Over the Queen's Birthday long weekend, Mooloolaba again played host to the international Musto Etchells Winter Championships. And what a brilliant weekend it was!

 Peter Baynes, Sunair, and Peter Carter enjoy a day on the water.

After a fairly wet week, Thursday dawned with brilliant blue sky, and fair breezes, showing Mooloolaba in all it's usual glory.

The Welcome Function on Thursday night at The Wharf Tavern was attended by nearly all the teams, who were all celebrating after the "weigh-in". Teams from as far afield as New Zealand and Hong Kong were excited to be here, with some of the competitors experiencing the renowned Mooloolaba event for the first time.

Sally Hansen (MB&T Coordinator) with Hong Kong Etchells team.

On the Sunday, I was lucky enough to be invited aboard the official sponsor's boat "Whale One", along with about 40 other sponsors and supporters of the event, to watch the race at close quarters.

The spectacle of wind filled spinnakers, the picture-perfect back drop of Mooloolaba, Old Woman Island, Mt Coolum and Mt Ninderry for our viewing pleasure, my shipmates and I were treated to a wonderful day out on the Pacific.

Without knowing too much about yachting, I found to my delight, that it was rather exciting viewing, particularly when the wind subsided with about 100 metres to go in the final race! Watching the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed Etchells vying for best position, with little to no wind, and the rest of the field breathing down their "sails" only a couple of hundred metres behind them was quite thrilling.

Mooloolaba's "Loo with a view"

The Surf Club, Mooloolaba

All in all, it was a great day for everyone involved, and Mooloolaba Business & Tourism looks forward to continuing to strongly support the event in the future. For full details of the race results, log on to www.mooetchells.yachting.org.au .

The last couple of laps of the final race, with Mt Coolum in the background.