Entries are now open for the third annual Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week to be held on tropical Magnetic Island just off Townsville in September. Local contender Michael Unwin was quick to jump online and register for the regatta when registrations opened on 1st April 2009.

Unwin has spent the last four years constructing his boat Fuzzy Logic, a Colson 8 metre trailer sailor and is looking forward to the challenge of competing on home ground where he will take on the likes of current State Champions, Leon Thomas' Guilty Pleasures, in the Sports Boat division for the regatta.

"I've competed in the regatta for the past two years on other people's boats in the racing divisions but am really looking forward to being able to compete with my own boat in the Sports Boat division.  It's a different type of sailing, much faster and adrenalin packed" Unwin said.

With competitor numbers expected to reach 50 boats, and significant interest from local and regional Sports Boat crews, event organisers are looking forward to including this division in the Sailing Program for the first time in 2009.

In response to growing interest, the regatta will also benefit from the addition of a Multi-hull division in 2009.  Multi-hulls are a popular type of boat and are often overlooked in larger regattas having to compete among larger fleets with monohull competitors.  Event Coordinator, Stephanie Cairns said the addition of the Multi-hull division will offer those with multi-hull boats the option to sail courses better suited to their boats making it a more competitive regatta for everyone. 

Other divisions include the prestigious IRC Racing, Performance Handicap Racing, Cruising with Spinnaker and Cruising Non Spinnaker bringing the divisions on offer to a total of six. 

The regatta will take place from 4 – 8 September 2009 and will be based from Peppers Blue on Blue, Magnetic Island, with plenty of opportunities for spectators to take in the racing action. Magnetic Island is a relaxed holiday destination, just 20 minutes from Townsville and has a permanent population of approximately 3000 residents. Much of the island is green space and National Park, interspersed with four residential villages. The mountainous island is well known for its laid back lifestyle, with superb sailing, snorkelling and swimming just some of the attractions for visitors. Accommodation options range from luxurious waterfront apartments, plenty of holiday rental homes, along with some superb budget accommodation, including the award winning Bungalow Bay Holiday Village at Horseshoe Bay.
  
Competitors can register their boat online at Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week or register their availability as a crew member through "Crew Register", a new online service through the event site. 

Music loving sailors may want to stick around for a few days after the racing finishes and join in the jazz festival at the Great Tropical Jazz Party which kicks off on Friday 11 September. It's two nights and three days of jazz filled partying beneath the palm trees, with over 40 of the country's best jazz musicians lining up for some cool jazz and balmy nights on glorious Magnetic Island.

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