Harbour competitors are encouraged to berth at Mooloolaba Marina and take advantage of a fifty per cent discount on berthing fees. With the boat safely tied up competitors can enjoy the restaurant and bar at the marina, called The Yacht Club, or visit the MYC's home at The Wharf Tavern for their post-race festivities. The Tavern is offering a thirty per cent discount on bistro meals for competitors and their supporters.

For those boats unable to enter Mooloolaba Harbour due to keel depth the club will have a meet and greet team to assist with off-loading crew and to hand over a goody bag.

The official notice board and Mooloolaba race office will be at the MYC office located at The Wharf Mooloolaba, next to Underwater World. Sean Langman's Team Australia will be tied up directly beside the MYC office, in front of the Wharf Tavern.

For those competitors and their supporters who want to stay in Mooloolaba for a few extra days, Newport Apartments at The Wharf Mooloolaba is offering a three nights for the price of two deal if the MYC is mentioned at the time of booking.

The prize giving is kindly being hosted by The Wharf Tavern on Sunday April 12 at a time to be advised.

MYC event manager Warren Myles said; "Sunshine Coast sailors and the local Mooloolaba community are really looking forward to providing a warm welcome to the fleet. It's what they used to do in previous years and I know it's what they will do again with great enthusiasm."

Multihull owners have jumped at the chance to be part of the well-known Category 2 bluewater race. The latest entry is Chris Williams' Morticia, the black 30-foot featherweight trimaran enjoying a huge summer including the Pittwater to Coffs race (won OMR) late December, Festival of Sails in January and last month Williams and his crew set a new multihull record for the Adelaide to Port Lincoln yacht race.

Next year it's expected the Audi IRC Australian Championship and Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race will fall at different times of the year and owners will have more time to plan ahead for the autumn rock hop to the Sunshine Coast, rousing a larger fleet of multihulls and monohulls for the Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race.

View the Notice of Race and enter the Sydney to Mooloolaba yacht race online by Wednesday April 2, 2014.