1:11 AM Fri 18 Dec 2009 GMT
$10,000 cash draw for Southport Yacht Club's Coffs to Paradise & Sail Paradise Gold Coast ~ January 7 - 14.
Southport Yacht Club has announced a cash prize draw totalling $10,000 for yachts competing in the Coffs to Paradise ocean race and Sail Paradise series off the Gold Coast next month.
It has come as a result of the club securing additional local sponsors for both inaugural events. This has allowed organisers to decide that additional benefits show flow on to the competitors. The increased financial support for the race will also result in a significant reduction in the cost of entering Sail Paradise and the removal of an entry fee for the Coffs to Paradise race.
'It's all about putting support back into the sport,' said Southport Yacht Club's commodore, Neale Hollier. 'When we first did our budget for both Coffs to Paradise and Sail Paradise we were unsure what sponsorship support we would get in the tough financial times. Now we have sponsors sharing similar excitement to ours for these races, and that means we can make things even more appealing for the competitors. The cash awards will further enhance the appeal of Coffs to Paradise and Sail Paradise, which already has an extensive on-shore social program and 'fun factor' being planned to support the sailing activities.'
Yachts that complete all races in their respective divisions at Sail Paradise will be eligible to share in a draw for an $8000 pool, broken into $5000, $2000 and $1000. And all yachts that complete the Coffs to Paradise race within the time limit will go into a draw for a $2000 prize.
Additionally, the entry fee for Sail Paradise has been reduced to $100.
The Coffs to Paradise race will start on January 7, following on from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club's 29th edition of the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race.
Sail Paradise, a five-day series scheduled out of Southport Yacht Club from January 10-14, is open to the complete spectrum of offshore capable sailboats, from IRC Grand Prix level racing yachts through to cruising yachts, multihulls and sport boats.
In announcing the cash awards Southport Yacht Club also welcomed Yalumba Wines as naming rights sponsor for Sail Paradise. Fujitsu Air Conditioning has stepped aboard as an important support sponsor as has XXXX. They join Gold Coast City Council, Gold Coast Tourism and OAMPS insurance brokers as backers of this inaugural event.
'It's wonderful to see these organisations backing our firm belief that Sail Paradise will become an important part of Australia's annual east coast sailing calendar in partnership with Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club's Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race.' said Commodore Hollier.
One of Australia's leading yacht race managers, Denis Thompson, has taken on the role of Race Director for the Coffs to Paradise and Sail Paradise events, and some of the more impressive yachts on Australia's east coast have declared they are contesting the entire circuit. These include Peter Harburg's Black Jack, Bruce Absolon's Spirit of the Maid - a former round the world racer - and Alacrity, sailed by America's Cup and Olympic yachtsman Matt Percy. Special trophies will be awarded to the top three yachts on the pointscore for the entire circuit.
On the social front, as well as there being considerable activity scheduled for the Southport Yacht Club's headquarters at Main Beach, the lay-day on January 12 will see the sailors, their families and friends have the opportunity to take a specially organised coach trip into the magnificent Gold Coast hinterland. Other on-shore activities that families can enjoy during Sail Paradise include the many Gold Coast theme parks, golf courses and magnificent beaches that stretch along the entire coastline.
The Notices of Race for the all events are available on line. For Sail Paradise and the Coffs to Paradise NORs go to
www.southportyachtclub.com.au
and for information on the Pittwater to Coffs race go to
www.rpayc.com.au
For any additional information please contact Rob Mundle:
[email protected]
by Rob Mundle
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Sailing
