That was the most media attention given to a sailing event I've been to by a long way. On the race day we had three different news helicopters flying over us and there were 4 light planes circling by 8.15am plus numerous on shore media. One news helicopter spent the morning flying about 2 masts high amongst the boats telling people to smile for the camera etc. The pilot would bank to fly away and your cat would go from 6knot wind to 30kt plus gust then back to normal before the capsize. On the day we sailed up the Cooper Creek I broke my centreboard, it was 18kts and the last 300metres was up wind against the current so I reached accross and back in the 200metre width of the creek flying a hull every time and must have done 30 tacks before I got to the temporary ferry where I then broke a rudder on their cable. I've got a whole new appreciation of 14 ft cat sailing now I had an absolute ball on the Arrow, I wasn't nearly as fast as the Stingrays of course but the 16ft Calypsos I tustled with most of the race. There were a number of big mono sailers that had purchased cats just to participate in this event and two of those familys are keeping the cats to sail on once they go home on days they don't go out on their big boats. On the race day a kite boarder was going out when the wind dropped and his brand new borrowed kite ended up in trees for 3 hours, there was a big pack of media on hand to record that. Outback Spirit escorted tours put in $25,000 sponsorship which meant all entrants paid for was the campsite charge of $25 per tent per night, food and fuel to get there.
