A dozen Wētās duked it out - Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week © Andrea Francolini / ABRW

September 16th, 2024

Over 150 boats are ready for a week of action on the water and ashore when Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) kicks off on 8 August, 2024 and there is a surprise or two among the 150-strong fleet taking part in the 36th running of this popular event.

For instance, George Owen is known for sailing larger catamarans, such as Charleston, a Formula 28x in the Whitsunday Sailing Club's (WSC) event. Not this time. Owen will arrive with a Wētā trimaran called Tamasha, measuring just 4.4 metres and sailed off the beach! At Airlie, he will sail in the largest fleet seen there, as a dozen boats are entered.

Owen, from Queensland, explains: "I don't have a big boat to play with anymore. Tony Considine, who I skippered boats for over so many years, sold Charleston. But as they say, when one door closes, another one opens.

"The Wētā is a really good design. Three sails, good for old blokes," the 73-year-old says, laughing. "There's lots of advantages to the Wētā. I hook the boat on the back of the car and head off. There's no big planning, it's much simpler. It's easy to rig and pull up on the beach after racing.

"The other attraction is that it's one design, so no handicaps. I've had the Wētā for a while. Tony and I went partners and I've been racing it for about three years. I was hopeless at first. There's a little kid, Arlie at Lake Cootharaba, who's had to rescue me a few times," says Owen, who went on to win the 2023 Nationals at Paynesville aged 72. "I needed an ambulance by the last race!

"We're going to have a good time at Airlie. Maz (his wife) does the starts on Miss Polly. We're really looking forward to having a good time this year. We always have a good time at Airlie, it's just different with the Wētā."

Podiums decided at most successful Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week

Wētā 4.4 trimarans

George Owen (Wetasashag) cleaned up in the off-the-beach Weta trimaran division, winning every race but one, in which he finished second and used as a drop. The class sailed two races today to complete the 10-race series in which Brad Stanley (Hazmat) placed second and New Zealander, Terry Bailley, took the final podium place.

"It was a lot harder on the windy days," Owen said. "This class has a good bunch of guys and they are very competitive. Brad hasn't sailed the boat much, so he'll get better and better. Terry came from Auckland to race and is more attuned to the heavier weather. There's a lot of people new to the class and it takes a bit of time to learn the intricacies. I'm more experienced but I'm still learning the boat too.

"I love the one-design sailing and the boat's so easy to rig and de-rig. I'm sure I'll be back next year as Maz (his wife) does volunteer duty on Miss Polly. We enjoy it here," ended Owen from Lake Cootharaba, north-west of Noosa and where many of the Wētās race.

Source: 
https://www.sail-world.com/news/277729/Action-on-water-and-ashore
https://www.sail-world.com/news/278297/ODMG-Airlie-Beach-Race-Week-concludes

Wētās will be out in force - Airlie Beach Race Week - photo © Andrea Francolini