The 2024 Coral Coast Rally dates have been set.  12-21 September 2024

Below is a basic idea of this year’s rally.

1. Thursday 12 September – Meet and greet and Registration night at the Whitsunday Sailing Club
2. Friday 13 September – Start of rally. Sail to overnight anchorage and event at Cape Gloucester Beach Resort
3. Saturday 14 September – Sail to Cape Upstart
4. Sunday 15 September – Day in Cape Upstart – bbq lunch on the beach
5. Monday 16 September – Free day in Cape Upstart
6. Tuesday 17 September – Sail to Cape Bowling Green weather permitting – bonfire on the beach that night
7. Wednesday 18 September – Sail to Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island
8. Thursday 19 September – Free day in Horseshoe Bay – evening meal & quiz night at the pub
9. Friday 20 September – Sail around to Nelly Bay Marina – meet up at the park for sundowners
10. Saturday 21 September –  Presentation night – end of rally

ALL ABOUT THE 2023 CORAL COAST RALLY

The 2023 Coral Coast Rally was a resounding success which saw 12 yachts and 35 people taking off through the start line off Sorrentos and heading off for the first nights anchorage outside Cape Gloucester Beach Resort.  Then it was a short rest, clean up and into the costumes for the Movie & TV Character theme night.  There was a great array of costumes everyone really put in a good effort including a visit by Sir Les Patterson who didn’t disappoint and The Hulk and Morticia Addams, even a couple of beautiful pink Barbies were there.  A lovely meal was had followed by the first nights presentations including best dressed male, female and couple. 

The next morning the fleet was up early and headed further north to Cape Upstart.  A huge rain shower towing over Gloucester Island saw the fleet sailing through one of the best rainbows seen in years.  With a great following sea and around 15 knots of wind the fleet surfed all the way to the Cape to anchor up around 3pm, some yachts doing up to 17 knots down the waves.  Along the way there was Joke a Boat with some pretty ordinary jokes happening plus Catch the Biggest Fish competition.

Next day a great spot was found under a very tropical looking palm covered shelter shed with ready made picnic tables and chairs.  The barbees were lit up and soon the participants were all hoing into burgers to die for.  The weather was hot and not a cloud in the sky so swimming in the shallows was the order of the afternoon.

Next day it was decided to stay on another day at Upstart as the winds just weren’t playing the game for an overnight anchorage at Cape Bowling Green so the fleet took a vote and all stayed on another day.  It was just like Ground Hog Day, everyone turned up at the shelter shed for lunch, got the barbees out again and cooked up another storm, then relaxed in the calm tropical shallows.  Some taking their dinghies further afield to have a look around and some taking the walking trails up through the hills.

So Tuesday morning saw everyone heading off very early as they needed to get to Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island that evening for the meal and quiz night at the pub.  Due to not overnighting in Cape Bowling Green, it was a super long day with most boats doing around a 10 hour day or 68 nautical miles, but all arrived safe and sound by 4pm ish and by 5pm everyone was sitting comfortably at the pub sipping on well earned drinks.  The past days presentations were given out and winners of the quiz awarded then it was off to bed early after a huge day out on the ocean.

Next day was a lay day which saw a bit of washing done or some shopping in town but not a lot or effort was put into anything, but by 4pm it was off to the beach shelter for cheese and crackers and a game of Finska.

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.  That night  everyone met up at the local park to finish off the cheeses and crackers and a finals night of Finska on the grass.

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.  This restaurant was a new choice for the rally and it certainly didn’t disappoint with the place totally booked for us alone and the staff looking after us to no end.

The winner of the 2023 Coral Coast Rally was Rhapsody followed closely 2nd by Red Knot.  Silverado very graciously accepted the Horses Arse trophy for not only losing his pink dinghy once, but twice during the course of the rally plus a huge gust of wind that took it up into the air and flipped it over dunking the outboard as well.  Bella Vita won the biggest fish catch with the raffle prizes going to Shirley who won the very wanted Rum, Matchless & Eleni winning the sailing bags donated by Ullman Sails in Airlie Beach and Alchemy winning the Marlin Marine vouchers with the 100 Magic Miles book donated by Charlie from Cumberland Charter Yachts going to Steve off Bella Vita.

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 – Gold Sponsor, Shirt Front Solutions who donated all the great looking printing on the Skippers back packs, Cape Gloucester Beach Resort for allowing everyone to use their moorings for free, Cumberland Charter Yachts for the 100 Magic Miles and for printing and collating of the rally booklets, Magnetic Island Marina for their very kind donation of a complimentary night’s berthing, Marlin Marine for their vouchers, Whitsunday Sailing Club for the stubby coolers and the use of their premises, Airlie Sail & Shade Solutions for the 2 sailing bags and Tropical Designs for donating our printing on our trophies.