VIP 'Race Within A Race' to kick off new yacht race
by Adrian Bold 29 Jul 2024 10:15 BST
1 August 2024
With just 3 days to go, entries into Australia's newest ocean race, the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race has attracted 29 boats from South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, including the 72-foot Antipodes which is registered to the Royal Yacht Club of Hong Kong.
To mark the start of this new entry to Australia's racing calendar, a special 'Race within a Race' will be held for three VIP's, hosted by three of the competing boats.
From the Start Cannon firing at 10am this Thursday morning August 1, the
- Mayor of Mackay Regional Council Greg Williamson, onboard GCCM Arctic Blonde,
- City of Gold Coast Councilor Shelley Curtis, onboard Ocean Crusaders J-Bird,
- COO of the Race naming sponsor Gold Coast City Marina (GCCM) Andrew Chapman, onboard super maxi Wild Thing 100, will be live streaming their racing experience from the start line at Cavill Avenue to the Gold Coast Seaway in a three-way friendly race, marking the growing sporting relationship between the two host cities.
Each VIP will take the famous 'step off the stern' into the Gold Coast waters and swiftly collected by one of the Southport Yacht Club high-speed patrol boats.
All this action will be captured from the air with professional camera crew onboard Gold Coast Helitours, with on-water live commentary by Sydney-based Bow Caddy Media, which will also be streamed directly to the Sydney International Boat Show.
The GCCM GOLD COAST MACKAY YACHT RACE kicks off not before 10am on the 1st August, with an epic offshore start line straight off the beach in front of Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise. The Race Village at Mackay Marina opens Saturday 3rd August through to Tuesday August 6th.
A flotilla of spectator boats is encouraged to help send off the fleet on Thursday.
Live tracker, spectator opportunities and all further information is available on the official race website, www.goldcoastmackay.com