6:14 AM Fri 5 Mar 2010 GMT
The Australian Sailing Team's Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen are taking part in a sailing event of a different kind, leaving their 49er on the shore and being auctioned off as celebrity crew members for the annual Wangi Cruise for Cancer.
Organised by the Wangi Amateur Sailing Club, the Wangi Cruise for Cancer will be held on Sunday March 21 with all proceeds raised on the day being donated to the McGrath Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Outteridge and Jensen both began sailing with the Wangi Amateur Sailing Club and will be auctioned off to sail on different boats on the day. Joining the pair in the auction will be Haylee Outteridge and Lauren Jeffries, meaning that four of the world's top 49er and 29er sailors will be sailing on different boats all competing against each other.
In 2009 Nathan Outteridge paired up with Jeffries to finish second at the 29er World Championships with Jensen and Haylee Outteridge finishing just two points further back in third.
All four sailors are looking forward to taking part in the family orientated event on their home waters.
"I'm taking part because Wangi is my home club and I like to be able to help out where I can," said Outteridge.
"The Wangi Cruise for Cancer provides us with a really good opportunity to put something back into the local community and also help out a really good cause," he said.
The Australian Sailing Team pair will certainly make a healthy addition to any crew on the day, having recently finished second in the 2010 49er World Championship in the Bahamas, following up from their 2009 49er World Championship victory.
Outteridge and Jensen have had a great start to their 2012 London Olympic Games campaign, winning six of the seven regattas they've competed in together, including three ISAF Sailing World Cup rounds and will be back in action aboard their 49er at the Delta Lloyd Holland Regatta in the Netherlands in May.
The Wangi Cruise for Cancer is open to boats of all sizes with a cruise organised for yachts and a treasure hunt around the lake for power boat owners.
The activities aren't limited to the water with the day kicking off with registration and a champagne breakfast at the Wangi RSL from 9.30am.
To help raise funds for the McGrath Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia the event will include auctions for dinners, overnight accommodation and plenty more.
Throughout the day children not taking part in the cruise will be entertained with a jumping castle, bingo, face painting and a dunking machine.
www.australiansailingteam.com.au
by Craig Heydon
|
Manly, QLD
