Mark Will Put His Sailing To The Test

Not a week goes by where Mark Beale doesn’t go sailing and now he’ll put his skills to the test during Airlie Beach Race Week’s newly welcomed racing competition.

This year, Airlie Beach Race Week is hosting the National Championship for Trailable Yachts and of 25 entrants from across Australia, at least five are Airlie locals.

Ray White Whitsundays’ Mr Beale is just one of the local competitors and will sail aboard his yacht, Kameruka, a Clubman 8 class.

“It looks like we’re going to get more than 20 boats which is a fantastic turnout and I haven’t raced against that many boats before so it’s pretty exciting,” he said.

This is the first year Airlie Beach has hosted the national event and the Whitsunday Sailing Club established a new division to facilitate it.

Mr Beale said Airlie Beach was the perfect location to hold the competition.

“We’ve got one of the best sailing playgrounds in the world,” he said.

Mr Beale is no beginner when it comes to sailing, competing in the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s twilight races every Wednesday.

Race Week principal race officer Ross Chisolm said holding the event was a huge opportunity for the Whitsundays.

“It’s really important for the event to run national championships and so on,” he said.

“There’s been a focus on Airlie Beach Race Week from boats all over Australia so it’s a great opportunity and we’re going to have fantastic racing.”

For more information visit http://www.abrw.com.au

SOURCE: WHITSUNDAY TIMES