A big week in Manly Harbour Village continues with the on-water excitement of the 50th World Championship Etchells Sailing Regatta being held at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, attracting 95 boats and over 300 crew members from 7 countries.
This regatta has enticed the very top sailors from around the world. Several Olympic medallist, World Champions, Americas Cup Veterans and sailing endurance race sailors such as the Volvo Round the World Race.
If you haven’t been able to get out on the water to watch the racing, grab a takeaway coffee and head down to Norfolk Point to watch the fleet sail in and out of the Harbour. The insignia on the mainsail will indicate the country each crew is from.
Champion sailor, John Bertrand AO, made comment over the weekend that of the 20 or more locations around the world where he has raced Etchells, the facilities at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Manly Boat Harbour and the waters of Moreton are second to none: the very best for large regattas.
It has been reported that one the interstate sailors who has had his yacht shipped to Manly for this regatta, says he is not taking his yacht home after the racing. He is going home to pack up and relocate to Manly!
Has he just discovered what we already know?