The regatta is scheduled over the weekend of February 18 and 19.

Vice commodore of the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Toronto, Mel Steiner, said the Heaven Can Wait Regatta had become a fundraising powerhouse.

“This unique regatta – the only Australian overnight ‘round the cans’ charity fundraising regatta – primarily supports the Hunter Branch of Cancer Council NSW with a small amount of the proceeds going to Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie,” Mr Steiner said.

The regatta is organised and run by the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Toronto.

It was conceived and inaugurated by Lake Macquarie resident, keen sailor and cancer survivor Shaun Lewicki as a major annual sailing event on the lake.

“As the survival rates from cancer have improved, so have the needs of the Hunter Branch of Cancer Council NSW, and the funds we raise from this regatta are now directed to a new program – a Home Help Program,” Mr Steiner said. 

“This program provides domestic assistance to both recovering and terminal cancer patients who, because of their illness, are unable to perform many of the home duties they would normally do.”

The 2017 regatta is open to yachts, multi hulls, trailer sailers, dinghies and other off-the-beach type vessels such as moths, kite boards and sailboards.

Different courses have been chosen to cater for these types of vessel – the Long One-Lap Dash, 12- and 24-hour races for yachts, multi hulls and trailer sailers that meet the safety audit requirements, and shorter courses for other trailer sailers, dinghies and off-the-beach vessels.

“Dinghies were trialled in the 2016 regatta, and there has been much interest in growing their participation for 2017,” Mr Steiner said.

The enter a boat, visit rmyctoronto.com.au, and follow the links. The 2017 Heaven Can Wait Regatta will again be a part of Lakefest – a week-long celebration of aquatic activity on Lake Macquarie.