Olympian Mat Belcher

HONOURED AT SOUTHPORT YACHT CLUB

By Tanya Rabe

On a night to remember, on 2 September 2021, Southport Yacht Club (SYC) celebrated with Gold Coast’s Mat Belcher his Gold Medal success in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Mat, with his wife Rike and son Anton, were led into the packed Main Beach Clubhouse by a procession of drummers. Everyone rose to their feet, clapping and cheering with the beat to thank the young Gold Coast family for graciously representing the sport of sailing.

It was thirty years ago Mat was sailing as a junior at SYC. Club members and fellow sailors have watched him grow into an exceptional athlete, devoted family man and now the first Australian skipper in history to win two Olympic gold medals.

When you meet Mat Belcher, you are immediately captivated by his kindness and humility. Regarded as a true gentleman by all who know him, Mat selflessly attributes his success far and wide. In a recent interview with Nic Douglass from Adventures of a Sailor Girl, Mat acknowledged that he wouldn’t be on the dais receiving gold if it wasn’t for the support he received from his family, coach, friends, sponsors and sailing clubs.

Mat and teammate Will Ryan make it look so easy to sail the high performance 470 dinghy, when in fact this is a challenging boat to manoeuvre. Mat joked, “We’re not just sitting on a yacht having a couple of drinks.”

Local olympic champion Mat Belcher and family are honoured by club members

In the Olympic regatta the champions were out on the water giving it their heart and soul in an hour of high intensity exertion maintained over a week of racing. To get their bodies into that peak athletic level of fitness requires commitment to hard training, a strict diet and resolute mental focus.

Following their silver medal win in Rio in 2016, behind Gold Medalists Croatia, Mat and Will were thrilled with their achievement referring to their silver medals as platinum. The Aussie champions knew, however, that their Rio contest didn’t have the rhythm of racing they needed to win gold. This planted the seed for another Olympic mission.

Mat talks about the risks involved in investing four to five years of Olympic preparation, which ultimately boils down to just one week of racing to go for gold. In agreement with their coach, Victor Kovalenko, they knew they could do it, but it was going to require everyone involved to be fully invested.

To achieve Olympic gold, Mat explained that they needed to have a clear focus, a good plan and just as importantly to be fully supported by those around them. His family are so important to him, and Mat never lets a moment pass by where he doesn’t acknowledge their undeniable support. “To get us to the start line was a massive team effort. It is a huge financial and time commitment. We’re really grateful that we were able to make everyone proud.”

Teammates since 2012, Mat and Ryan share a valuable synergy. There is an underlying trust between them where they take the good with the bad and support each other’s mistakes. There is no blaming, they are both responsible for the decisions on the water.

General Manager of SYC Brett James said the phone at the Club was “ringing off the hook with good wishes for Mat and Will leading up to their gold medal race”. There was no doubt in his mind that he would be welcoming back a champion and was already planning a party for the Belchers. “We are very happy for all of them. Mat’s a true gentleman and always helps the kids out at the Club whenever he is here.” The Club looks forward to future collaborations with Mat and supporting his children in their sailing journey with SYC.

The Tokyo Olympics will be the last time the men’s 470 class will ever be raced. In future Olympics, the event will be replaced by a mixed 470 class. This decision has been met with some opposition within the sport. However, Mat believes that having a mixed class promotes a good image for sailing and is a great move to retaining as many 470 sailors as possible.

Mat Belcher and Will Ryan, we salute you!

A procession of drummers welcomes Mat Belcher and family to the Southport Yacht Club

Shop - Eat - Pamper - Float

Noosa Marina is one of the staples of Noosa for over 30 years. Noosa Marina is a locals’ favourite dining location with a variety of restaurants on offer, be it modern Australian, a la carte, Italian or fabulous fish n’ chips. Many working locals enjoy Cafe Vin Cino for meetings, catching up over breakfast or a great lunch available seven days a week.

There's always something new to see with our variety of fashion shops, hairdressers or day spa on offer.

Noosa Marina is also a departure point for many river cruises including sunset cruises, dinner cruises, or do it your own way with self-drive BBQ pontoons or half cabin hire boats, or charter a deep-sea fishing boat. But, by far, the best way to get your own perspective of Noosa is by catching the Noosa ferry and traveling along the Noosa river while enjoying an historical commentary. A return journey is a leisurely 90 mins and one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy Noosa.

Sundays are a fanfare of colour and entertainment with the regular Sunday markets and live music. Why not arrive relaxed by ferry, enjoy breakfast or lunch, or perhaps top the day off with an exquisite dinner with a view straight up the Noosa River?

Noosa Marina. Relax and unwind. www.noosamarina.com.au

INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW Hanse 460

COMBINING NEXT LEVEL SAILING PERFORMANCE AND LUXURY

Windcraft Yachts, the Australian and New Zealand importer of the award-winning range of Hanse yachts (Hanse AG), has secured one of the most impressive cruising designs to be unveiled in 2021 – the Hanse 460. The 460’s purposeful angular looks, including a slightly reverse bow and hard chine running from the bow to amidships come from acclaimed French designers Berret-Racoupeau, well-known for their innovative and stylish creations. The Hanse 460’s superior engineering is courtesy of the DNA shared by the entire German made Hanse line, while the chic interior showcases French flair. The 460 inherits the easy-sailing characteristics of all Hanses; a self-tacking jib and lines leading aft to the twin helms mean the big performance cruiser can be easily handled by a couple or even solo. Slotting in-between the Hanse 458 and the 508, the 460 offers customers the opportunity to highly personalise their yacht with the choice of four cabin layouts. Versions include; a 3 cabin, 2 head ‘Classic’ layout with nav table to cater for long distance cruising, to a 5 cabin 3 head version that will appeal to sail charter and training operators and is capable of sleeping 10 in private, generous accommodations. The master suite located in the bow is especially notable for a yacht in this size category boasting a double island bed and ensuite bathroom with separate shower stall. There are also Cruising, Performance, Comfort and Flagship packages to specifically tailor your 460 to your individual preference. The focus of the Hanse 460’s premium al fresco entertaining and dining experiences is the spacious cockpit that can be optimally customised. Options include an electrically lowered swim platform with stairs, a wetbar with sink and grill, as well as telescopic davits that can be lowered flush to the cockpit floor when not in use. An optional hardtop can be fitted with a fixed windscreen and solar panels to generate renewable power and complements the 460’s aerodynamic silhouette. The Hanse 460 has the potential to be a powerful performer in either twilight ‘around the cans’ racing, or tweaked in full regatta mode. Generous sail areas of 114sqm upwind and 234sqm downwind denote all-round sailing ability. The standard bowsprit with integrated anchor arm serves as a forward tack point for headsail and gennaker and can easily support a second forestay for genoa or reacher. Optional electric furlers for the mainsail and headsails as well as electric winches make sailing a breeze. In addition to the standard jib, larger genoas are available in locally available sail wardrobes. Literally dozens of interior combinations give customers every opportunity to configure their Hanse 460 to suit their personal preference. Whether as an owner's yacht for extended passage-making with a master cabin including ensuite bathroom and two comfortable aft cabins; or as a charter yacht with 10 berths and three bathrooms - everything is possible. The galley can be tailored to your individual taste and needs. In addition to various refrigerator and freezer options, there is also room for a wine cooler, dishwasher and a three-burner gas cooker with oven in the longitudinal or U-pantry, which can be customised with various colours and surface materials. Another optional highlight is the fully-equipped navigation area with forward-facing seat, another rare feature in this class. The extensive options list, ranging from a washing machine in the utility room to flatscreens in the master cabin and saloon, is crowned by the Flagship Package, which includes exclusive fabrics and materials as well as a hidden bar behind the folding backrest in the saloon. The World Premiere of the new Hanse 460 is slated for the Barcelona Boat Show in October. Its exceptional design and sophisticated features have already been

Tailored to your individual taste and needs

recognised by the yachting press with the Hanse 460 nominated as a candidate for the coveted "European Yacht of the Year" award 2022 in the Cruiser Category. The Hanse 460 marks the launch of a new model range from the Hanse AG group that combines radically innovative design with traditional Hanse values such as fast cruising and easy sailing. The first Hanse 460 destined for Australia and New Zealand will leave the factory in Germany early in 2022 and will make its Australian premiere at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. If you are interested in finding out more about this stunning yacht contact Windcraft’s Queensland Manager, Gavin Ward on 0418 402 809. www.teamwindcraft.com/models/hanse-460