Revamped Sports Boat to contest Airlie Beach Race Week championship

3:57 AM Tue 4 Aug 2009 GMT

'Shane Smith has entered Mullet Gut in Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week' Ian Grant Click Here to view large photo

Southport Yacht Club's Shane Smith will rely on proven Australian championship winning tactical knowledge when he contests the Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week Sports Boat championship on Pioneer Bay from August 14-20.

He has revamped the Blazer 23 Mullet Gut into one of the most successful Sports Boats currently racing on the Southport Broadwater.

'I've given her a face lift and will race under the Musto 'battle flag' at Airlie Beach where we hope there will be some grunt in the breeze'. Smith said.

Musto has spent little time on her road trailer in recent weeks with skipper Shane Smith and crew mates Adam Lahey and Jacob Restall testing their technique in winds from light to a muscle and sail fabric testing 30 knots.

'We had a ball reaching down wind at 20 knots, with no bad habits we just sat there and enjoyed the ride' he said.

Smith has a good understanding of what is required to successfully race on Pioneer Bay.

He was just a lightweight teenager when he steered Sabattack to win the 1991 Australian Sabot championship over the Whitsunday Sailing Club inshore course off Airlie Point.

His latest challenge promises to add further important results to his impressive career log book which includes Gold Medal wins in the 1996 and 2000 Australian 420 championships.

by Ian Grant