Moreton Bay College student to fulfil a dream - Brisbane to Gladstone

9:59 PM Mon 16 Mar 2009 GMT

'Right to Left (Front) Laura and Genevieve (Back) Bill and John Warlow' Ian Grant Click Here to view large photo

Moreton Bay College year 12 student Genevieve Warlow will fulfil a personal ambition when she packs her sea bag to contest the 308 nautical mile Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race over the Easter weekend.

Genevieve will be just eight days into her 17th year when Queensland Cruising Yacht Club life member and Gladstone Race veteran Clarrie Noble fires the start signal for the 61st blue water classic from the deck of South Pacific at 11am on Good Friday morning.

She will be the youngest girl sailor in the fleet however Genevieve has a seafaring family heritage handed on from Gladstone race veteran and Grandfather Bill Warlow who crewed on Flying Saucer when the sloop power sailed to a race record in 1955.

Bill Warlow was also in the crew of Pagan when she pounded through rough seas and strong winds to win the 1964 race after the Good Friday start was delayed 24 hours when gales from a tropical storm lashed the South Queensland coast.
Conditions of this nature will prove to be a test of endurance for the confident Genevieve Warlow however she has already experienced racing in 40 knot winds that included a nerve testing broach which has failed to dampen her enthusiasm.

'Yes I remember the broach but you are trained to deal with it' she said.

Genevieve will have a busy role on board David Elliott's Farr 40 class ocean racer eLLeven and is naturally excited to follow the proud family tradition as a third generation Gladstone Race sailor.

She understands that life on board an ocean racer can be tough with a constant drenching from wind driven spray while there are limited opportunities to spend time below deck resting in a dry bunk.

However she is well prepared to face her test of enthusiasm and endurance an experience which she will enjoy with skipper David Elliott and crew including her parents John and Laura.

As expected both parents have extensive ocean racing experience and they will obviously 'cast off' some important knowledge to their student daughter and Gladstone Race rookie when the 2009 Myora Cup champion eLLeven enters the test of strategy and endurance to win the prestigious 61 year old Courier-Mail Cup.

This would be a special reward for Genevieve Warlow who has combined excellent results at school with her ambition to become a successful Gladstone Race sailor who is proud to carry on the 54 year old family tradition which started when Bill Warlow had his sailing flannels drenched in seawater on Flying Saucer during her record breaking time of 41 hours 19 minutes 4 seconds.

by Ian Grant

Newsfeed supplied by