Preparations are underway for the 2017 APC King of the Gulf Regatta after receiving record entries for the second year in a row.

Catering for a wide range of competitors, this year boasts a $1000 North Haven Marine voucher for both the monohull and multihull winners of the King of the Gulf crowns. Crowns are decided on EHS (event handicap system) and gives all competitors a chance of the cash and the crown.

Reigning Multihull National Champion Wilparina 3.

Reigning Multihull National Champion Wilparina 3.

Quantum sails have also donated a $500 and a $300 voucher for a random draw prize, which will keep competitors on their toes for a prize.

A new competition introduced for this year’s event is the Easy Fuel Teams Event where both the multihulls and monohulls will be allocated by lot into teams of three boats at the Friday welcome dinner.

Every team will include at least one monohull and one multihull and the winning team will be the best performed team of three yachts on EHS during the regatta.

Boats from both South Australia and Victoria have entered and the competition is expected to be hot.

2016 Monohull King of the Gulf, Quarante-Deux. Photo: Ross McOmish

2016 Monohull King of the Gulf, Quarante-Deux. Photo: Ross McOmish

The gun monohull sailors include Greg Patten (G-Wizz), Bob Francis (Renegade), Rimfire 2 (John Moffatt) and defending monohull champion Lloyd Cushway (Quarante-Deux).

The multihull division will be exceedingly competitive with both the 2017 National Multihull Champion Robert Remilton (Wilparina 3) and 2016 National champion Iain MacDougall (Goldfinger) competing head to head for the first time.

Rob Remilton’s new French flyer, a DIAM 24, caused a sensation at the recent nationals at Wangi Wangi (NSW) with its blinding speed. The DIAM 24 is used in France’s Tour de France, a professional racing circuit around the French coast.

Geoff Floyd’s Victorian trimaran Fifty Fifty and the carbon fibre foiling trimarans Carbon Credit and Crosshair will also be in the mix when the multihull dust settles, while dual King of the Gulf champion Mad Max has been sold to Queensland and will not be competing in this years event — we hope to have them back next year.

Carbon Credit. Photo: Ross McOmish

Carbon Credit. Photo: Ross McOmish

The socially inclusive atmosphere is a welcome feature of the event with a large marquee on the lawns overlooking the marina — and with a full social calendar on offer during the event, including hot breakfasts and lunches available for the competitors, will make the regatta easy and enjoyable.

The regatta kicks off with the passage race to Port Vincent starting just after the Teakle Classic Adelaide to Port Lincoln Yacht Race cruising division at 10.30am on Friday, February 17.

The passage race briefing dinner will be held at the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron on Thursday 16th February at 6.30pm. After the regatta in Port Vincent, a return passage race back to Adelaide is programmed.