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The Ski 4 Kids with Cancer 2011 Report

Glenn Geary wrote;  well what a day it was with only 5 Boats starting the 2nd Ski 4 Kids with Cancer ocean race from Sydney to Newcastle after I had received 20 Entries. The day was as being reported all week with clear skies and 9-12 Knott Westerly wind, the swell at Manly was about 1.5 Meters but grew to double that of 3 meters and a couple or rogue waves peaking the 4 meter mark at Newcastle Heads.

Some boats had a look on Saturday and reports soon got around that it may be unsafe to compete, although conditions were still better than the previous year, in this type of racing safety to competitors was paramount and it was a line call to let the race proceed.

Out of the 5 boats that started 4 greeted the chequered flag at Newcastle Harbour with the demise of Alex Ross’s entry a brand new (10 hour old Revolution) that had an epic fail with the finish line in sight and the Motor decided it had had enough and didn’t want to play this silly game anymore and sheared of 4 bolts holding it to the transom, I don’t think I could repeat DC’s comment when they were stuck 2 km from Newcastle harbour and 1km offshore in 3-4 meter swell.

Congratulation to the winning team of Stephen Robertson’s Thunderbird a 21ft Nordic that took line honours in a time of 1 hour 40 Minutes, 2nd place was Steven Robertson with his team of Robertson Racing (who it was reported waited outside the heads to Pittwater to make sure the other Boats were still Ok to continue), and coming in Third place was the team or Another Cyclone who reported as having a WHALE of a time, But hats off to 13 Year Old Crystal Gordon and Junior Men’s Competitor Brayden Jameson who completed the course in 2 Hours and 57 Minutes.

Special Thanks must go out to the following people for without whom the day would not be possible, Greg and Michelle from Newcastle Maritime for assisting in getting the red tape and paperwork in order, Richard from Newcastle Maritime Museum for getting approvals for use of the Jetty, Peter Browne who was the Boat Safety Officer (BSO) with the Maritime and escorted the finishing crews to the finish line and organising the quick retrieval of the aforementioned revolution boat, Andrew Campbell from Hog’s Breath Cafe for sponsoring the event and with his team made sure we were all looked after and fed and watered, Scott Curtis who organised the Trophies and last but by no means the least D,i Sergeant who’s crew was on Standby at the entrance to the Harbour to greet the arriving Boats.

3 Teams raised in excess of $3,000 with Alex Ross’s team collecting donations of approx $1,000 and Scott Johnston who had boat problems and failed to start who raised around $750, but the Big Shout Out goes to Team Raicey who collected Donation in excess of $1250 with Crystal Gordon raising $250 and young Brayden Jameson who managed to scramble together over $1,000.

Last year we raised $3,000 for the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and this year we will raise approximately double that of $6,000 when all the monies are collected and tallied up.

Brayden was the winner of the $660 First Aid Kit donated by David Coldrake of Coldys Towbars

Special thanks to Kerrie Eagle who had agreed to name the Race in honour of the Late Great Peter Eagle, and presented the Winners with the Inaugural Trophies

There have been some great ideas and brainstorming over a Lunch and a few quite ales at Hog’s Breath Café for next year’s event.

For those who competed this or last Year or are considering 2012 I am more than happy to take any ideas that will improve the day, after all Kerrie did get 30 shields on the Annual Trophies, and reports from everyone that attended was that this event will only get bigger in the future

Looks like we will run the race on the 17th June 2012 (the week after the long weekend) so put that date in your Diaries NOW

Take a look at the Photo’s of the day taken by Linda Daft and the footage from NBN TV on Face Book under Ski 4 Kids with Cancer

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