A Magnetic attraction

IT’S a long way to travel but Tasmanians love Magnetic Island Race Week.

Well-known Hobart sailors Brett and Jacinta Cooper and Hughie Lewis, along with their crews, made a long-distance trip from Tasmania to again compete in the SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week off the coast of Northern Queensland last week.

Press officer Di Pearson said the regatta appealed to sailors from all walks of life.

Brett and Jacinta Cooper have been there with their family: daughters Jorja, 14, and Indy, 12, plus Jacinta’s 77-yearold mum, all sailing on the Cooper’s luxury Beneteau 57, Mistraal, sailing all the way from Hobart.

The Hobart couple has done it all, from local Tasmanian races to the Sydney-Hobart yacht race, and they have been enjoying Queensland’s “northern circuit”, which typically starts with the Sydney Gold Coast Race and finishes at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, Australia’s friendliest and most relaxed regatta.

They left home in April and will return soon.

“We first came in 2013. Two apartments were for sale at Peppers and we bought them. Now we come every school holidays — we love it here,” Jacinta Cooper said.

“The kids love riding their bikes; that’s what they’re doing now, and swimming, there’s lots to do.”

As to the racing, Jacinta said: “We’re a sea boat, big and heavy, it’s been very light weather, but here it matters less for us. It’s just fun.”

And they do bring new meaning to fun — on the racecourse.

“We had the barbie fired up and were cooking prawns and sausages just before the start of the race today and it was