Aspect's good will mission to Mooloolaba

by Lisa Ratcliff on 21 Mar 2001 Aspect's good will mission to Mooloolaba

The Lyons 54 Aspect Computing is on a good will mission to Mooloolaba.

Immediately following the Forrester Properties Sydney - Mooloolaba Race, which starts at 1.00pm on Saturday April 7, skipper David Pescud and his crew will entertain disadvantaged and disabled school children from Caboolture and Coffs Harbour.

'We'll take one group from Caboolture sailing while in Mooloolaba then we will try to catch up with the Coffs Harbour kids during the return journey to Sydney,' said Pescud.

'Originally we were going to do the Coffs Harbour Series instead of the Mooloolaba Race, however with the unfortunate demise of the Series, we found ourselves able to focus on the CYCA's Sydney - Mooloolaba Race.'

Pescud, an experienced yachtsman with six Sydney to Hobart Races behind him, will take a number of regular crewmembers plus some newcomers north for the 469 nautical mile passage, as part of his ongoing Sailors with disAbilities program.

'While the regular crew of Chris Tuckwell and Sharon Bond are backing up for their umpteenth Mooloolaba Race, we will have some newcomers on the boat including Brett Pearce and experienced offshore sailor Phil Thompson,' Pescud said.

While Aspect Computing is designed to carry water ballast, Pescud has decided to wait until the Sydney to Gold Coast Race in July to test the tanks. 'We will use the winter months to fine tune the boat for water and then hope we get the right conditions in the Gold Coast Race,' he said.

After the Sydney to Gold Coast Race, the boat will take part in the extensive northern circuit including the Mooloolaba - Airlie Beach Race and Hayman and Hamilton Island regattas, followed by a month of 'school hopping' back down the coast where the boat will be used to entertain groups of disabled school students on the water.

After retiring from the 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Race with rig damage, Aspect Computing went on to take out PHS overall honours in the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race. While the boat will race in the PHS Division of the Mooloolaba Race, Pescud will race under IRC for the Gold Coast Race in July.

Entries close this Friday for the Forrester Properties Sydney - Mooloolaba Race.

For further information, please contact Lisa Ratcliff on 0418 428 511.