THIS year’s Heaven Can Wait Sailing Regatta on Lake Macquarie raised a record $44,000 for Cancer Council NSW (Hunter) and its Home Help Program.
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The regatta, held last month, saw 59 boats of various shapes and sizes face the starter’s gun.
Among the sailors in this year’s field were Wangi Wangi’s Olympic gold medallists, Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen, sailing their Moths on the One Lap Dash course.
Of the 59 starters in the One Lap Dash, 19 boats went on to do the 12-Hour Challenge, and 15 boats continued on to complete the 24-Hour Endurance Race.
The gun boat in the 24-Hour Race was Austral, sailed by Peter Mayo, which covered 120 nautical miles.
Race director and vice commodore of the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Toronto, Mel Steiner, said sailors faced challenging conditions on the water.
“The winds died during the night making it very difficult to set any new race records but 120 nautical miles represents four laps around the lake and, given the conditions, is a very good effort,” Mr Steiner said.
“In 2017, $38,000 was raised in support of the charities, but a new record was set in the 2018 event with $44,000 raised.
“Thanks must go to our sponsors, the participants, all of the supporters that donated money to the regatta, and the organising committee. As pre-regatta fundraising activity increased and we got closer to the regatta dates, the numbers started to grow rapidly and I’m very pleased with the end result.”
The event funds the Home Help Program in the Hunter, overseen by Cancer Council NSW.
The program provides domestic assistance to those people recovering from cancer and terminal cancer patients who, because of their illness, are unable to perform many of the home duties they would normally do.
“For the fourth consecutive year, the race has enabled over 285 families affected by cancer to receive in-home support to remove some of the stress associated with a cancer diagnosis,” Cancer Council NSW regional manager (Hunter), Shayne Connell, said.
The 2018 regatta also featured another first with Paul Bennet Airshows putting on a pre-race display of aerobatic flying.
Dates for the 2019 Heaven Can Wait Charity Sailing Regatta are expected to be announced within the next few weeks.
