Fred Williams’ boaties and skiers reunion weekend will, for the second successive year, be held on Wallis Lake on July 7-8.
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Headquarters will be the area surrounding Hamilton’s Oysters with Coral Avenue being utilized for static displays while boats which are going on the water stationed closer to the Point Road ramp.
Last year’s event attracted the largest number of high performance boats at the one venue for many years and organizers expect numbers this year will be similar or even bigger.
Local boat racer and one of the organizing committee, Rhonda Wojcikewycz replied, “how long is a piece of string” when asked to estimate the number of craft and people who will descend on the Great Lakes for the weekend.
A boat which will be in town for the first time and is certain to attract a lot of attention will be Brett Lurhmann’s off-shore racer Team Australia.
The big blue inboard, because of it’s sheer size, will be unable to run on the dedicated lake course but if weather and water conditions are favourable will go out through the lake entrance and run along the coastline, possibly with a well known local on board.
“This has been a big coup for our event and may even lead to more off-shore powerboats coming to our region,” Mrs Wojcikewycz explained.
Long time supporters of the weekend, David Carroll, Grant Torrens and Danny McGuire will return as will Unlimited Outboard drivers Craig Truslove and Mark Staunton along with Edgar Phipps who owns and drives a stable of legendary race boats including Latimer Lodge which has appeared at previous events.
A reunion dinner, which last year attracted over 300 boat races and skiers, will be held at Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club on the Saturday night where another five inductees will be selected for the Reunion Hall of Fame.
Special guests, which last year included world water speed record holder Ken Warby and Peter Smith, will be announced closer to the event.