Wild Thing 100 Takes Line Honours In Inaugural Mackay Yacht Race

In a thrilling conclusion to the first-ever GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race, Grant Warrington's Supermaxi Wild Thing 100 claimed line honours, setting a record time of 35 hours and 35 minutes. The race, which covered a 520-mile course, saw Wild Thing 100 achieve an impressive average speed of 17.5 knots.
The inaugural GCCM Line Honours Perpetual Trophy was presented on the docks at Mackay Marina Village. The presentation was made by Drew Jones, Past Commodore of Southport Yacht Club, and Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson.
Greg Alders’ Crowther 50 catamaran, Top Gun, followed Wild Thing 100 across the finish line, arriving a few hours later at 2:41 AM.
Grant Wharington, the skipper of Wild Thing 100, praised his team for their exceptional performance.
“What a great new ocean yacht race the GCCM Gold Coast to Mackay race is.
“The Wild Thing 100 sailing team set a new race record for the 520-mile course in just over 35.5 hours, logging an average of 17.5 knots through the water.
“The crew did an excellent job of sailing the boat, and a special thanks to boat Captain Theo and his first mate Patrick for preparing the boat perfectly for the race.
“A big thank you to Southport Yacht Club for hosting the event and the city of Mackay for a rousing reception on our arrival.
“This is a race we will definitely come back for in the future with trade wind sailing getting warmer every day.”
Adding a touch of excitement to the race was a special “race within a race” involving Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson, City of Gold Coast Councillor Shelley Curtis, and Gold Coast City Marina (GCCM) COO Andrew Chapman. The three VIPs competed in an 18-knot challenge from Cavill Avenue to the Gold Coast Seaway before taking a symbolic ‘step off the stern’ into the water.
Mayor Greg Williamson expressed his excitement about participating in the event.
“It was an honour to be on board GCCM Arctic Blonde at the cannon, and while stepping off the stern was a bit nerve-wracking, I was well looked after by everyone on board and in the pick-up boats,” Mayor Williamson said.
He highlighted the economic benefits of the race, with an expected injection of more than $750,000 into the local economy.
“This race brings huge economic benefit to our region. The race is an official qualifier for the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and so is an added incentive for those boats already heading north for the Hamilton Island and Magnetic Island race weeks.”
The race, sponsored by the Invest Mackay Events and Conferences Attraction Program, aimed to showcase the region to locals and visitors alike. Prizes for the race winners included Sarina Sugar Shed’s award-winning rum and liqueurs, because sailors love rum of course!
The event marked a significant milestone in Australia’s yacht racing calendar and promised to be a recurring highlight for years to come.

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Wild Thing 100 at the start of the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race. Photos supplied: Wild Thing Yachting

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson took a ‘step off the stern’ at the start of the inaugural Gold Coast to Mackay Yacht Race. Photo credit: Salty Dingo Media

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