The 2011 Around Australia Race will commence from a series of ports around Australia and we are offering crew positions to a select few in this awesome 7,500 nautical mile adventure starting and finishing from Airlie Beach in the magnificent Whitsunday Islands.

What is it?

The 2011 Around Australia Ocean Race is a unique event in our racing history. Any category 1 yacht can enter and start and finish from any one of nine ports around Australia. For any sailor with ambitions to either extend their experience or their RYA qualifications, this is the prime opportunity.

Crew Positions

We have eight positions available for crew in this amazing event. We will take at least 5 core crew members for the entire race and have three positions open for people who would like to experience partial elements of the race.

Dates

The basic programme will start on Wednesday the 27th of July 2011 and will finish during November 2011.

Other options will start earlier depending on the choices.

Choices

 Race Programme

 The race programme will be offered to those with at least the     RYA Dayskipper's course completion certificate. These crew members will form the core crew of the yacht, they will sail the entire race. We have only five positions for these applicants. If you choose this option we will start on Wednesday the 27th of July, then we will have two weeks of crew and race preparation before Airlie Beach Race Week, and closely followed by Hamilton Island Race Week. Both regattas are premier events attracting over 200 yachts. The start for the Around Australia Ocean Race commences from Airlie Beach on the 29th of August 2011.

 Full RYA Training & Race Programme

 This option is for beginners who would like to incorporate their Yachtmaster Fastrack course and the race programme. This will commence on Wednesday 23rd of March 2011. This option will include both the RYA Fastrack to Yachtmaster course and the successful candidates will be invited to join the crew for the Around Australia Ocean Race. At the end of the programme, successful students will have achieved not only the Commercially endorsed Yachtmaster certificate including over 10,000 miles at sea, great race training and also a fantastic experience in serious offshore racing. Incredibly intensive but one of the best experiences you could ever get in your life!

 Individual Leg Programme

 For those that would like to experience offshore racing in a fleet of up to 100 yachts but only have limited time this is a great opportunity. You can book to compete in just one or multiple legs of the race. The minimum pre-requisite is the RYA Competent Crew certificate and a will to experience serious offshore racing.

 Customised Programme

 We can customise a programme of training, RYA qualifications and this great race experience to suit your own requirements as well.

Pricing

 On application

The Yacht

 We have a Sydney 40OD racing yacht which was selected for the Admirals Cup in 2001. She is a thoroughbred racing yacht designed for offshore racing with a crew of ten.

Skippers

The Yacht will be skippered by Steve & Tania Watson. Steve is an RYA Yachtmaster Examiner, principal of the school and Tania is an RYA Yachtmaster Cruising Instructor. The experience level behind these two is impressive...

 Steve has been racing since 1966 on everything from basic training dinghies to 18ft Skiffs and cruising yachts to Admiral Cup yachts, covering over 60,000 miles at sea in an enormous variation of conditions

Tania has astounded her peers over the last 6 years, starting sailing in 2004, she has sailed over 20,000 miles on deliveries, one of only two female bowpersons in the 2007 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race, and awarded the 2008 Whitsundays "Yachtperson of the Year".

Sailing is their passion, not just the training aspect but also competing in yacht racing, both around the buoys and offshore.

Inquiries

Email: yachties@bigpond.net.au

Mobile: 0417 703 817

Office: 07 4946 4069

Link to Race website