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Team Tripod (WA) sets the pace

Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Brisbane – Sunday May 5, 2007:

Racing for the 2007 Westpac Australian Team Racing Championship started slowly yesterday with the Race Committee forced to postpone the teams from leaving the shore until the breeze came in.

The first race was due to commence at 1000 hours however due to the delay, racing did not get underway until approximately 1130 hours.  Regardless of the late start, 8 rounds were still completed with team Tripod currently leading the regatta.

Tripod is made up of sailors from Tasmania, New South Wales and Western Australia which is where team captain Luc Tasker resides.  Tasker said after racing that he and his team were pleased with the results so far.

“It was great to get in the 8 rounds because we can really see how we compare with the other teams.  But anything can happen at this early stage” said Tasker.

The team from Royal Tasmania Yacht Club is currently sitting in second with sailors keen to bump Tripod from the first place position.  Team captain Blair Spaulding said his team is working hard to take the title.

“We have had three second places and a third in previous years so it’s no doubt that we want the title this year.  The racing was brilliant out there so it’s going to be tough to win the championship.  The competition is getting better every year but we are determined to win this one,” said Spaulding.

Yachting Queensland has been sailing together as a team since 2005.  After tying fourth in the 2006 Australian Team Racing Championship, this team of talented sailors including future Olympic hopeful Ryan Palk is set to heat up the competition when racing continues.  Yachting Queensland is the first team to defeat Tripod in an Australian Team Racing Championship since 2006.  Their intense training schedule prior to this regatta seems to have paid off and their local knowledge is definitely an advantage.

The youngsters from the Brisbane Boys College team that recently won a string of regattas have been thrown in the deep end of this event.  Captain Jack Sweep said it has been a huge learning curve for his team.

“The experience we are going to gain from competing in this regatta is awesome and I know we will benefit from it regardless of our result.  This is great training for the Matrix Australian Schools Team Racing Championship we have coming up in June”, said Sweep.

Racing continues today (Sunday 6 May) on Waterloo Bay for the ten competing teams.

For information regarding the 2007 Westpac Australian Team Racing Championship please contact Suellen Hurling on 07 3396 8666 or email sailingschool@rqys.com.au