North Queensland regatta continued with Nautilus Marine Insurance supporting the SMIRW
by Andrew Hawkins 10 Sep 2022 02:00 BST
1-7 September 2022
Charm Offensive - SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week © Andrea Francolini / SMIRW
The North Queensland regatta season continued with Nautilus Marine Insurance stepping up once again as a major supporter of the 2022 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week held over 1-7 September.
Now in its 15th year, the event is recognised as the grand finale of the North Queensland season of sailing regattas. Following on from Hamilton Island Race Week, which Nautilus Marine Insurance is also proud to be partner of, the annual SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week is held on the waters of Cleveland Bay and kicked off with the Nautilus Marine Insurance Race Day.
The Nautilus Marine Insurance Race Day consisted of a passage race which was an ideal way for skippers and crew to settle into racing mode after the skippers briefing and welcome function of the previous evening.
The TP52 KOA took first place on the podium in Spinnaker Division 1 on the Nautilus Marine Insurance Race Day. Based at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney, this is the first SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week for owners Andy Kearnan and Peter Wrigley onboard KOA.
With the first day giving the entrants tough, sloppy conditions and not much wind to get the yachts moving at the start, KOA headed offshore to an average wind of 14-15 knots putting a smile on Kearnan's face when he commented. "Having never done Magnetic Island before, winning in our first race was fantastic. A bit of slow start but it was a great day out there, really enjoyable."
Newly local yacht Charm Offensive from Townsville Yacht Club showed some quickly learnt home ground knowledge winning Division 2 and putting a five-minute gap on second place getter Rob Rainsford's Y KNOT. Owned by James Permezel and Mick Grimm, the Hanse 445 Charm Offensive is a family affair with James' daughter Jess joining the crew for the first time. Jess too was all smiles and typified the attitude of the sailors at this laid back but still very competitive North Queensland regatta. "We had a great day and a lot of fun out there on the water. It was great to win our first race and I'm keen to enjoy the rest of the week."
Day two at the SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week was Queensland weather at its finest. Bumpy conditions in the morning before the sun coming out burning off any bad memories and wet sailing gear as the fleet headed to the line for an 11am start. The grins on Charm Offensive continued as they took first place on the podium once again, 'charmed' indeed.
Nautilus Marine Insurance is very pleased to be in North Queensland as a proud sponsor of the SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week and Hamilton Island Race week. Supporting sailors, their yachts, and their passion is at the very heart of what we do.
"We share the competitors' values. Expertise, quality, passion and an opportunity to celebrate the whole boating lifestyle." Lyndon Turner, CEO of Nautilus Marine Insurance.