Last night World ARC crews enjoyed meeting
members of the Mackay Yacht Club over a few cold beers at the club bar and
restaurant here in Mackay Marina. It was a great chance for participants to
share some stories of their adventures so far and hear from the friendly Aussies
as to what they can look forward to in the local cruising grounds.
There is real sense of excitement amongst
the fleet, not only for having just crossed the Pacific Ocean but also because
of the numerous whale sightings close to the Australian coast. In the winter
months whales choose the warm and calm seas inside the Great Barrier Reef to
give birth to their calves and as a result whales are a common sight. Members
of the Mackay Yacht Club were even heard to say that while racing in the
upcoming Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island race weeks a crew member will be
stationed on the bow to help spot and avoid these beautiful creatures!
Tomorrow the program continues with a talk
by Bob Critchley at the Mackay Yacht Club on cruising within the Great Barrier
Reef. Bob is real Aussie character and a wealth of information on the local
area. Tomorrow evening is the official welcome barbecue and prize giving
co-hosted by Mackay Marina, the Clarion Hotel and Mackay Tourism and Monday an
all-day tour exploring the surrounding areas of Mackay including historic
homesteads and the stunning forests of Eungella National Park.
After leaving Mackay the yachts will be on
a free cruising period which they will use to visit the beautiful Whitsunday
Islands before heading further north towards Cairns and across the top of
Australia to Darwin.