2:41 AM Sun 20 Dec 2009 GMT
From Ocean Events CEO Bob Williams: 'When you are creating something new you look to what is best practice and that becomes your benchmark. In the case of creating the Around Australia Ocean Race we went straight to the Rolex Sydney-Hobart and started from there. That's as good as it gets.'
We are in a way creating a race around Australia that embraces twelve Rolex Sydney-Hobart magnitude start and finishes as that will be the atmosphere in the twelve stop-over ports in the one great race around Australia!
We are providing an opportunity for sailors and port communities around the coastline of Australia to experience to some extent the awesome atmosphere that is so much a part of the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race. I have experienced that feeling five times and every one is etched into my memory to be recalled and relived again.
The Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race has attracted entrants from all over the world for most of the event's life. We hope we will have the same success. We are enjoying great support from New Zealand and this will only grow and grow. We hope the great record USA sailors have achieved in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart will be repeated in the Around Australia Ocean Race and Rally.
As the 2011 Around Australia Ocean Race will finish in October-November 2011 depending on starting point, this allows ample time for our international competitors, battle hardened after 7500 nautical miles around the Australian coastline to fine tune their boats for the 2011 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Every yacht that is eligible to compete in the Sydney to Hobart is eligible to compete in the Around Australia Race.
A key feature of the Around Australia Ocean Race is that you can start and finish in your home port or a port near you. No need to sail half way around Australia to start and finish. You can do it from your home port or a port nearby. International entrants can choose a port of preference on the east or west coast of Australia, but boats planning to race in the 2011 Sydney Hobart will probably start and finish in Sydney.
We have 85 racing event reservations out of 224 total but as there is 16 months to go before race entries close and we could have 300 boats between the racing and cruising fleets.
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Bob Williams (left) with George Shaw Commodore Ocean Racing Club of Victoria with 'Melbourne to Sydney Race Perpetual Trophy' - Bob Williams
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We wish all at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, and the competing yacht owners and their crew, the very best for a great 2009 Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race and look forward to working with you as we bring the Around Australia Ocean Race to your harbour, first yachts through in July 2011, and again in November 2011.'
For information please visit the event web site
www.sailaroundaustralia.com.au
Email:
info@sailaroundaustralia.com.au
+61 (0) 413 057 559
by Bob Williams
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