The 2009 event saw many records broken; including the number of entries, but the 2010 Club Marine Southern 80 is tipping to eclipse this, with 614 entries received and accepted.
WOW what an exciting event, it is going to be! – Ninety percent of the competitors travel from every state in Australia to the towns of Echuca / Moama for the event on the 12th, 13th & 14th February 2010.
Competitors are also travelling from New Zealand, Belgium and the United Kingdom to ski the mighty Murray River The action starts on Friday morning (12th February 2010) with the Cantech Engineering Breakfast with the stars, at a new venue: the Moama Soundshell , Cobb Highway Moama (just over the bridge). Scrutineering & Competitor Briefing is the at the MWSC (Moama Water Sports Club) office, Annesley st Echuca from 12 noon to 5pm.
The Quest Apartments Launch Night is at the Corporate Area at the Victoria Park Boat Ramp from7.30pm to 12 midnight. Tickets for this event can be purchased from the MWSC office.
Saturday and the action starts.
The Total Tools, Static Display occurs in Hare st between Pakenham & Anstruther streets. This starts at 9am to 12 noon and is another opportunity to get close to the boats and see all horsepower they have, along with their magnificent paint work.
Whilst the Total Tools, static display is occurring, the social classes are on the water.
Starting at Torrumbarry they travel to the 80kms to the Victoria Park Boat ramp. The river is closed for exclusive use for the weekend, so no other boats are permitted on the water between Torrumbarry Weir and the Victoria Park Boat Ramp. The 100 social boats leaving at one minute apart will travel the whole course.
In the afternoon the start line moves to the Five Mile reserve just out of Moama. Here the shorter course competitors start.
These classes include the Veterans, Tadpoles (the youngest is Carter Robertson who is 8), Senior Social, Disabled, 70mph social & 60mph social. The last boats to close the racing for the day will be the Bakers Blitz and President’s Invitational who make up the top 40 boats. These boats will be racing for their pole positions for the racing on Sunday. During the breaks in racing, whilst the course is being cleared, on water entertainment will be provided at the Victoria Park compound. This includes the VWSA ski show and some Sprint boats, all provided by McDonalds Echuca.
The Victoria Park area is the best place to watch all the action, with full catering available and trade sites to visit and the big screen to watch. Entry to the area is $30 for a weekend pass and $20 for a day pass. Children under 13 are free.
Sunday racing starts with classes 14-20 starting off at 8.30am. Around 110 boats will travel the whole course; these boats are leaving at 30 seconds apart. Around 12 noon, the ‘big guns’ will leave from Torrumbarry.
Super class will leave in the order they finished, followed by the remaining 200 boats, including the 25 boats from the Presidents Invitational, which will leave in the order that they finished from Saturday. Once all the boats have been accounted for, then presentation will occur at the Victoria Park compound.
Results from the weekend will be “twittered” on the Southern 80 Twitter page http://twitter.com/southern80 as boats cross the line.
Full final results will be available from the Southern 80 web page at the conclusion of presentations.
For further information regarding the event you can visit www.southern80.com.au or contact the Moama Water Sports Club on 03 54806754
