Sailors Enjoy The Coral Coast Rally

The Abell Point Yacht Club’s 2023 Coral Coast Rally was a resounding success with 12 yachts and 35 people sailing through the start line off Sorrento’s Restaurant and heading off for the first night’s anchorage outside Cape Gloucester Beach Resort.

The next morning the fleet was up early and headed further north to Cape Upstart.  A huge rain shower towering over Gloucester Island saw the fleet sailing through one of the best rainbows seen in years.  

With a perfect following sea and around 15 knots of wind, the fleet surfed all the way to the Cape to anchor up.

After two days relaxation, the fleet set sail to Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island which was around a 10-hour day or 68 nautical miles.

By Thursday it was time to sail around to Nelly Bay marina and take up the last couple of days lazing about by the beautiful pools, or catch up on long-awaited hair washing or laundry.  

Friday was the last day of the rally and by 5pm it saw everyone running to the taxis for the short ride around to Arcadia and the Baked on Maggie Restaurant for our presentation evening.  

The winner of the 2023 Coral Coast Rally was Steve and Margie Larsson on Rhapsody, followed closely second by Bob and Shaz Colman on Red Knot then third Steve Allen on Bella Vita.  

John on Silverado very graciously accepted the Horse’s Arse trophy for not only losing his pink dinghy once, but twice during the course of the rally.

Steve on Bella Vita won the biggest fish catch, .

The Committee of the Abell Point Yacht Club would like to thank all the sponsors who donated to this year's Coral Coast Rally, those being Oceanic Marine Risks, our Gold Sponsors, Shirt Front Solutions, Cape Gloucester Beach Resort, Cumberland Charter Yachts, Magnetic Island Marina, Marlin Marine, Whitsunday Sailing Club and Airlie Sail and Shade Solutions.

Contributed with thanks to Abell Point Yacht Club.

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The Coral Coast Rally participants at Upstart Beach. Photo supplied

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