The recent Cairns to Cooktown race saw some terrific ocean racing in this 100 mile race and Leah Haslam of Cairns sent in this report: It was always going to be one of the fastest races for a long time with another star studded line up consisting of current Club President Charlie Waller, Ben Gulley, King of the Island Anthony Greenwood, and new kid on the block “Rebecca White Water Petre”.
Along with seasoned Cairns to Cooktown skiers Stewie Tobin, Matt Greenwood and also Peter “the Muppet” Bridgewater.
With weather predictions at 5-10 knots lots of bets were taken on the 32yr old record being smashed by either Ben Gulley or Anthony Greenwood.
Unfortunately the gods where not favourable and it was more like a 10-15 knots sea seeing Ben Gulley come in 9 minutes short of the record in a time of 2hrs 21min, with Anthony Greenwood exactly 10 minutes behind Ben. 1st across the line in teams and finishing 3rd outright was the “Fittest Fat Bloke” Charlie Waller and Peter “Muppet” Bridgewater.
Ben Gulley - knocking on the door of Roy Mawer's record
Undoubtabley the result of the day belonged to Rebecca Petre, not only skiing the Cairns to Cooktown individual at the age of 14years old but also finishing in a time of 3hrs 40min and 4th outright! There is no doubt we have a future “World Champion” in the making!
Congratulations to Team Unsociable for collecting the “Rick Tobin VB Memorial” award for finishing in last/ follow-up in a time of 6hrs 21min.
As most of you would know Wayne Mawer is considered the god of ski racing, however his father Roy still holds this astonishing record and has done for the last 32years!
We beg everybody to come and give your best shot, this is undoubtablely the hardest race in the world and to break this record you only have to “average” 52mph-do you think you’ve got what it takes-do you want to become a legend like Roy Mawer – enter now!
Cairns to Cooktown 2011 to be held just after the World Titles in Queensland next year.
