Audi launches new sailing sport website

Audi launches new sailing sport website

Another dimension of the brand’s high-profile sailing sport strategy, the new website has been developed primarily as a news and information service for the sailing community and contains articles and images relating to the brand’s current sailing and product news and events such as the Audi Winter Series or activities with the Australian Sailing Team in their lead-up to Beijing, as well as upcoming Audi regattas such as Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta.

The site is also the official host page for the Audi IRC Australian Championship pointscore. The national Audi IRC Australian Championship series is now in its second year and incorporates four key Audi-sponsored events. The national champion wins an Audi Q7 performance SUV following the final regatta at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

All official Notices of Race NOR for each Audi-sponsored event are also posted on this site for competitors to download.

Construction of www.audisailing.com.au is another innovation by Audi in line with its commitment as the largest corporate sponsor of sailing in Australia.

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For further information, please contact:
Anna Burgdorf
General Manager, Corporate Communications, Audi Australia Pty Ltd
Telephone: 02 9695 6250, mobile 0401 990 230
Email: anna_burgdorf@audi.com.au
Melinda Keating
Corporate Communications Executive, Audi Australia Pty Ltd
Telephone: 02 9695 6251, mobile 0415 348 737
Email: melinda_keating@audi.com.au

Ausmaid wins 60th Bunbury & Return Race

As predicted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club’s race committee, it was a big boat race, the predominantly southerly breeze making it a windward/leeward course.

Third place went to Brian de Vries and his Steel de Breeze, with the best of the small boats, and winner of Division 2, Mike Finn’s Constellation, which took fourth place overall.

Confirming the general consensus of opinion on the race, Trevor Taylor commented, “it was a bit of a slog down there, but it was a lovely trip back,” though he confessed that it didn’t go all their way.

“It was pretty uneventful, but on the way back we had a big wrap on a gybe, and we tarted around with the kite for half an hour, trying to get it unwrapped in the middle of the night.”

The boat has an impressive history, having twice won the Sydney/Hobart Race, in ’96 & 2000, though Trevor is quick to point out that was before he bought it, “we’re not that fast,” he admitted, adding “it is a lovely boat to sail.”

However he and his crew are obviously no slouches, with this victory their third in the Bunbury and Return, plus a host of other good results on the west coast offshore scene.

Elaborating on the return leg Trevor said, “coming home was lovely, a bit of wave around but not too much, a reasonable breeze, so we were humming along, it was good.

“I think the top speed, the record, was 16.3 knots, which was as good as we got on the way back, but we were doing 13s and 14s often, we finished an hour or so earlier than we normally do, so it was all rather pleasant.”

Mike Finn’s performance in his new S&S 34, Constellation was impressive for a boat designed in 1968, he said they had a very comfortable beat down the coast, and an exciting ride back, commenting that boats of that era are not designed to plane downwind like the modern ones.

RESULTS:

Division 1 - IRC

1.         Ausmaid                                  Trevor Taylor              Cruising Y.C. of W.A.

2.         Walk on the Wild Side           Garth Curran               South of Perth Y.C.

3.         Steel de Breeze                       Brian de Vries             Fremantle S.C.

Division 2 - IRC

1          Constellation                           Mike Finn        Royal Freshwater Bay Y.C.

2          Bad Habits                              Ian Holder       Hilarys Y.C.

3          Jolie Breeze                             Tim Gardner    Royal Freshwater Bay Y.C.

Parkinson and Rechichi win bronze at 470 Worlds

Tessa Parkinson & Elise Rechichi

American’s Erin Maxwell and Isabelle Kinsolving helped ease the bitter disappointment of missing Olympic selection with an emphatic 10 point world title victory ahead of World No.1 Italians Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol.

“If there was ever a way to make me feel better about not being selected for the Olympics … this is it,” an ecstatic Maxwell said.

“I don’t know what the future holds but we’re going to savour it, that’s for sure.

“We’re going to campaign for 2012 but jobs, graduate school and marriages come before that,” Maxwell added.

Sydney based Perth girls Rechichi 22, and Parkinson 21, were delighted with their result and the kick start it has given them for the Olympic regatta in Qingdao next August.

Conditions for the top 10 double points medal race were perfect today for the lightweight combination, who overnight trailed triple world champions Marcelien de Koning/Lobke Berkhout (NED) by just one point.

In 7-10 knot shifty winds, Rechichi/Parkinson sailed a near tactically perfect race to set themselves up for a podium finish.

Knowing they had to beat the Dutch girls to have any chance of a bronze medal, they kept them insight for the entire race.

“On the second up wind we got a little bit out of whack and we tacked back and saw that we were pointing behind the Dutch girls …we were patient and just had to wait for the right shift and then they all pushed each other too close to the left lay – that gave us the option to tack around the top of them on the lay line, they had no where to go and they lost about a 100m or so,” a very happy Rechichi explained.

Rechichi/Parkinson will now both take a well earned vacation before heading overseas in March to begin their build up for Beijing.

They won the Olympic test event in Qingdao last year and have now officially signaled their arrival on the international 470 sailing stage.

Conti/Micol managed to win the medal race to consolidate the silver medal position, with Maxwell/Kinsolving finishing fourth, Rechichi/Parkinson fifth and de Koning/Berkhout second last in the 10 boat fleet.

470 Men

Brits Nic Asher and Elliot Willis overcame great odds this week to pull off a stunning 470 Men’s world championship victory at Mordialloc Sailing Club.

The 2006 world champions survived a nasty mid-race collision in Race 8 before they rallied to win the top 10 double points medal race and their second world title by just 0.9 of a point.

Willis was out of action for 24 hours with severely bruised ribs but following a successful application for redress points for Races 8, 9 and 10, he and Asher were elevated into the bronze medal position for the start of the today’s action.

With just 3 points separating the top three crews, Asher/Willis managed to leapfrog overnight leaders Alvaro Marinho/Miguel Nunes (POR) who crossed the line in third place in the medal race.

Marinho/Nunes secured the silver medal, ahead of Gideon Kliger/Udi Gal (ISR) who struggled into the light conditions to eighth place and a bronze medal on 70 points.

The Brits won with 56.10 points with the Portuguese on 57 points.

“The world championship was good for us … we didn’t have much training back in Portugal,” Nunes said.

“It was winter and we were expecting strong winds here and in Portugal it was light winds, so it was difficult preparation but in the end it worked out well for us,” he added.

For Marinho/Nunes, it is their first time on the podium at a world championship event, however for Kliger/Gal it is their third consecutive bronze medal at the world titles.

“It’s okay, we were second in the morning … we’ll be happy in a few hours,” a disappointed Kliger said.

“But it’s still a good result … we should be happy,” he added with a smile.

Australian’s Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page, the 2004, 05 and 07 world champs, finished fifth in the medal race and eighth overall on 93 points.

By Jodi Kelly/Clare Murray – Sail Melbourne Media Centre

Final Call for Nominations for 2008 Australian Yachting Awards

.

The Awards recognise outstanding achievement in the sport during the period 16th March 2007 to 15th March 2008 except for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Sport Professional Award and the Volunteer Award, which all focus on longer term contribution to yachting.

Anyone may submit a nomination, provided the criteria and conditions are met. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Yachting Australia website – www.yachting.org.au

These prestigious awards recognise a range of areas across yachting. The categories for the 2008 Awards differ slightly from previous years and are as follows:

• Male Sailor of the Year
• Female Sailor of the Year
• Sailor of the Year with a Disability
• Youth Sailor of the Year
• Sport Promotion Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Sport Professional Award
• Volunteer Award

Previous Sailors of the Year include America’s Cup winners, Olympic and world champions and round the world victors.

Last years winners and awardees were:

Male Sailor of the Year – Darren Bundock (NSW) & Glenn Ashby (VIC)
Female Sailor of the Year – Sarah Blanck (VIC)
Youth Sailor of the Year – Belinda Kerl & Chelsea Hall (WA)
Sailor of the Year with a Disability - Paul Borg (VIC) & Kylie Forth (WA)
Services to Yachting Award – Dough Jarvis (VIC), Michael Fletcher (NSW), Phil Vardy (NSW) & John Winning (NSW)
Media Award – Vanessa Dudley (NSW), Lisa Ratcliff (NSW & Di Pearson (NSW

Information from last year’s event can be found by clicking here

Other Links
	2008 Awards Criteria and Conditions
	Male, Female, Youth & Disability Award Nomination Form
	Sport Promotion, Volunteer, Lifetime Achievemment & Sport Professsional Nomination Form

Wilmot & Page announce retirement and a 470 Worlds Update

Nathan Wilmot & Malcolm Page

The affable pair will line up in the double points medal race at their final world championship campaign being sailed out of Mordialloc Sailing Club.

Sadly they are too far from the top of the leaderboard to win a record fourth world crown but admit they are going to enjoy medal day on the water regardless of the outcome.

It won’t be the World No.1 ranked pair’s final ever race, they are headed to Beijing to finish their outstanding careers with the one event which has so far eluded them – an Olympic gold medal.

Wilmot/Page completed Races 11 and 12 in 15th and second place respectively to scrape into the top 10 seedings for tomorrow’s medal race.

“I think the best we can do is fifth now … it’s the last race we’ll ever do in Australia so we just want to go out there and have fun,” Wilmot said onshore.

“It was good to come alright in the end and we are looking forward to getting fat and retiring and not sailing 470s anymore – no its (the world championships) is just fun – we can’t medal so we may as well go out and do the best we can,” he added.’

The same can’t be said for regatta leaders Alvaro Marinho and Miguel Nunes of Portugal.

The pair has been sailing together for the past 11 years but hasn’t quite managed a podium finish as yet at a world titles.

A pair of fourth place finishes in 2007 and 2003 however that could all be about to change tomorrow.

With a slender three point lead heading into tomorrow’s double points top 10 medal race, the Portuguese “definitely want to win this one” according to Marinho.

Fate may well have intervened when Sail Melbourne organizers handed them the 001 bow number at the start of the regatta, which Marinho added they were keen to hold on to.

“It was the best sailing out there today we’ve had all week,” he added.

“And it’s all too close to worry about other boats, I think we just have to go out there and try to win,” Marinho said with regard to tomorrow’s medal race.

World No.3 ranked Gideon Kliger and Udi Gal (ISR) had another great day on the water, pegging back one point from the Portuguese, finishing sixth and fourth for an overall total of 54 points.

A further six points behind is Nicolas Charbonnier/Olivier Bausset (FRA) who have joined the top three following a three and 12 finish today for a total of 60 points.

Early regatta leaders and 2003 world champs Gabrio Zandona/Andrea Trani (ITA) sailed themselves back into contention with a second in Race 11 and a win in Race 12 for an overall total of 74 points and outright fourth position.

Disappointed world No.4 ranked Aussie pair Mat Belcher and Nick Behrens managed to resurrect some pride today, finishing eighth in the first race of Day 6 action, backing it up with line honors.

Behrens said it was great to sail well and finish at the right end of the fleet.

Belcher/Behrens have endured a horror week on the water which included a mid-race collision and an OCS to leave them in 20th position overall and out of tomorrow’s medal race.

Tomorrow’s medal race is scheduled to start at 3pm.

By Jodi Kelly – Sail Melbourne Media Centre

470 Women

It's an all too familiar sight going into tomorrow's medal race in the 470 Women's world championship with Erin Maxwell/Isabelle Kinsolving (USA) maintaining first place comfortably, just as they did at the Asia Pacific Regatta earlier this month.

On the final day of racing at the Asia Pacific Regatta, the Americans matched raced Ai Kondo/Naoko Kamata (JPN) off the course to secure their win for that series.

Tomorrow however, the American's focus will be on Giulia Conti/Giovanna Micol (ITA) who finished today in second place,  with 62 points, 16 points behind first.

Despite a disappointing day with an OSC and a ninth place, Marcelien De Koning/Lobke Berkhout (NED) are still in third place overall on 69 points.

"Maybe we'll still be able to get into the top three," De Koning said.  "But the points difference with the first boat is too big to make up.

"It's disappointing because we were in a good position at the start of today and we spoilt too many points today."

Elise Rechichi/Tessa Parkinson (AUS) are a close fouth overall, despite also having a tough day with a fifth and 25th.

"We had a good solid first race then got really unlucky in the second." Parkinson said.

"There was a sixty degree shift to the left and we were on the right."

Despite the Olympics being only six months away, the Australians are doing their best to not get ahead of themselves.

"Our focus is just on this regatta at the moment no too much about the games."  Parkinson said.  "But we've been really happy about our performance in light winds."

Christina Bassadone/Saskia Clark (GBR) relished today’s condition and the 12-15 knot winds to salute the judges in both Race 11 and 12, elevating themselves from 16th position and into the double points medal race tomorrow.

The medal race is scheduled to start at 2pm.

By Clare Murray – Sail Melbourne Media Centre

Ainslie’s fifth world Finn title

Ben Ainslie wins 5th Finn Gold Cup

And he has Olympic gold medals in both the Laser class (2000) and Finn (2004).

Ainslie finished just a wave behind British team mate Ed Wright in the medal race, which is restricted to the top ten sailors after eight races in the 82-boat fleet, but well ahead of New Zealander Dan Slater, who had been only a point behind him going into the medal race.

A fresh 15-knot sou-‘wester, with only minor variation in direction, made the race probably the regatta’s fairest. The outcome was decided at the start with Ainslie getting away well towards the middle of the line while Slater was buried and had to tack off on port early but in disturbed air under the Canadian Chris Cook.

Wright cracked the best start towards the pin end of the line while Pieter Jan Postma (Netherlands), who went into the medal race in third place, also looked good off the line towards the pin, but was disqualified as a premature starter.

Wright led around the first mark of the two-round windward-leeward course from Ainslie with Johan Tillander (Sweden) third and Slater back in eighth place. While the fair breeze presented few passing opportunities Slater, always fast downwind, improved to fifth to secure the silver medal ahead of Jonas Christensen (Denmark).

Although Ainslie had only to finish second to win the regatta, he worked body and boat hard, surfing waves to the finish trying to win the race. “I had a bit of a skid out halfway down that run which wasn’t far off a capsize,” Ainslie said. “I still wanted to make sure I beat the Dutch guy because anything can happen.”

As it did happen Postma, unaware he had been disqualified for his premature start, had continued racing.

Slater explained his poor start: “I saw that PJ (Postma) and Ed were pretty well advanced and I thought they were over the line. Then once Ben popped out, I just had to stay with PJ and Jonas to stay in touch for a medal.

“The game was pretty well over.”

Slater, who has been friends with Ainslie since they raced Laser Radials against each other more than 15 years ago, was the first to congratulate him as they hauled their Finns ashore at Black Rock Yacht Club.

They were still friends? “He’s alright, he’s not bad for a Kiwi,” said Ainslie as they shook hands.

Ainslie said this world championship had been the hardest to win of his five along with 2003 when he had a really close tussle with the defending world champion Rafael Trujillo (Spain).

“It went down to the wire in the last race and this one was just as close,” said Ainslie. “There’s really big strength and depth in the class now and so I am obviously delighted to win it and look forward to lots of hard work up until China.”

(Ainslie has already been named as Great Britain’s representative in the Finn class for this year’s Olympics).

Final points for the top ten are: Ainslie 39, Slater 46, Christensen 53, Postma 65, Tillander 78, Cook 80, Wright 86, Aimilios Papathanasiou (Greece) 92, Peer Moberg (Norway) 102; Ivan Klajkovic (Croatia) 103.

Anthony Nossiter, already nominated as Australian team member for his third Olympics, finished the regatta in 12th place, behind Tapio Nirkko (Finland) and a place ahead of Trujillo.

Next, in 14th place, was 20-year-old Giles Scott from the strong British squad who won the junior world championship for the Jorg Bruder silver cup.  

By Bob Ross

Giles Scott 2008 Finn Junior World Champion

Two other battles were taking place today. In the Junior division, Giles Scott has been leading the contest since the first day and had the Junior title well secured.

The fight was on for the second and third places not yet decided before the last race sailed today for the sailors ranked 11^th and up. Piotr Kula (POL) and Federico Melo (POR) are conserving their earlier position to take Silver and Bronze.

Henry Bagnall (GBR) is disappointed and surprised after being disqualified on the start. “I started on the 3^rd row!”. This penality is costing him the bronze medal in the Junior Championship.

Federico Melo 3^rd place in the Juniors is shadowed by missing out on Olympic selection by only 22 points. The 6^th country place held yesterday by Ali Kemal Fekci was coveted by Ukraine and Portugal tailing the Turk closely. However Fekci managed to keep his direct opponents at bay qualiying his country and himself for the Olympics. Junior European champion in the Finn in 1993, Ali Kemal Fekci had stopped racing in the Finn in 1996 to try his luck in the Laser. “I was coaching the Chinese Laser team in Qingdao and realised that it could be my type of conditions. I asked my Federation and started again in the Finn two month ago.”

First country to qualify for the Olympic Games is Italy with Giorgio Poggi in 19^th position. “I am very happy with my results. I had an intense training with Emilios, Pieter-Jan, and other good guys in Greece and I can see my progress. I now hope that my Federation will send me or one of us to the Olympics.”

2007 European Champion, Edouard Skornyakov (RUS) is taking the second place in 25^th position. Other countries to qualify are Cyprus, Austria, Germany and Turkey.

By Corinne McKenzie

For Medal race picture go to: http://www.oceanimages.co.uk/gallery/dinghies/thefinngoldcupmelbournejanuary2008/?media 

For interviews, pictures and regatta footage please contact Corinne McKenzie by email or mobile (+61) 447 503 252

First round of Audi IRC Championship a tie!

Audi

Mark and Mike Wella took out honours in Division 3 with their Lidgard 36 “Alien” to place second in the Championship after the first of four regattas. Steel, from the CYCA in Sydney, took his TP52 “Quest” to a marked win in the grand prix division, winning five of the seven-race series, while Sorensen of MHYC, a renowned Sydney skiff sailor, won three out of seven races and placed second in two others with his Sydney 36CR “Philosophers Club”.  

When the final scores were tallied, the two friends found they were tied for the leadership with three events of the national championship series remaining. 

The pair will now hoist their bright orange ‘leader flags’ aboard their respective yachts for the second round of the Championship, the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, hosted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney from 1-2 March this year. 

“Actually, we’re very pleased with ourselves. We were a bit lucky to carry the disqualification (they were disqualified from a win in race 2 after a protest) and we were living with a bit of apprehension – the Passage Race could have been a small boat race and that would have been the end of us,” said Steel, who has not previously competed at Geelong Week.  

“We’re definitely doing all the other Audi Championship events (Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta in March, Audi Sydney Gold Coast in July and Audi Hamilton Island Race Week in August) and have our eye on the Championship trophy – and the Audi Q7.”

The Audi IRC Championship continues in 2008 with the upcoming Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta in March, Audi Sydney to Gold Coast in July and Audi Hamilton Island Race Week in August.

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For further information, please contact:

Anna Burgdorf

General Manager, Corporate Communications, Audi Australia Pty Ltd

Telephone: 02 9695 6250, mobile 0401 990 230

Email: anna_burgdorf@audi.com.au

Melinda Keating

Corporate Communications Executive, Audi Australia Pty Ltd

Telephone: 02 9695 6251, mobile 0415 348 737

Email: melinda_keating@audi.com.au

Walk on the Wild Side's line honours in the 60th Bunbury Race

The grey hulled 60 footer had rounded the turning mark off Bunbury harbour at 10:50 pm on Sunday night, then popped up her spinnaker for a fast ride home, making the most of a fresh southerly breeze which at times was in the 25 to 30 knot range.

Second home, some two hours behind Curran’s team was Ausmaid, the former Sydney, Hobart winner, now owned by Rockingham’s Trevor Taylor, with Ross Swanson’s Syrenka another hour and a half later.

Steve Ward, of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club’s race committee, said that he thought the handicap results would show it to have been a big boat race, with the forty five to sixty footers using their waterline length to establish a good lead on the beat down the Western Australian coast to the turning mark.

Graham Bishop, whose Crews Control has been having a good season, agreed with this assessment, “it was a hard slog getting to Bunbury, it wasn’t bad, it was just on the nose,” was his assessment of the situation.

His C&C 34 is one of the smallest boats in Division 1, but he enjoyed the ride home, “we had a magnificent sail back,” he said, “it was champagne sailing, you couldn’t wish for anything nicer.”

Indeed it was a hard slog for the smallest boats, with Hamish Maddern’s Olfrygt the last to turn for home, at 9.30 am on Monday, some four and a half hours after Walk on the Wild Side had finished.

Line honours:

1          Walk on the Wild Side              Garth Curran                South of Perth Y.C.

2          Ausmaid                                   Trevor Taylor               Cruising Y.C of W.A.

3          Syrenka                                    Ross Swanson              South of Perth Y.C.

4.         Finistere                                   Robert Thomas Fremantle S.C.

5.         Wild One                                 Tony Mitchell               South of Perth Y.C.

For further information contact:

John Roberson +61 (0)407 476 462

Robo_bandana@mac.com

Skandia Geelong Week Team’s Trophy goes to CYCA

Skandia Geelong Week 2008

 As winner of the Audi Series Division 1 trophy, Steel’s TP52 Quest was integral to the CYCA’s win, as was third overall placegetter Wot Yot, another of the successful TP52 designs at Skandia Geelong Week. 

 Patrice Six, Kirby’s X-Yacht design, was demoted from its Division 2 third place overall in the Audi Series late last evening, relegated to fifth place overall when it was discovered the race committee had missed finishing two boats in a flurry of close finishers in the final race yesterday.

 Kirby was obviously disappointed with the end result, but happy the CYCA in Sydney was able to hold onto the Teams Trophy, as the team had enough points in the bank to withstand Patrice’s two place drop.

 Bob Steel, on his first trip to Skandia Geelong Week, was over the moon.  Not only did he and the Quest crew win the Audi Series in the grand prix division giving them joint leadership in the Audi IRC Championship with Division 2 winner, Philosophers Club, he also led his club to the Teams Trophy victory.

 “It’s been a great few days.  I’m glad we came.  This is a great regatta and we’ll be back.  The racing was of the highest calibre and we enjoyed the race courses at both Williamstown and Geelong,” Steel said of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria and Royal Geelong Yacht Club hosted events.

 Six three-boat teams raced for the Trophy; the CYCA team winning by a margin of 17 points from Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne, represented by the always well-sailed Elliott 11 Veloce (Phil Simpfendorfer), Chris Dare’s brand new Corby 49 Flirt and Cougar II, Alan Whiteley’s recently purchased TP52.

 Cougar II’s final day performance was enough for Whiteley to snatch second place overall from Wot Yot in the Audi IRC Series and helped take the Sandy team to a 15 point advantage over third placegetters, Royal Yacht Club of Victoria.

 “We were very lucky to even start the final race of the series,” said Whiteley.  “We tore a 1½ metre section in our main just before the start.  We did a quick repair job with sticky back tape – we were very fortunate,” he said.

 Whiteley told how they were thrilled just to compete at Skandia Geelong Week.  “We fractured our chain plate in the Hobart race.  Thommo (crew member Andrew Thompson) did a great job to get us here.  It was a great series and we had great racing with the other two TP52’s. 

 Having Quest and Wot Yot here from Sydney helped lift our skills on Cougar II.  We only put her in the water five months ago, so we have a bit of catching up to do on the other two,” he said.

 The ‘Royals’ team was made up of the Adams 10 Executive Decision (Grant Botica), Bruce Taylor’s new Caprice 40, Chutzpah, and the Cookson 50 Living Doll (Michael Hiatt).

 Taylor’s new boat was built for ocean racing running and reaching conditions, not for the shorter round the cans racing which is the main thrust of Skandia Geelong Week.  Taylor’s wishes nearly came true in the Passage Race on day 3 when the fleet experienced 18 knots from the north-west for the first half of the race.  Unfortunately those conditions did not hold. 

 “My boat does not sail well around the buoys,” said Taylor, “but we had fun here anyway.  We always have a good time at Skandia Geelong Week,” he added.

 The Teams Trophy was awarded to the highest scoring three-boat team in the seven-race Audi Series at Skandia Geelong Week.

 For all information on Skandia Geelong Week, go to: www.geelongweek.com

 Di Pearson/Skandia media

Day 5 - 470 world titles

Nathan Wilmot & Malcolm Page

Ainslie snatches lead on the line at Finn Gold Cup

Pieter Jan Postma at Finn Gold Cup - Jeff Crow

Finn Gold Cup Update

470 Worlds Update

470s on Port Phillip at a previous Sail Melbourne

Quest is best at Skandia Geelong Week

Quest wins Audi Series at Geelong - Andrea Francolini

470 Update

470 MENS

Now placed eleventh overall, the Australian Sailing Team Men's 470 sailors Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page had a tricky day on the water today.

On returning in from a hot and frustrating day in the office, Malcolm Page explained."Race one was good to start with then, but then we got taken out by 2 boats which knocked us back from tenth to about twenty-first. We managed to crawl our way back eventually finishing in tenth place - but not a great start to the day, and our protest flag is up on that one. Race two we finished third - it was a good solid race - we kept going the right way, nice and steady, and all was good. Race three was a complete nightmare!

There was a 40 degree wind shift halfway around the course, which meant that those of us who had rounded the mark already were at a massive disadvantage. We finished a disappointing seventeenth"

The men will be looking for a better day on the water tomorrow.

470 WOMEN

Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson had another good solid day on the water. "We had a fifth, third and ninth today - I know the ninth isn't all that good but altogether we are really happy with what we are doing. I don't mind the fluky conditions so much, since everyone has them we just get on with it.

In every race today we weren't that great at the top mark but we managed to get up and keep ourselves in the game. That's all we can hope for - the longer we can keep getting a solid performance in, the better - we can stay up in the running. Sitting in third overall is something we are comfortable with at this stage. Only one race tomorrow, we will wait and see how that pans out."

470 Worlds - Day 3

Tessa Parkinson & Elise Rechichi (470 women)

Beau Geste wins Passage Race at Skandia Geelong Week

Passage Rock Fleet 2008 - Andrea Francolini

Following their superb third over the line finish to the super-maxi Skandia and the TP52 Quest, Kwok had enough in the bank to win the race overall by just over 12 minutes. 

Kwok has put together an experienced crew for his Australian regattas, including America’s Cup sailors Mark Bradford, the North’s loft director from Queensland who is steering, Kiwi Gavin Brady who is calling the shots, and Jamie Gale.

The three TP52’s finished one after the other in second, third and fourth places; Quest (NSW) second, Graeme Wood’s Wot Yot (NSW) third and Alan Whiteley’s Cougar II (Vic) was third, followed by Living Doll (Michael Hiatt, Vic) in fifth place.

Overall, the score for the Audi Series looks fairly similar, with Quest leading Beau Geste by five points.  Wot Yot is third on countback to Beau Geste, with Cougar II only one point away, then a gap of four points to Living Doll.

It was an all Victorian show in Division 2, with Bullet (D. Cartan), a Bull 9000 taking honours from Terry Hall’s Archambault 35 Absolut and Robert Hick’s self-designed Hick 30, Toecutter 2. Swordfish Trombone (Tim Olding), an MBD 36 was fourth and Barry Walker’s Sydney 36 Peregrine finished fifth.

Yesterday’s Division 2 front runners, As Good As It Gets (Dick Fidock, SA), Philosophers Club (Peter Sorensen, NSW) and Patrice Six (Tony Kirby, NSW) did not fare so well in the Passage Race.

Fidock finished eighth, Sorensen 10^th and Patrice Six 16^th. However, all three have used the race as their series drop and remain in the top three positions overall for the Audi Series; Sorensen on 6 points, Fidock on 11 and Kirby on 15.  Toecutter 2 is next on 17 points and Peregrine on 21.

“We had our worst race today.  It’ll be our drop,” said Patrice owner/skipper Kirby.  “Three boats I used to sail on beat us today.  I didn’t think that would happen.  It was frustrating.  We’d get up there then get stuck in a hole – we just kept stopping.

“It was very hard – very frustrating.  We got up to Pretty Woman and Espresso (Division 1 yachts) at one stage, then they just sailed away from us and we kept falling into holes.  The problem was the sea breeze was fighting the land breeze.  Having said all that, this is my first Skandia Geelong Week and we’re all having a ball on board.  It’s been fun so far.   

Peter Sorensen (Philosophers Club) felt the same.  “All those boats beat us.  This will be our drop too,” he said.  It suits our boat to get some breeze and to sail upwind – we’re not that fast downwind – and that’s what we got today – all the way,” he said.

“We went a bit far left too late in the race and that killed us – we ran out of wind.  Going left paid in the first 12 miles of the race, but not after that point.  There were stages where we ran out of wind completely today.  I’m looking forward to tomorrow.  The forecast says 20 knots plus – that’s more my style,” Sorensen added.

Division 3 was won by Steve Humphries’ S&S34 Huckleberry all the way from Western Australia.  It would have been an appreciated win following his third last finish in the Rolex Sydney Hobart in December.  Second place went to another West Australian entry, Brad Skeggs’ Beneteau 34.7, Palandri Mind’s Eye, with Victorian Archambault 32 Remedy (Burggraaf/Hibber) taking third place.

Overall, Mike and Mark Welsh’s Lidgard 36 Alien leads the series on four points from Palandri Mind’s Eye on nine points and Bruce McCracken’s Beneteau 36.7 Leeto is third.  Huckleberry is fifth overall, six points behind John Lindholm’s Masrm 920 Dr Unc.

For those yachts contesting the prestigious Audi Series, The Passage Race counts as their fifth race. The Royal Geelong Yacht Club hosted Audi Series finishes on Corio Bay tomorrow with two windward/leeward races starting from 12.30pm.

For all information:  www.geelongweek.com

Di Pearson/Skandia media    

470 Worlds - Day 2

Tessa Parkinson & Elise Rechichi

Skandia Geelong Week Day 2

Skandia Geelong Week 2008

Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta

Now in its third year, this highly-successful Regatta will feature over 250 yachts racing on Sydney Harbour, with fleets from all of the major Sydney clubs represented.

The Regatta will also host the 2^nd leg of the highly competitive Audi IRC Australian Championship.    With many sailors vying for this national crown, the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta will attract the most spectacular yachts from prestigious IRC Racers to the highly popular international classes. This colourful spectacle draws 20 categories of racing yachts, in fierce competition over 7 course areas of the Harbour.

By far the richest prize in Australian sailing, the overall winner of the Regatta will be awarded the brand new Audi A4 sedan – a car which will be launched Downunder in April 2008. To win the car, crews must compete for the prize at the “Audi Final Challenge” at Eastern Creek Raceway.

The event launch will be celebrated with a Sponsors and Competitors Cocktail Party on 12 February 2008 at Middle Harbour Yacht Club.   

At the weekend-long ASHR in March, spectators will enjoy a colourful feast of sails from various vantage points on the harbour foreshores and viewing craft on the water. Shoreside, activities will include a Henri Lloyd Fashion Parade and beach parties with live entertainment.   

The Regatta will conclude with the Official Prize Presentation at MHYC on Monday 3^rd March commencing at 6pm.

Scheduled on the lead weekend of Sydney Harbour Week www.sydneyharbourweek.com, the event has all the ingredients of an iconic Sydney event engaging the participation and interest of sailors and the general public. 

For further information please contact

Louise Bashford, MHYC

Phone: 0414 410 000

Email: lbashford@mhyc.com.au

 Melinda Keating, Audi Australia

Phone:  0415 348 737

Email: melinda_keating@audi.com.au

For information on Sydney Harbour Week visit www.sydneyharbourweek.com

Principal Partners;

Audi Australia, Middle Harbour Yacht Club

Supporting Sponsors & Key Partners;

Henri Lloyd, Australian Yachting, Reading Room, Nautical Timber Classics, Sydney Harbour Week, Match Point Australia       

470 Worlds

Tessa Parkinson & Elise Rechichi

The World No.1 ranked pair took line honours in Race 1 and third place in Race 2 to place themselves at the head of the fleet following Day 1 of the qualifying races.

The breeze reached about 12 knots early but died off to less than 10 but the completion of competition, with the Italians admitting to being quietly confident going into tomorrow’s next round.

"It is just the first day so we want to be down to earth and just focus on the next race," Conti said.

"I think we are in a good mood… weare trying to be at the peak of our performance at this regatta and I think that today we did it. We just have to focus on the next day," she added with a grin.

Tessa Parkinson/Elise Rechichi (AUS) sailed strongly, finishing the day with a fourth and a first leaving them trainling the Italian’s by just one point.

"It's good to have a solid first day. It gets rid of the nerves," Rechichi said.

The world No.13 ranked girls from Perth, who will be representing Australia in Beijing later this year, believe consistency will be the key to their success.

"If we're solid every day the result will come in the end." Parkinson said.

Triple world champion Dutch crew Marcelien De Koning/Lobke Berkhout also had a good day with first and fifth places putting them in third position overall.

"It was a tricky day the first race when the wind picked up a bit. It was quite intense because we were still in a setting that was meant for light winds." Berkhout said.

"It is wonderful conditions here … we think it is going to be a great event," she added.

The World No.1 ranked Aussie pair are now placed seventh overall heading into another two qualifying races tomorrow.

"It was an alright start ... we had to come from behind in the first race because we were really deep and we had to fight our way back quite a lot," Wilmot said today.

"The second race, we were sort of third the whole way round the course … we lost a few boats and then we got them back, then we lost a few again and then ended up back were we belong," he added with a smile.

Former 2003 world champions Gabrio Zandona/Andrea Trani (ITA) got off to a flier in today’s shifty conditions, with a first and second placing to lead the points tally with three, just one point ahead of Onan Barreiros/Aaron Sarmiento (ESP) and Nic Asher/Elliot Willis (GBR).

Slightly built French pair Pierre Leboucher/Vincent Garos admitted the light winds, which is what is expected at the Beijing Olympics later this year, is more to their liking.

"We have a good feeling in the smaller wind … the more wind we have, the more difficult it is for us," Leboucher said.

And after finishing second and fourth, are lying in fifth position overall on six points, with plenty of racing to go.

By Jodi Kelly – Sail Melbourne Media Centre.  For further details go to www.sailmelbourne.com.au

Skandia Geelong Week

IRC Division Racing - Andrea Francolini

After today’s two windward/leeward races, the Victorian TP52 Cougar II, owned and skippered by Alan Whiteley from Sandringham has a one point lead over a second TP52 Quest and Beau Geste, with a third TP52, Wot Yot, just a further point away.

Bob Steel’s Quest was the most outstanding of the three TP’s, in Race 1, taking the win from  Karl Kwok’s Reichel/Pugh 45, Beau Geste, all the way from Hong Kong, which put space between the winner and the next TP, Cougar II, with the third TP in the trio, Wot Yot, owned by Graeme Wood, finishing fourth overall.

However, in the lighter air Race 2, Cougar II scored the win from Wot Yot, Beau Geste and Quest.

Aboard Quest,  Jack Goluzd, who helped Bob Steel to a win in the 2002 Rolex Sydney Hobart on a former Quest, commented on coming ashore:  “We had a brilliant first race, but it lightened off in the second race and the other TPs got through us.  We’re not as quick in the light; there are differences in how the boats are set up and the other two are a bit quicker in light air.

“We’re really looking forward to some hot competition with Cougar.  We had some great close racing with them before this event and I’m expecting it will be the same here this week.  We seem comparable up and downwind.”  They should do fine, with Jamie McPhail steering and Julian Plante calling tactics.

Graeme Wood was pleased too with Wot Yot’s performance today.  “The conditions were good.  The wind was constant in the first race 8-10 knots.  It was lighter in Race 2.  We made our share of errors – we had a few stuff ups with kites, but it’s great racing,” said Wood who is experiencing his first Skandia Geelong Week.

“The three TP52’s started side by side and we ended pretty much the same way.  We did really well in the light stuff, so we’re pretty happy.  We are still learning though.  You are always learning something new in sailing,” Wood, from Sydney said.

It was exciting racing.  Going up the beat for the first time, the three were so close.  Wot Yot was on port tack and had to give way to the others on starboard as they came up to the rounding marks.  

“There’s going to be some great racing between the three of us, and Beau Geste will probably be in the mix in the results, although they looked a bit sticky in the light airs in the second race,” he said.

Race 2 was not so straightforward, as the yachts in IRC Division 1 crowded the start line, Skandia and Beau Geste clashed.  Grant Wharington, skipper of the 98 foot super maxi explained:  “Our forestay hit the main leach on Beau Geste.  They sailed down on us at the start and left us no space – we had nowhere to go.  They tacked away after the incident and we did a 720 penalty turn to exonerate ourselves.  It was just one of those things.”

Aboard Skandia for the week is defending Audi Series champion Geoff Boettcher.  “My new boat (a Reichel/Pugh 48 will be ready in time for the Gold Coast Race.  It’s a shame it’s not ready now, we would have liked to defend our title here, but I’m just glad to be back here and sailing on Skandia.  It’s a great regatta,” he said.

In Division 2, Grant Botica’s Executive Division looked good.  Winning Race 1, unfortunately they were OCS’d in Race 2.  Down the track, that will be used as a drop.  Leading the division following two races is Dick Fidock’s As Good As It Gets from South Australia, after scoring third and first results. 

Skiff name Peter Sorensen has steered Philosophers Club, a Sydney 36CR, into second place on countback after scoring a pair of seconds, with Veloce (Phil Simpfendorfer) and Patrice Six (Tony Kirby) next on nine points each.

“We did OK, we got two top three results, so we’re happy,” said Chris “Rissole” Cleary, an 18ft skiff champion sailing aboard Sorensen’s boat.  “We’ve got a few skiffies aboard, they know their stuff.  That second race was a bit choppy and shifty.  Officials re-positioned the mark to suit,” he said.

Mike and Mark Welsh’s Lidgard 36 Alien currently leads Division 3 IRC on three points, with John Lindholm’s Masrm 920 Dr Unc in second place one point behind and Palandri Minds Eye (Brad Skeggs) is currently third, a further point behind in what is shaping up to be a close Audi Series in all three divisions.

For more information on the event and race results, visit www.geelongweek.com

Di Pearson,

Skandia Geelong Week Media

Ainslie masters tricky conditions

The second day of racing at the Finn Gold Cup in Melbourne proved to be challenging with light and shifty wind.

Multiple World and Olympic Champion, Ben Ainslie (GBR) made his way through the fleet to cross the line a few meters behind Florian Raudaschl (AUT). The young Austrian who had nurtured a good lead around the course could not match Ainslie speed on the downwind leg. To further his disappointment, Raudaschl found himself disqualified for starting early giving the race victory to Ainslie.

Michael Maier (CZE) enjoyed the lighter conditions to finish in second place and improve his overall results after a very disappointing start in the regatta.

Australian Anthony Nossiter improved from a poor start to take 3rd place. “I was on the second row but I decided to sail conservatively on the beat. I played the shifts in the middle of the race and passed a few on the run.”

Dan Slater (NZL) capitalised on his earlier outstanding results with a 4th place which gives him a comfortable lead on the overall standings, 12 points ahead of Ben Ainslie (GBR). He is the only sailor with one digit results so far. Ainslie had predicted the tough weather conditions: “We will all have to count with bad races in this regatta. Despite being strong, the wind is often shifty and quite hard to read.” Today he compared the sailing conditions with Qingdao. “We raced with light wind and the remaining big waves created by the earlier breeze.”

With most sailors training in strong wind to prepare for this event, the sailing conditions on the start of the Finn Gold Cup are taking most by surprise: “Not the weather I was expecting in Melbourne” declared Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN), disappointed with a 15th place. Emilios Papathanasiou (GRE) and Peter-Jan Postma (NED) lost about 10 places after sailing on the wrong side of the shift on the last beat.  However, the Greek is only losing one place to 3rd overall, while Hoegh-Christensen and Postma conserves their earlier 4th and 5th position.

It could have been a great day for Junior Piotr Kula. The young Pole finished the race in 11th place but was found among the 6 sailors disqualified at the start. Giles Scott (GBR) is loosing 5 places in 16th position after collecting 31 points today. He is still the clear leader of the Junior division. Ian Cook (USA) was the first Junior across the line with a 29th. He is placed in 4th place in the Junior classification, 5 points behind Federico Melo (POR) and 4 behind Henry Bagnall (GBR).

Two races are scheduled on Thursday.  

For interviews, pictures and regatta footage please contact Corinne McKenzie by email or mobile (+61) 447 503 252

Special thanks go to sponsors: State Government of Victoria; Parks Victoria; Mercedes Benz; Helly Hansen; Bayside City Council; Mornington Peninsula Shire Council; City of Kingston; Schenker Australia; Yachting Australia; Ronstan International; Ribsport; Silver Marine.

For information and results, go to:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

Marine Safety Conference 2008

2008 Conference

At the conference you can –

• Hear Australian and international speakers outline the latest safety developments
• Choose from sessions on research, search and rescue, recreational boating, product innovation, commercial standards, training, fishing, navigation and ports, the environment, technical developments and pilotage
• Showcase your business via sponsorship and exhibition opportunities
• Network with senior decision makers
• Visit South Australia’s major maritime industry sites

For more, go to the National Marine Safety Committee web site at www.nmsc.gov.au or call (02) 9247 2124.

Other Links
	Conference Program
	Conference Registration Form

Italian Drop-out Leaves Warren Jones Youth Regatta Gap

Regatta chairman Skip Lissiman commented, “The unfortunate thing is this event has become very popular amongst the world’s youth match racing sailors and we receive a lot of interest from the international teams to compete.

“We would have liked to give another international team the opportunity to come here, but at this late notice that may not be possible considering the logistics of arranging flight bookings, etc”

The organizers, the West Australian Yachting Foundation, received 21 expressions of interest for the 12 places in the 2008 regatta, that runs from 2^nd to 7^th February, and is hosted this year by the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, on Perth’s Swan River.

The event is a priority for youth sailors, because it includes a two day match racing seminar, with speakers including legendary match racer Peter Gilmour, America’s Cup winner Skip Lissiman, and this year possibly current super-star James Spithill.

Other competitors in this year’s event come from as far afield as Sweden, New Zealand, and a strong contingent from the eastern states of Australia, with local skipper Torvar Mirsky defending the trophy he won last year.

The regatta comprises four days of tough on the water action in a fleet of Foundation 36 yachts, with the 12 crews sailing a double round robin series, before the top two skippers progress to a first to win two race final.

Torvar Mirsky has described the format as unforgiving, saying that there is no room for error, and that competitors have to be on top form right from the first race.

For further information contact:

John Roberson +61 (0)407 476 462

60th Race to Bunbury and Back

Starting off Fremantle at 9.30 am, on Sunday, will be the 60^th Bunbury & Return race, which was first sailed just three years after the first dash south by the illustrious founders of the famous Boxing Day race.

The history for this race is the history of offshore yacht racing in Western Australia, and a browse through the list of winners brings up the names of many of the states most prominent sailors.

The names on the trophy for this race include Rolly Tasker,  Merv Finn and Bill Lucas, all legends of the W.A. sailing scene.

While a very competitive fleet of 19 yachts will line up for Sunday’s start, back in the early ‘80s, the halcyon days of W.A. offshore racing, over 60 entries would take to the starting line.

It was a motley selection of boats that sailed the first race in 1948, in the austere post-war days, when the “Liquid Fuel Board” refused a request for a special ration of petrol, so that club powerboats could accompany the fleet as a safety measure.

Of the 19 starters in this weekend’s 60^th race, the likely line honours winner is Garth Curran’s Walk on the Wild Side, though one should not discount former Sydney Hobart winner Ausmaid in the hands of Trevor Taylor, or Robert Thomas’s Finistere.

When it comes to handicap honours, then the field is wide open, with a number of boats having shown good form this season.

Graham Bishop’s Crews Control is a consistent good performer, Steel de Breeze in the hands of Brian de Vries, High Anxiety owned by Dean and Todd Giraudo, Michael Finn’s Constellation and Bad Habits with Ian Holder in charge, are all strong contenders.

Although the first race went to Bunbury and stopped, since then it has been a round trip of just over 200 nautical miles.

Back in 1948 the one way journey took just under 24 hours for the leading boat, while these days the line honours winner generally takes less than 18 hours.

For further information contact:

John Roberson +61 (0)407 476 462

Robo_bandana@mac.com

Fall Stops Olympic Sailor From Competing in China

Nicky Bethwaite, Karyn Gojnich & Angela Farrell

Bethwaite broke both arms in a fall from a mountain bike last September and was selected as skipper of the Yngling crew in October 2007 subject to passing a medical examination.

At the time her injuries were so severe she was unable to sail. She suffered another setback in November when her injuries worsened and required more surgery.

Professor Paul Preisz, Head of Emergency Medicine at St Vincents Hospital and Team Doctor for the Australian Sailing Team conducted the medical assessment on January 4^th. Subsequently Yachting Australia (YA) was forced to withdraw her nomination to the Australian Olympic Committee.

The evaluation was based on tasks she would need to perform as skipper of the boat. Professor Preisz informed YA Bethwaite was unable to even attempt any of the required tasks because of her injuries.

“We are sorry for Nicky that she has been withdrawn from the Team and wish her well in recovering from her injuries” said Fiona de Jong, Director of Sport at the Australian Olympic Committee.

While she has been off the water Melbourne sailor Krystal Weir joined Karyn Gojnich and Angela Farrell in the boat.

Weir narrowly missed selection in the Laser Radial class when the Sailing Team was announced. She continued to train for the Olympics and has made a spectacular transition to the new class.

So impressed is Yachting Australia, they nominated Krystal to the AOC as Bethwaite’s replacement for the Olympic campaign in Qingdao.

The AOC has accepted the nomination of Krystal Weir and have re-selected the crew for the Yngling class for the Beijing Olympic Games.

 “Our congratulations go to Krystal who will make her Olympic debut in Beijing.  We wish the girls the best of luck as they train for the Games, now less than 200 days away”,  said  Fiona de Jong.

 Angela, Karyn and Krystal are currently preparing for the Miami OCR Regatta starting this Sunday.  The girls will then go on to compete at the World Championships also taking place in Miami commencing 2 February.

High ranked young sailors for Hardy Cup 2008

Hardy Cup 2007

Mirsky, from Royal Perth Yacht Club, has twice previously contested the Hardy Cup, placing seventh overall in 2006 to the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s Michael Dunstan and fourth in 2007 to Adam Minoprio from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

The young West Australian recently returned from the European circuit where his results lifted him up the ISAF rankings, ahead of mentor Peter Gilmour. With an ISAF ranking of 11, Mirsky will defend his Warren Jones Regatta match racing title in Perth next week.

Defending the Hardy Cup this year is New Zealander Adam Minoprio who has continued his international match racing experience over the past year, successfully defending his Asia match racing title and receiving an entry for the second time to the 2007 Monsoon Cup, the world circuit event in Malaysia. 

He also finished second in the Knickerbocker Cup in the USA and has a current ISAF ranking of 34.

Representing the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron in the Hardy Cup will be Stuart Pollard, who sailed impressively to place third last year behind Minoprio and fellow New Zealander Laurie Jury. 

Stuart and his team, Ben Barzach, Iain Quartly and Kate Brown, study business at the University of Sydney and together they came 6^th in the ISAF Grade 2 TMC Dong Energy Cup 2007 in Denmark.

The second RSYS team will be formed from the Squadron’s match racing rookies: Edward Quartly, David Chapman, Jordan Reece and Nicholas Howe.  The skipper will be decided after the Auckland Youth International Match Racing Championship from 23-27 January.

Edward Quartly and David Chapman will both compete in this event with their individual crews.  The helm that has the better result in Auckland will be helming the second RSYS team in the Hardy Cup.

One of the strongest competitors for the Hardy Cup 2008 will be Evan Walker from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.  This past year he has successfully defended his NSW Youth Match Racing Championship and gone on to win the inaugural Selangor Gapurna Youth International Match Racing regatta in Malaysia and the 2007 Australian Open Match Racing Championship.

Two women skippers will compete in the Hardy Cup 2008, Nicky Souter and Nina Curtis, both from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.  Nicky has an current ISAF women’s ranking of 12.

Other skippers for the Hardy Cup 2008 are Keith Swinton (South of Perth Yacht Club), Laurie Jury (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), John Bäck (Royal Swedish Yacht Club), Josh Junior (Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, NZL) and Robert Gibbs (Royal Perth Yacht Club).

Further information:

Peter Campbell – 0419 385 028 or email – peter_campbell@bigpond.com

Australian Sailing Team win SB3 Regatta and crowned ‘King of the Docklands’

The sun was out briefly during the Super Sunday of sailing for day two of Skandia Docklands Invitational. While the ocean racing yachts raced out on Port Philip, twenty teams of elite sailors also gathered to race in super-slick one-design sports boats as part of the Vectrix SB3 King of the Docklands event. An impressive first prize, a Vectrix High Performance electric maxi-scooter, provided good incentive for some great competition on the water.

The Australian Sailing Team fielded no less than three teams :

AST 1: Laser World Champion and World Number One Tom Slingsby, 49er World Champion Nathan Outteridge, 470 World Champion Nathan Wilmot and Radial National Champion Sarah Blanck

AST 2: Tornado World Number One’s and World Champion’s Glenn Ashby and Darren Bundock plus 49er World Champion Ben Austin.

AST Masters: Mark Turnbull, Nick Partridge and Brett Sleeth

Anticipation was intense as crews prepared to take part in the high adrenalin competition at Victoria Harbour at Melbourne’s Docklands. The harbour was transformed into a hive of activity when boats of all shapes and sizes took to the water for various events, with many describing the blustery southerly wind as potentially chaotic.

Oceanburo had a strong advantage in race one, being the Australian distributors for SB3s, skipper Kai Timm, is a tactician and top sailing coach in his own right. However, this edge didn’t help them win their heat, instead dual Olympic Medallist and ten-time world champion Mitch Booth and his team took out the first heat of the day.

In race two, the Australian Sailing Team 1, skippered by Tom Slingsby took line honours and Andrew Campbell’s North Atlantic Sailing Team (NATO) raced to glory in the third heat. Campbell, a member of the US Olympic Sailing Team and former Youth World Champion was joined by Finn Sailor Ed Wright, a member of the British sailing team and Dave Wright, a Laser sailor and member of the Canadian Sailing Team.

Race four saw well-respected sailor and editor of Australian Sailing Magazine, Vanessa Dudley and her crew including AST sponsor Ronstan’s own Alistair Murray showing some early speed and technique to clinch the final heat.

Racing in short courses, there was no room for error as the experienced sailors pitted against one another put their boats to the test in a thrilling final. Laser World Champion Tom Slingsby, 49er World Champion Nathan Outteridge, 470 World Champion Nathan Wilmot and Radial National Champion Sarah Blanck, Captain of the Australian Sailing Team consolidated their considerable skills to outrace their opponents.

Arriving back at the dock Tom Slingsby was full of praise for the Dart SB3 sports boat, a relative newcomer on the Australian sailing scene. “It was nice to sail, it would get up and plane and was tactical to sail upwind” he said adding “we had a great time out there!”

At the Australian Sailing Team Barbeque at nearby Melbourne Yacht Club Hotel later that day, the four sailors announced they would donate their prize to their fellow team mates in the Australian Paralympic team. The revolutionary Zero-emission Vectrix electric vehicle valued at $17,500, is expected to be auctioned at a future event or even E-bayed to raise further funds for the Paralympic campaign. Tom and his team look forward to defending their “King of the Docklands” title at next years’ Skandia Docklands Invitational event.

The Vectrix SB3 King of the Docklands event was part of Skandia Docklands Invitational, which was proudly presented by Skandia, the Victorian State Government, the City of Melbourne, The Age and the organising authority, Royal Geelong Yacht Club.

Great competition at Asia Pacific Regatta

Tom Slingsby (AUS) hikes for his life in the big breezes

Finn

470s

470 Men’s

470 Women’s

Tornado 

Laser Asia Pacific Championship

Laser Radial Women's Asia Pacific Championship

Laser Radial Men's

Skud 18

2.4mR

Classic yachts and skiffs in 172nd Australia Day Regatta

Australia Day Regatta - Reverie

Medals handed out at Asia Pacific Regatta

Bundock & Ashby

Bundock and Ashby win Tornado event in style

Darren Bundock/Glenn Ashby (AUS) cemented their status as hot favourites for the March Tornado world title with an emphatic win in the Tornado Class of the Asia Pacific Regatta.

Although their Medal race was abandoned due to light airs and running out of time, the two, finished 20 points clear of the their nearest rivals at host venue, Sandringham Yacht Club.

However a race on the last day would have made little difference to the gold medal result, with Bundock from NSW and Ashby from Victoria enjoying their biggest regatta winning margin to date and one that couldn’t be beaten.

“We’re really happy with how it all worked out, and we were pretty stoked with how we were going in the light wind and the strong winds, so it’s pretty good preparation for getting set up for the World’s in a few weeks time,” Ashby said.

“We’re certainly pretty happy that we’re going down the right path with our sail design program heading towards Beijing,” the 30-year-old added.

And following a second in the pre-Olympic Test Event at Qingdao last year, Bundock, 36, said their light wind training sessions were beginning to pay dividends.

“It (the pre-Olympic event) was a really big step for us I think, showing that we could compete in those sorts of light and tricky conditions, and from then on we’ve been concentrating on light wind conditions,” Bundock said.

“We certainly didn’t have anything this week, like we’re expecting in Beijing, but I think we got glimpses of it,” the World No.1 ranked skipper added.

Should they win the World title, to be sailed in Takapuna, New Zealand, it will be Bundock’s sixth, and equal record with his former silver medallist crew John Forbes.  It will be Ashby’s second, after winning the 2006 World’s with Bundock.

Andrey Kirilyuk/Valeriy Ushkov (RUS) enjoyed a consistent week of racing to consolidate their Silver Medal position with 41 points, followed by Leigh McMillan/Will Howden in the Bronze Medal position, a further 6 points behind.

The Russians finished second to Bundock/Ashby at the Tornado Asia Pacific Regatta last week and the final result has put them in pole position for Olympic team selection.

Just two points out of the medal position were World Champs Fernando Echavarri/Anton Paz (ESP), who have not sailed to optimum here in Australia.

470 Women's

Going into the medal race Erin Maxwell/Isabelle Kinsolving (USA) were feeling good about their position ahead of Ai Kondo/Naoko Kamata (JPN) in second and Giulia Conti/Giovanna Micol (ITA) in third.

"We've been at the top of the score board every day. We're mathematically guaranteed either first or second at an ISAF Grade 1 Event," an excited Maxwell said.

Happily, the US girls who missed out on Olympic selection, took out the gold medal, their second place in the Medal Race more than enough to cover them, having led the 470 Women’s from Day 1.  A feisty Kondo/Kamata were awarded the silver after their third place finish in the Medal race, while Conti/Micol received the bronze.

Yuka Yoshisako/Noriko Okuma (JPN) won the Medal race for a 4th in the regatta.

But it isn't over yet, as the ISAF Grade 1 470 Women’s World Championship at Sail Melbourne will be held 21-30 January at Mordialloc Sailing Club.

The Americans are feeling confident about the Worlds.  "We trained hard this fall, then took a break, so we are well trained and rested."

470 Men's

The previous top three overall place holders managed to stay in their spots after the close Medal race, with Nic Rogers/Joe Glanfield (GBR) claiming Gold with a convincing first in the Medal race this afternoon in light wafty airs on the course just off host venue, Sandringham Yacht Club.

Athens silver medallists Rogers/Glanfield really enjoyed their week of racing at Sandringham and are looking forward to the ISAF Grade 1 470 World Championship at Sail Melbourne.  "It's beautiful here.  The best sailing place," Rogers said.

The silver medal went to world ranked No.13 Sime Fantela/Igor Marenic (CRO) and bronze went to world ranked No.4 Mathew Belcher/Nicolas Behrens (AUS), who just missed selection into the 2008 Beijing Games.  The pair was extremely pleased, particularly Belcher who has come fresh from winning the Moth Australian title.

Laser

Australian Tom Slingsby lost his in the Laser Class at the Asia Pacific Regatta and fell into the bronze medal position, Paul Goodison taking out the Gold.

Slingsby went into the Medal race with the regatta lead on countback to British genius Paul Goodison; who made up ground over the last couple of days, and three points clear of Andrew Murdoch (NZL), who had his own bit of bad luck with an OCS late in the series.

Goodison finished second in the Medal race to win gold, Murdoch was fifth, while Slingsby’s seventh cost him the series.

Goodison’s final points tally was 25 points, Murdoch’s 34 and Slingsby scored 35.

Laser Radial Women's

Sarah Blanck’s (AUS) gold medal win at the Asia Pacific Regatta was one of the most decisive victories for the whole series, taking the series by a huge 21 point lead ahead of the second place Sari Multala (FIN).

Blanck, who finished third in the shifty light Medal race, will now head  to New Zealand for the Laser Radial Women's World Championship in February with her head held high. 

The Victorian, who is in the team for Beijing, recently scored the coaching services of Sydney 2000 Laser bronze medallist Michael Blackburn and the pairing is working just fine.

Multala won silver despite a disappointing ninth place in the Medal race, which was won by top Kiwi sailor and light air specialist Jo Aleh (NZL), who took home the Bronze medal, while Nathalie Brugger (SUI) finished second.

Laser Radial Men's

The Laser Radial Men's gold was won by Greg Adams (AUS) after going into the medal race 18 points ahead of fellow Australian and Youth sailor on the move, Klade Hauschildt, who started the day in fourth place overall.

In the Medal race, Kelsey Ormsby (AUS) came first followed by Hauschildt, then Tristan Brown (AUS) in third.

Hauschildt’s impressive second place rewarded him with the silver medal and Richard Bott (AUS) won Bronze.

Finn

As expected, British sailor Ben Ainslie proved his worth as the outstanding Finn Class sailor of his generation with yet another emphatic victory at the Asia Pacific Regatta at Black Rock Yacht Club after finishing the Medal race in second place.

Light and shifty conditions beset all in the Medal race, and those who read the shifts scored the dividends. 

Winner of Gold at Sail Melbourne’s Asia Pacific Regatta, Ainslie will line up at the Finn Gold Cup (the world championship) in a bid to become the first Finn sailor to grab a fifth world title in the class to add to his two Olympic gold medals.

The Brits managed to dominate the Finn class all week, with Ainslie’s nemesis Ed Wright in outright second place following his seventh in the Medal Race.  He finished a staggering 22 points in arrears of Ainslie, followed by 2007 World Champion Rafael Trujillo (ESP) on 66 points.  Both have a lot of work to do if they are to get close to Ainslie at the Finn Gold Cup.

Ainslie’s form continues to be nothing short of outstanding and heading into the world titles, known as the Finn Gold Cup at Black Rock, is all coming together at the right time.

Ivan Kljakovic (CRO) can go into the Finn Gold Cup event with bragging rights for the Medal race after winning it, however he finished the regatta seventh overall, well out of medal contention on 103 points.  Australia’s Anthony Nossiter was ninth.

Skud 18

Going into the final day, son/father duo Morgan and David Staley (AUS) had first place cemented with a four point lead in the Paralympic class Skud 18 Class of the Asia Pacific Regatta.

Second was another son/father duo Duncan and Peter MacGregor (AUS).

In third place was Tan Jovin/Desiree Lim (SIN) and in fourth place was Amy Barnbrook/Leigh Dunstan (AUS).

After the day's racing, Morgan expressed his delight with the regatta.

"I'm really happy with that (their result) .. you just have to try your hardest and go out there and do your best,” Morgan said.

“We were really just out there having fun with everyone else and getting the best result out of ourselves and sailing with my dad was really great pleasure,” the 16-year-old admitted.

Peter MacGregor said he and son Duncan, the 2007 Access 2.3 world champion, had a great time too. “There were massive shifts again, but the finish was so close; it came down to three boats.  Jovin won – he had his first win the day before, so that’s great for him.  We’ve both really enjoyed ourselves here,” he said.  

2.4mR

Australian's Peter Russell and Peter Thompson were on equal points without drops going into the final race of the 2.4mR Class of the Asia Pacific Regatta at Sandringham Yacht Club.

"The light conditions favoured me, it was light and sloppy and I've always done reasonably well in those conditions," Russell, the overall winner, said.

Up the first beat of the race there was a 40 degree shift to the left and Russell on the favoured side of the course.

"With good boat speed, I achieved a reasonable lead, which extended through the day," Russell said after finishing the race in first place with Thompson in fifth.

"It's always good to win regattas.  It would have been nice to have a close battle with Peter, but with that shift, it meant there weren't those strategic options available," Russell said.

Thompson finished the regatta in second place followed by Aaron Hill (AUS) in third.  This is the second time Russell has won this event.

For all information on the Sail Melbourne 2008 Asia Pacific Regatta, including results, go to:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

By Sail Melbourne media team

Di Pearson

Sail Melbourne media manager

Phone: 0410 792 131

Final series starts at Asia Pacific Regatta

Sarah Blanck - hard work has paid of with a gold medal

Great Britain sailors Ed Wright and Ben Ainslie are slogging it out in the big boy Finn class at the Asia Pacific Regatta.

Racing out of Black Rock Yacht Club at the Asia Pacific Regatta, the Finns started their Final series today with Races 7 and 8 - and just four points separate the top three sailors.

Ainslie, a four-time world titleholder, dual Olympic gold medallist and the man the Brits have already chosen as their Finn sailor for Beijing, managed to edge in front of Wright at the end of racing yesterday but tonight has surrendered the lead with just three races remaining in the series.

Wright enjoyed honours in Race 7, but could only manage seventh in Race 8, with Ainslie crossing the line in fourth and sixth place respectively.

Rafael Trujillo (SPA), the world champion, rounds out the top three placings in what looks to have become a three man race.

Trujillo had a 7-2 finish today and barring any major dramas, look like he will medal here on Saturday.

Anthony Nossiter (AUS) regained some pride today with his first win for the week in what has been an ordinary series for the dual Olympian. 

“I surfed past the ‘Big Raffa’ on the final downwind leg and beat him home by a couple of metres in the second race today,” the likeable Aussie said.

The top five were pretty close all day today.  Even in the race I won in heavier conditions; it was 18-20 knots.  There were heaps of shifts out there, so it gives you chances to come back if you’re not doing well,” he added.

Nossiter combined his first with a fifth and managed to elevate himself back into the top 10.  “It was a bit lighter in the first race, around 12 knots, a bit light for me.  Even though I had my softer mast in, I finished fifth,” he said.

The Finn’s will line up again for another two races tomorrow followed by their Medal Race on Saturday, in which the top 10 competitors will compete before heading into the Finn Gold Cup series next week, also at Black Rock Yacht Club.

470 Men
Today the 470 Men's were spilt into Gold and Silver fleets for the Final series in the lead up to Saturday's Medal Race for the top ten.

Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page (AUS) dropped from first spot to sixth overall after a black flag disqualification in today's second race after placing second in the first race.

Gideon Kliger/Udi Gal (ISR) fell back more dramatically from second place to 27th overall after not competing to today's racing.

Sime Fantela/Igor Marenic (CRO) climbed to first spot overall after finishing sixth in the first race and scoring a bullet in the second.

Second place is now occupied by Athens silver medallists Nic Rogers/Joe Glanfield (GBR) followed by Onan Barreiros/Aaron Sarmiento (ESP) in third.

470 Women
Today's condition were heaven for the 470's out on the reaches today with waves up to two metres and wind building to 18 knots as the afternoon progressed.

Americans Erin Maxwell/Isabelle Kinsolving continue to dominate going into the last day of racing before the Medal race taking out a first and a fifth.

"We were second going into the last mark but had a boat handling situation,"  Kinsolving said in regards to a dropped spinnaker halyard.  "It was a great day sailing and the Japanese (Ai Kondo/Naoko Kamata) were super fast."

The Japanese crew accredited their top performance, a second and first place, to their good starts.

World ranked No.1 Giulia Conti/Giovanna Micol (ITA) moved from fourth the third overall after placing 11th and second.

German crew Stefanie Rothweiler/Vivien Kussatz jumped one place to fourth today after a third in Race 7 and 13th in Race 8.

When asked about the conditions Kussatz simply replied, "Wow!" only to add later, "The waves were short and high.  On the reaches we were right at the back of the boat."

Laser
A black flag disqualification did nothing to enhance Andrew Murdoch’s (NZL) chances of victory in the Laser Gold fleet in the Asia Pacific Regatta today.

He remains in second position behind reigning world champion Tom Slingsby (AUS), however trails the leader by eight points.

Slingsby finished with a 1-3 result at the completion of Day 4 and has established a commanding position with just three races remaining.

Paul Goodison (GBR) continued his consistent form with a third and second today to remain in outright third place.

Maciej Grabowski had one of the more disappointing days on the water, dropping from third place to 11th after a 29th, backed up by a 19th.

“Our first race was light – 10-12 knots in a building breeze.  I had a really good first run, I went from about 12th place to third.  I got lucky and got a shift up the next beat and took the lead and won.

“In the next race I was in the mid-teens, but I was very quick downwind; I’ve been very quick downwind this whole regatta.  I made big gains surfing the waves downwind and finished third,” Slingsby said.

“My speed is good.  I’m sailing pretty good.  Everything is looking fine for Terrigal (the World’s in February),” he said.

Slingsby said both Andrew Murdoch (NZL) and Paul Goodison (GBR) were looking hot right now.  “Paul’s doing great in the bigger breezes.  He broke his hand a while back and this is his first series back, so he’s looking dangerous,” Slingsby said.

Laser Radial Women’s
Aussie Sarah Blanck consolidated her position at the top of the points table after Day 4 action of the Laser Radial Women’s at the Asia Pacific Regatta.

Sailing out of Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Blanck is now five points clear of nearest rival Sari Multala (FIN) and a commanding 20 points ahead of third placed sailor Tania Elias Callas (MEX).

Blanck heads into the final two day’s of racing on the back of five wins from eight starts, unlikely to beaten for the top prize.

Skud 18
Although able bodied son/father combination Morgan and David Staley (AUS) continue to lead the Paralympic Skud 18 skiff class at the Asia Pacific Regatta today, a second father and son, Duncan and Peter MacGregor (AUS) have upped the ante at the Sail Melbourne event today, their 2nd and first places moving them closer to the leaders.

The Staleys scored mirror results to the MacGregors, only in reverse, wining Race 7 and finishing second in Race 8.  “We did 14.5 knots downwind in the second race, it was great fun,” said skipper Morgan.  “It was nice to get on some waves; I wish they’d been bigger though,” he said.

“We had a good race,” said skipper Duncan, a 17 year old with muscular dystrophy. 

“The winds were a bit lighter today; more to our liking.  It was really nice sailing he said of the 10-12 knot breezes on Port Phillip earlier in the day.

“We had a great second race.  There were three of us so close at the finish line, it was close race right to the line, quite exciting, said Duncan, winner of a 2.4mR World and a National title.

“The Skud goes faster and I’m really enjoying it.  I’m definitely going to have a go at making the Paralympic team for 2012,” he said.

Amy Barnbrook/Leigh Dunstan (AUS) currently hold down third place, just one point ahead of Jan Jovin/Desiree Lim (SIN).  Four races remain to be sailed, with the final day of racing Saturday.  Barnbrook, who has Phocoamelia, a condition that manifests itself by the absence of limbs (she has a short three-toed left leg only), recently contested selection for the 2008 Paralympics, but missed out.

2.4mR
Peter Thompson (AUS) scored his fourth win today to claim a two point lead in 2.4mR Paralympic class from Peter Russell (AUS) who was yesterday on equal points with Thompson.

Thompson, a Paralympic sailor, felt at home in the mid range conditions on Port Phillip earlier today, and finished fourth in Race 8, the latter race.  Aaron Hill (AUS) continues in third place, notching up his first bullet today in Race 8.  He is seven points off the lead.

For all information on the Sail Melbourne 2008 Asia Pacific Regatta, including results, go to:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

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Day 4: RS:X World Championship

Jessica Crisp - RS:X Women

Underway at one o’clock in light, shifty conditions it was a very physical racing for the gold fleets that were first on the water. Consistency was elusive for many competitors.

The light weight windsurfers with the fitness level required to pump the sail of the RS:X board around the course in the light winds had the edge today with just a touch of luck required also.

While the kiwi’s still have the overall lead in both the men’s and women’s fleets there was some serious shuffling on the leader boards today. 

Tom Ashley was 3rd and then 13th in racing today and retains the men’s lead breaking away to extend an eight point margin as his nearest rivals suffered in today’s challenging conditions. Ashley’s ability to pull solid results in a range of conditions sees him firmly at the top of the leader board after race eight in this eleven race regatta.

In second overall at the start of the day Ivan Pastor Lafuente of Spain wore the blue vest on to the water but will relinquish the vest tomorrow after an 11th and a 25th in racing today he drops to sixth overall.

Shahar Zubari of Israel rockets from fourth place up to now lay second overall behind Ashley. Zubari was 8th and 2nd in races seven and eight respectively and now has a points total of 34 behind Ashley on 26.

It’s Poland three and four on the leader board with Przemyslaw Miarczynski climbing into third place overall after a 5th and 7th in racing today. Countryman Piotr Myszka slips from third overall back to fourth.

Barbara Kendall NZL is now six points clear of Alessandra Sensini ITA at the top of the women’s division. In race seven Kendall struggled and had her poorest race yet with a 15th though she promptly responded to that with a win in race eight.

Sensini was 3rd and then 9th in racing today and holds onto second place six points adrift of Kendall. Behind her the order changed with Marina Alabau of Spain overtaking her team-mate Blanca Manchon who slipped to fifth place overall. Faustine Merret of France sits between the Spanish girls in fourth place on the board at the conclusion of day four.

Racing resumes tomorrow.

Gold Fleet Men – Race Seven
In the light tricky conditions off Takapuna Beach today Maksim Oberemko of Ukraine brought home the first race of the day climbing through to cross first after rounding mark one in seventh place.

Makoto Tomizawa of Japan was 2nd and overnight leader Tom Ashley of New Zealand was 3rd 25 seconds behind the race winner. Wearing the blue vest for second overall Ivan Pastor Lafuente of Spain was 11th in race seven.

Gold Fleet Women – Race Seven
The Chinese sailors were strong in race seven’s light conditions taking crossing 1st and 2nd. Mingli Duan and Peina Chen battled it out early in the race before Duan opened up a lead on the final leg and won by just over a minute. Wearing the blue vest today Alessandra Sensini of Italy was 3rd in race seven.

Overall leader Barbara Kendall had her poorest race yet with a 15th place.

Gold Fleet Men – Race Eight
Ho Chi Ho Of Hong Kong had the race of his regatta leading from start to finish and winning race eight with a 46 second margin over Shahar Zubari of Israel in second. Frederico Esposito of Italy was third with Jon-Paul Tobin of New Zealand in hot pursuit just two seconds behind. 

Tom Ashley was 13th in race eight while Lafuente of Spain was back in 25th place.

Gold Fleet Women – Race Eight
Barbara Kendall came out in race eight and responded to her race seven result with a convincing win. She fought with Lise Vidal of France early in the race but Vidal dropped away and finished 4th while Kendall crossed in first. Pauline Perrin of France was 2nd and Faustine Merret, also of France, was third.

Provisional Top Ten Standings

RS:X Men’s World Championships Day Four
1st Tom Ashley NZL – 26 points
2nd Shahar Zubari ISR – 34 points
3rd Przemyslaw Miarczynski POL – 37 points
4th Piotr Myszka POL – 41 points
5th Joao Rodrigues POR – 42 points
6th Ivan Pastor Lafuente ESP – 47 points
7th Jon Paul Tobin NZL – 48 points
8th Nick Dempsey GBR – 53points
9th Nicholas Le Gal FRA – 53 points
10th Samuel Launay FRA – 60 points

RS:X Women’s World Championships Day Four
1st Barbara Kendall NZL – 14 points
2nd Alessandra Sensini ITA – 20 points
3rd Marina Alabau ESP – 26 points
4th Faustine Merret FRA – 28 points
5th Blanca Manchon ESP – 29 points
6th Mingli Duan CHN – 32 points
7th Charline Piccon FRA – 35 points
8th Peina Chen CHN – 43 points
9th Bryony Shaw GBR – 47 points
10th Lise Vidal FRA – 48 points

Australia, Korea , Russia and Thailand are now assured of a place in the men’s RS:X for the 2008 Olympic Games. It will be up to the Australian Sailing Team and the nomination panel to decide if Australia will send a representative in the RS:X Men's class to the Games.

For full results visit http://www.rsxclass.com/worlds2008.html

Etchells Australian Championship: New Brisbane Crew in the lead

2008 Audi Etchells Australian Championship

Sitting in second place two points behind Muir is New Zealand sailor Alistair Gair with David Ridley, Carl Peters and Derek Scott.  A further two points behind Gair is Bradford now placed on 36 points.

The light and challenging conditions being faced on the eastern waters of Moreton Bay have seen the fleet split in each race of the regatta so far.  Race 5 also resulted in a broken mast and damaged halyard for two boats in the fleet, even though the breeze never reached above 14 knots.

The competitors are currently making the hour long journey to the race course for the second last race of the 2008 Audi Etchells Australian Championship.

Race 5
1          NZL950             Velsheda          Alistair Gair
2          AUS876            Fifteen              David Clark
3          AUS874            Racer XY          Jason Muir
4          AUS945            Blacksnake        Cameron Miles
5          AUS1254          Odyssey           Julian Plante

2008 Audi Etchells Australian Championship - www.etchellsregattas0708.com

Progressive Pointscore - http://www.rqys.com.au/results/view.php?PHP_Results_5_941sC.htm

Race 5 Images - http://www.etchellsregattas0708.com/photos/

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Torvar Mirsky to defend International Warren Jones Memorial Youth Trophy

Warren Jones International Youth Regatta

It has been a fruitful year for the young Western Australian, who has climbed from 48th on the world ranking ladder this time last year, to 11th at the last count, one step down from his best in October last year.

Mirsky is under no illusion as to the task ahead of him if he wants his name on the trophy for the second time. “I’d say it’s going to be one of the toughest Warren Jones Regattas to win,” he commented recently.

His caution regarding his chances of a second win in the Warren Jones Regatta is based on the unforgiving format of the series.  “There’s no semi-final or quarter-final, if you have a bad round robin you’re out.  Lose a few races at the start and your regatta could be over,” he said.

The young Fremantle sailor is the highest ranked skipper ever to contest the Warren Jones Regatta, and owes his climb up the ladder to successes in Europe on the senior match racing tour, with the highlight a win at the French grade 1 event.

This has helped him and his team to greatly widen their experience, and mature as match racers, “we were racing an older generation of match racer in Europe than we will at the Warren Jones,” he explained.

More recently he finished a very creditable fifth in Malaysia’s Monsoon Cup, about which he commented, “it’s definitely the biggest match racing event there is, and to be fifth in it is a big deal for us.”

The line-up of talent for this, the 6th Warren Jones Youth Regatta, includes another past winner, New Zealand’s Adam Minoprio, who put his name on the trophy in 2006, and South of Perth’s Keith Swinton, who lost last year’s event on a finishing line penalty.

Overseas skippers from New Zealand, Sweden and Italy will face Australians from Sydney, Adelaide and three locals, on the Swan River’s Freshwater Bay for the event that runs from 2nd to 7th February, and is organised by the Western Australian Yachting Foundation.

It is 25 years ago this year that Australia II won the America’s Cup from the New York Yacht Club, in an historic campaign that was masterminded by Warren Jones.

This regatta in his memory is suitably a match racing event, with skippers going head to head in a series that will hopefully help them onto the international circuit.

COMPETITORS:
Name                           Country                        Club                 Ranking
Torvar  Mirsky             AUS                            RPYC              11
Keith Swinton               AUS                            SoPYC            34
Adam Minoprio            NZL                             RNZYS           46
Laurie Jury                   NZL                             RNZYS           49
Evan Walker                AUS                            CYCA             55
Simone Ferrarese         ITA                              CVB                58
Phil Robertson              NZL                             RNZYS           64
Robert Gibbs                AUS                            RPYC              73
Stuart Pollard               AUS                            RSYS              107
John Back                    SWE                            GSYS              117
Tom Spithill                  AUS                            RPAYS            201
Nick Deussen               AUS                            CYCoSA         1334

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Japanese 470 Women thrive in breezy conditions at Asia Pacific Regatta

Tom Slingsby (AUS) hikes for his life in the big breezes

Conditions were rough due to large swells with sea breezes between 16-18 knots in the earlier race, increasing to 18-25 knots for Race 6 in the afternoon.

Fourth ranked in the world, Ai Kondo/Naoko Kamata of Kanagawa, Japan, are in second place.  Kondo said they like the conditions very much and were looking forward to catching the Americans.

In third place is Yuka Yoshisako/Noriko Okuma of Okayama (World Ranked 9th) who won this event in 2006.  "[We had] good boat speed downwind.  [There were] lots of big waves," Yoshisako said.  Okuma said they would have won both races had their starts been better.

Both boats are working hard this week as the Japanese Olympic team will be decided after next week’s World Championships to be held as part of Sail Melbourne at Mordialloc Sailing Club.  Both teams said they were feeling confident.

The highest placed Australians Elise Rechichi/Tessa Parkinson (chosen to represent at Beijing) dropped a place overall to 28th after not competing in Race 6.

470 Men's
First and second places in the 470 Men's have been held onto by Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page (AUS) and Gideon Kliger/Udi Gal (ISR) respectively despite both boats not competing in Race 6 this afternoon.

Page said after an altercation with a Chinese boat in the first race (Race 5), they decided to take the afternoon off to avoid breakages as the wind increased to 18 to 23 knots, bringing a large swell. 

"We didn't want to take any risks with the Worlds around the corner," Page said this afternoon.

Athens Silver medallists (fourth placed at Sydney 2000), Nick Rogers/Joe Glanfield (GBR) were disappointed they didn't sail as well as they would have liked, despite two second places. 

"Unfortunately we were coming first at the last windward mark in both races, but didn’t maintain," Glanfield said.  Rogers accredited their falling back to being on the less windy side of the course in the first race and missing the shift that the Spaniards picked up to win in the second.

Great Britain finished the day in fourth place overall behind Sime Fantela/Igor Marenic (CRO) (World Ranked number 13).  The fleet, like the rest of the Olympic classes here at the Asia Pacific Regatta, starts its Final Series tomorrow.

Finn
Sailing legend and Great Britain’s Beijing representative Ben Ainslie has unsurprisingly jumped into first place overall after a stellar performance with two bullets in Races 5 and 6 today.

Fellow countryman Ed Wright had a disappointing day on the water with third and 10th placings.  After leading the regatta for the first two days, he has dropped to second on equal points with Ainslie.

Jonas Hoegh Christensen (DEN) after finishing a solid second in Race 5, slipped to third place overall after a ninth place in Race 6.

Giles Scott (GBR) jumped 15 places up the board into seventh place after dropping an incomplete race, while Ed Grieg (GBR) in 10th after Day 3, reiterated Great Britain's dominance in the Finn class with four of the top ten places sailing under the Union Jack.

Anthony ‘Knocka’ Nossiter (AUS) has slipped from tenth to 16th after another lacklustre day with a 14th and 27th places.

Laser Full Rig
The ability to drop one bad result after the completion of six races has catapulted reigning Laser world champion Tom Slingsby (AUS) from 32nd to first place overall in qualifying at the Asia Pacific Regatta today.

Sailing out of the Royal Brighton Yacht Club in 15-23 knot gusty winds, Slingsby was able to drop his Race 2 OCS (42 points) to take a one point lead at the end of Day 3 action.

As a result of winning four of the six races sailed so far, Slingsby has now narrowly edged out Andrew Murdoch (NZL), who can count three races to-date, sailing in an adjoining fleet.

Slingsby and Murdoch have now skipped eight and nine points clear of joint third position holders Milan Vujasinovic (CRO) and Maciej Grabowski (POL).

The Lasers will be divided into Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets for the Final series starting tomorrow.  The Gold fleet will be put through their paces on Olympic trapezoid courses whilst the remainder will sail shorter windward/leeward courses.  The Regatta will finish on Saturday afternoon.

Laser Radial Women’s
Sarah Blanck (AUS) has cast aside her frustrations of yesterday to regain the lead in the Laser Radial women’s class at the Asia Pacific Regatta today.

At the completion of racing today, Blanck and the rest of the fleet was able to drop their worst result; Blanck’s being a 16th from Day 2, which elevated her above her three rivals and into the top position heading into the Final series which starts tomorrow.

Apart from her 16th placing, Blanck, who is sailing out of her home club, Royal Brighton Yacht Club, has finished no worse than second for the week.

Sari Mutala (FIN) remains the danger, consolidating her second position with a fifth and second placing today to be six points ahead of Lijia Xu (CHI).

Xu, looking ahead to the Games in her country, had a great day on the water with a second and third finish behind Blanck, who won both races today; giving her confidence ahead of the Laser Radial World’s to be held in Takapuna New Zealand starting next month.

Tania Elias Callas (MEX) dropped off the pace today with a fourth and seventh placing but remains in outright fourth place.  The Radial’s move into the Final series tomorrow, the top 10 from the Gold fleet to sail off for the medals on the final day, Saturday.

Laser Radial Men
Greg Adams continued to dominate the Asia Pacific Regatta Laser Radial Men’s class today with another two wins on Day 3 racing.

That brings Adams’ total to five victories out of a possible six starts and shot him 10 points clear of his nearest rivals Richard Bott (AUS) and John Jagger (AUS).

The Australians continue to dominate the class with youth sailor Klade Hauschildt (AUS) in fourth position on 23 points.  Tomorrow the fleet goes into the Final series.

Aussies are whirlwinds in Tornado
Following a late finish last evening, the Tornados were the first cab of the rank at Sail Melbourne’s Asia Pacific Regatta today, starting just after midday. 

It was a length of the straight victory for Australians Darren Bundock/Glenn Ashby which has consolidated them in top position following Day 3 action.

Sailing in choppy conditions on Port Phillip, with 15-18 knot south-westerly winds, Bundock/Ashby crossed the line in the later Race 6 a good 300 metres clear of the fleet.

“We’re meant to win one race a day … well, that’s how it seems so far anyway,” Bundock, the world No.1 ranked skipper said.

“Conditions were pretty tricky.  It was all about getting the shifts right, which luckily we did,” he added.

“Half the fleet tacked straight out of the start because it was a big header; then halfway across, we tacked back and found ourselves out in front.”

Mitch Booth/Pim Nieuwenhuis (NED) are sailing themselves into some good form with a 1-3 finish today to be placed third overall.  They are 10 points behind the Aussies and four points behind the well-sailed second placed  Andrey Kirilyuk/Valeriy Ushkov (RUS).

Crews have now dropped their worst result from the series so far, with the Dutch skipper Booth ruing his ordinary Day 2 results, admitting he preferred today’s conditions much better.

“That’s our conditions, we really love this stuff, mainly because we are heavier than most of the teams.  Whenever it’s blowing more than 12 knots, it’s good for us,” he said.

“Yesterday we had some problems, but there are four more races before we get into the Finals, so it’s turning into a good battle up front,” he added.

Reigning world titleholders Fernando Echavarri/Anton Paz (ESP) didn’t sail badly today, with a fifth and eighth placing respectively.  However, they have slipped 16 points behind the leaders and are fifth placed overall.

With world ranking points and Olympic selection up for grabs at this ISAF Grade 1 event, this is a crucial series for some, but for others, already selected for Beijing, this regatta is a good warm up exercise for the upcoming Tornado World’s at Takapuna, New Zealand in March.  

Skud 18
Morgan and David Staley (AUS) have now won four of the six races completed in the new Skud class which will make its Paralympic debut at the 2008 Paralympic Games.

Following their latest two wins today, the Staleys have been elevated to top position on the table of the Asia Pacific Regatta, four points clear of the second son/father combination in the fleet Duncan and Peter MacGregor (AUS) on 11 points. 

Duncan, a quietly spoken 17 year old with muscular dystrophy, is still finding his feet in the Skud, but loving every minute of skippering the skiff with his Dad as crew.

“We finished Race 5 by a spinnaker pole,” said winning 16 year old skipper Morgan.  We won the next race a bit more comfortably.  It was hell in the heavy breeze.  We healed quite a bit because we’re not heavy enough.  It was hard steering upwind, because the boat was going head-on into waves – it was wet out there today,” he said.

And despite contesting just one of their two scheduled races today, Amy Barnbrook/Leigh Dunstan (AUS) remain in outright third place overall. Tan Jovin/Desiree Lim (SIN) remain in fourth position on 15 points.

2.4mR
Peter Thompson (AUS) and Peter Russell (AUS) are developing a healthy ‘two Peter’ contest at the top of the table in the 2.4mR class of the Asia Pacific Regatta at Sandringham Yacht Club.

Thompson, after two wins in Day 3 action in Races 5 and 6 today, is now just two points clear of Russell on eight points, with Aaron Hill (AUS) a further five points in arrears.

The top four positions in both races were exactly the same today with Thompson first, Russell second, Hill third and Michael Lemon (AUS) was fourth across the line.

For all information on the Sail Melbourne 2008 Asia Pacific Regatta, including results, go to:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

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2nd Brisbane to Great Keppel Island Tropical Yacht Race Gets Ready to Sail!

Great Keppel Island

This year the race is set to be bigger and better than ever with competitors given the chance to race around Great Keppel Island before heading off to various races weeks in North Queensland or venturing back to their home ports.

Seventeen yachts entered the race in the first year with Getaway-Sailing.com now holding the race line honours record finishing 1 day, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 15 seconds after the 1100 hours start on Friday 3rd August 2007.  Just one hour behind them was the IRC and PHS champions Wedgetail finishing 1 day, 15 hours, 18 minutes and 45 seconds later.

In 2008 the race will commence at 1100 hours on Saturday 2nd August with yachts then racing the 348 nautical miles north bound for Great Keppel Island. 

The Notice of Race and Entry Forms will be available soon.  In the meantime, peruse the brand new website that has just been launched - www.greatkeppelyachtrace.com

For more information:
Phone: 07 3396 8666
Email: therace@greatkeppelyachtrace.com

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Sailing has its own ‘Big Raffa’ at Asia Pacific Regatta

Nathan Wilmot & Malcolm Page (AUS) get into some upwind action in the 470

Both Rafael’s are in Melbourne with their eyes on the big prize next week, Trujillo for the Finn class sailing world titles, known as the Finn Gold Cup, and Nadal for the Australian Tennis Open.

Trujillo is the reigning Finn world champion and is preparing for his title defence at Black Rock Yacht Club next week with an impressive start in the Asia Pacific Regatta at Sail Melbourne this week at the same venue.

After four races today, the Spaniard is poised in third place overall, just eight points behind Ed Wright (GBR) and three behind Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN).

After an average result of 11th in Race 3 today, Trujillo had a mixed Race 4.  The affable 32-year-old got off to a flyer off the line, only to be turned around in a general recall of the fleet following false starts by many.

He repeated his great start and rounded the windward mark for the first time in the lead pack, but the judges enforced a 720 degree turn on Trujillo following an illegal manoeuvre which forced him to lose six or seven places.

“I was racing well and I thought the free pumping flag was still up,” Trujillo said today.

“I felt like an idiot when I didn’t notice it had come down, I should have been concentrating better.  But I picked up three boats on the way back and still managed to finish sixth and keep myself in with a chance,” he said.

Anthony Nossiter (AUS) struggled in the light winds today and dropped from fifth to 10th overall after two mid-fleet results.

Four-time world champion and Athens Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie surprisingly dropped down one place today and is now fourth overall.  However, this is just the curtain-racer to the main event, where Ainslie is expected to lift dramatically.

470 Women's
After the second day of racing, Erin Maxwell/Isabelle Kinsolving (USA) continue to dominate after placing fifth and 11th. The two, who were not selected to represent USA in Beijing, are thrilled with their results.  "It's a new experience.  We've never been first overall."  Maxwell said.  "We like it."

Conditions on the Women's course today were shifty.  "Today you needed to be lucky as well as good," Maxwell said.

"It was also really important to get a good start," Kinsolving said in reference to the hard shift left on the start of the first race.

The shift benefited Stefanie Rothweiler/Vivien Kussatz (GER) who said the earlier race, won by them comfortably, was boring.  "The wind shifted to the left," Rothweiler said.  "We never lost a position."

Emmanuelle Rol/Anne-Sophie Thilo (SUI) are currently second placed, followed by the German girls, who have been selected to compete in Beijing.

470 Men's
Today world champions Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page (AUS) jumped from seventh place to first place overall at Sail Melbourne Asia Pacific Regatta after an impressive day of sailing with a second and first places.

Today's conditions were perfect with 12-15 knots gusting up to 18 knots.  "It was pretty cool out.  It was good to play the boat rather than strap it down and send it," Page said.

In Race 4 of the 470 Men's Kan Yamada/Kenichi Nakamura (JPN) were first around the top mark followed closely by Matthias Schmid/Florian Reichstaedter (AUT) and Geoffrey Woolley/Mark Overington (NZL). 

Down the second leg the Austrians struggled to hold off the New Zealanders.  The Japanese gradually extended their lead to win the heat comfortably with the Austrians maintaining second and the New Zealanders coming in a close third.

Going into the third day, Gideon Kliger/Udi Gal (ISR), ranked No 3 in the world, are placed second and 2006 world champions Nic Asher/Elliot Willis (GBR) are placed third.

Laser Full Rig
Andrew Murdoch from New Zealand has taken the lead in the Laser class following two races today.  However, in a tight series, yesterday’s leader Milan Vujasinovic (CRO) is only two points away and Maciej Grabowski (POL) is only a further three points away on an equal score with Adonis Bougiouris (GRE).

Things will change somewhat tomorrow.  Once Race 5 is over, a race drop will come into play and some will move up the leaderboard, including reigning world champ, Tom Slingsby (AUS), whose score of 42 following an OCS in Race 2 yesterday will be dropped.  It should move the 22 year old into the top three.

Slingsby is currently in 32nd place, but with his score card also showing two bullets and a third place following two more races today, he could move into the lead, depending on his scores in tomorrow’s two races.

Paul Goodison (GBR) unexpectedly slid down the board today from second place overall into 11th place after an unlucky 13th in Race 4.  However, it is likely he will use that for his drop following racing tomorrow.

Sailed out of Royal Brighton Yacht Club, the Lasers enjoyed variable conditions today.  “In their first race they had 7-8 knots, but it picked up to 13-15 knots by Race 4 this afternoon,” said race official David Leroy, who went on to say: “We had the usual couple  

“It was ideal really.  The competitors had a pretty good day.  They looked happy,” he said.  Leroy went on to say, “There were the usual couple of general recalls, but it was a pretty straightforward day.” 

He says there will be more of the same conditions tomorrow, but that winds may go more east.  If that happens, the course area will be closer to land and will make for great onshore spectator opportunities off Brighton.

Laser Radial Women’s
Sari Multala (FIN) has taken the lead from Sarah Blanck (AUS) in the Laser Radial class following Races 3 and 4 this afternoon.  Multala scored silver at the ISAF World’s and is looking dangerous, posting 6,1 results in Races 3 and 4 today.

Multala is eight points ahead of Tania Elias Calles (MEX) and 10 in front of third placed Jo Aleh (NZL).

Blanck, from Melbourne, has dropped to fourth in what she described as “really frustrating for me.”

Blanck told: “I had a bad start in the first race; a really bad start.  I had to tack right and the breeze went left and that was that.  I finished 16th.  Then I was leading downwind to the finish in the second race and Sari overtook me on the way to the finish.  I did get a second place, but it was a bit of a disappointing day for me.”

However, she can drop her worst score following Race 5 tomorrow, and provided she does no worse, will move up the board.

“It was nice sailing though.  Nice hiking conditions.  Not as windy as yesterday,” she said.

Cushla Hume-Merry (NZL) is the best placed Youth woman in the fleet, currently placed 26th overall, with two other Youth sailors hot on her heels. Victoria Chan (SIN) is 27th, a mere two points away, and 2007 ISAF Youth World’s gold medallist Gabrielle King is third a further 12 points in arrears.  

Laser Radial Men’s
Australians fill the top five positions after Day 2 of the Asia Pacific Regatta Men’s Laser Radial class at Royal Brighton Yacht Club.

Greg Adams has skipped to a two point lead at the top of the table after Race 4 was completed today.

Adams won the first three races and finished seventh in the final race of the day today to be on 10 points overall, with John Jagger second on 12 points and Klade Hauschildt, sailing in the youth class, a further five points in arrears in third position.  A good result for the youngster.

Tornado
Australian’s Darren Bundock/Glenn Ashby have opened up a healthy five point lead at the completion of Day 2 Tornado sailing action at the Asia Pacific Regatta.

Sailing in shifty wind conditions off host venue Sandringham Yacht Club, Bundock/Ashby enjoyed line honours in Race 3 and managed to cross the line in fourth place in Race 4.

“We don’t mind a bit of anything really … the conditions don’t really bother us, but if we had a whole regatta like today, it would be pretty frustrating,” Ashby said this evening.

“We don’t mind a bit of a mixture (of conditions) throughout the regatta – it gives everyone a chance to go well in any given conditions,” he said.

Reigning world champions Fernando Echavarri/Anton Paz (ESP) found conditions a little more trying, but remained optimistic.

“We did not sail very well today – it was quite tricky conditions – we couldn’t find the right way to go,” Echavarri admitted.

“In the first race we thought it was paying right, but it paid left.  It is not frustrating because we are here training,” he added.

After an eighth and a 12th today, Echavarri/Paz are in fourth place overall, behind Andrey Kirilyuk/Valeriy Ushkov (RUS) in second position and Leigh McMillan/Will Howden (GBR) in third.

2.4mR
Peter Russell (AUS) has edged ever so slightly clear of disabled compatriot Peter Thompson after Day 2 in the 2.4mR class at host venue Sandringham Yacht Club today.

Both sailors enjoyed line honours once each after Races 3 and 4 with conditions particularly ideal in the latter race. 

Thompson said the wind was barely blowing 4 knots for the first race of the day, but got up to about 6-8 knots for the second.

“When the wind picked up it was beautiful sailing.  You could really concentrate on enjoying your sailing,” the Paralympian said after winning Race 4.

Aaron Hill (AUS) is three points back in third place overall with Colin Brown (AUS) starting to make things difficult for himself a further nine points back in fourth place.

Skud 18
Disabled sailors Amy Barnbrook/Leigh Dunstan (AUS) relished the balmy conditions at host venue Sandringham Yacht Club today with a first and second place in the Skud 18 skiff on Day 2 of the Asia Pacific Regatta.

That result has elevated the pair into equal first position with son/father combination Duncan and Peter MacGregor after four of the scheduled 10 qualifying races.

Just one point behind in outright third place is local son/father combination Morgan and David Staley (AUS).  Trailing by six points in fourth position is Desiree Lim/Tan Jovin (SIN).

Due to insufficient breeze earlier in the day, racing, set to start from midday, got underway late from Sandringham Yacht Club, forcing those set to start at 2.00pm to start later.

The Women’s 470 crews started to dwindle ashore around 6.15pm, the first Tornado did not hit the beach until 7.15pm.

For all information on the Sail Melbourne 2008 Asia Pacific Regatta, including results, go to:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

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2008 Audi Etchells Australian Championship

Una Mas

Muir and his crew were first over the line in Race 4 ahead of Alistair Gair, David Ridley, Carl Peters and Derek Scott on Velsheda with Lake Macquarie sailors and identical twins Gary and John Boyd with Tony May sailing B Squared finishing third.

Three Etchells were black flagged in Race 4 including Bucky Smith and his crew as well as Cameron Miles on Blacksnake and Tom Woods on Echo Beach.

The regatta is still open for any crew combination to take the title.  Today ends the schedule of two races a day with crews now heading to the scales for a re-weigh ahead of a huge night of BBQ and Beer supplied by sponsor Gage Roads.

Race 3 Results
1          NZL950             Velsheda          Alistair Gair
2          AUS945            Blacksnake        Cameron Miles
3          AUS1317          Una Mas           Mark Bradford
4          AUS875            Men At Work     Bucky Smith
5          AUS915            Koolong X        Peter McNeill

Race 4 Results
1          AUS874            Racer XY          Jason Muir
2          NZL950             Velsheda          Alistair Gair
3          AUS1164          B Squared        Gary Boyd
4          AUS1318          Bananas in Pyjamas      Ian Johnson
5          AUS415            Waterloo Bay (M)          Noel Paterson

Progressive Point Score and Individual Race Results - http://www.rqys.com.au/results/view.php?PHP_Results_5_941sC.htm

AST & Paralympic members competing in Miami OCR

Daniel Fitzgibbon & Rachael Cox

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westernaustralia2011.com secures third place in thrilling race from Fremantle

In a scorching race from Fremantle to Singapore – both in terms of extremely close racing and the temperatures the crews have had to deal with – westernaustralia2011.com’s third place result keeps the heat on their competitors and maintains their chances of retaining the Clipper Trophy.

Clipper 07-08 is rapidly turning into an incredibly tight contest keeping race followers on the edge of their seats. westernaustralia2011.com finished just 55 minutes behind second placed Liverpool 08 crossing the finish line off Singapore at 1917 GMT (0217 Tuesday 15 January local time.)

Beating off fierce competition from Liverpool 08, winners New York maintained their narrow lead over the English entry to finish at 2112 local time (1412 GMT). Liverpool 08 finished four hours and ten minutes later at 1822 GMT (0122 Tuesday 15 January local time).

The lead in the 2430-mile race, which started in Fremantle on New Year’s Day, changed numerous times as the skippers and crews of the ten internationally-backed yachts battled it out on arguably the most tactically challenging of the 14 individual contests that make up Clipper 07-08 Race. Several of the yachts have been within sight of each other during the race in which they have weaved their way through islands, dodged floating hazards and fishing nets, adding to the tension and forcing the crews to maintain their concentration.

Following a traditional Indonesian welcome, skipper of the Western Australian yacht, Martin Silk, said it proved their performance on Leg 3 was no fluke. “Definitely not, we’ve worked very hard for this and we’re focussing on our aim of finishing in a top five position in every race.”

The result will keep alive their chances of retaining their title. “I don’t know whether we’ll keep the Clipper Trophy,” said Martin, “But I am confident we’re going to maintain this standard and finish well in July.”

Coping with the soaring heat and wringing as much boat speed as they could from the light winds that have dogged them for the last half of the race has been exhausting for those on board. Race Director Joff Bailey said, “This is perhaps the most difficult race for the Clipper crews. The weather conditions mean there are lots of tactical decisions to be made, particularly transiting the Monsoon trough where, like the Doldrums, very light airs combine with tropical squalls. The number of sail changes this entails in temperatures in the forties and high levels of humidity is physically exhausting and the rate of progress mentally draining for everyone.”

The westernaustralia2011.com crew will have plenty of time to get on with the task of deep cleaning their yacht, beginning their routine maintenance and enjoying some well-earned rest while they wait for their competitors to join them in Nongsa Point Marina. The marina on Batam, one of the Riau Islands of Indonesia, is where the whole Clipper fleet will muster ahead of the coordinated arrival in Singapore on Saturday 19 January.

The fleet’s arrival in Singapore will be part of the glittering opening ceremony for the new Marina at Keppel Bay. During the stopover in Singapore they will be berthed at the new multi-million dollar facility, the centre-piece of Keppel Bay’s premier waterfront precinct – the only residential development in Singapore to have its own world-class marina on its own private five-hectare island. It is owned by Keppel Corporation which sponsors Uniquely Singapore with Singapore Tourism Board as Race Partner.

Keppel Corporation’s Group Corporate Communications General Manager, Ms Look Fung Wang said, “When the Clippers make their Singapore stopover they will be hosted at the spanking new Marina at Keppel Bay.

“The Clipper yachts will add colour and vibrance to this new premier waterfront lifestyle hub, fast taking shape in Singapore’s southern coast of which Keppel Bay is an integral part. We believe this will help showcase Singapore as the Asian destination in which to live, work and play and promote Singapore as a leading boating destination in Asia.”

New York’s victory, which is subject to confirmation once all the skippers have made their declarations, is likely to push them up the leaderboard and open up the competition. With another nine races to contest in Clipper 07-08 there is no runaway leader at this stage. Followers of the Clipper Races will remember the final podium positions of Clipper 05-06 were only settled on the very last sprint into Liverpool after 35,000 miles of ocean racing.

Berths for the next race, Clipper 09-10, are now available. For more information on applying to become a crew member, contact Clipper Ventures on +44 (0)2392 526000 or email oceanracer@clipperroundtheworld.com.

Entries closing for 172nd Australia Day Regatta

Kanimbla

With Australia Day, 26 January, falling on a Saturday this year, race officials expect up to 100 yachts to contest what is the world’s oldest continuously held sailing regatta.

The programme lists divisions for cruiser/racer yachts, including non-spinnaker divisions, and classes for 5.5 metre yachts and Ynglings, as well as historical skiffs and modern 18-footers.

In addition to the traditional regatta on the Harbour, ocean racing yachts will contest the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s offshore race to Botany Bay return which is also the first Short Ocean Pointscore and Ocean Pointscore race of 2008.

Australia Day regattas also will be held on other waterways on Saturday, 26 January, including Botany Bay, Pittwater, Lake Macquarie and Lake Illawarra, catering for yachts, trailable yachts, dinghies, skiffs and catamarans.

Again sponsored by the Commonwealth Private Bank, the Regatta is also strongly supported by the Australian Defence Forces, with HMAS Kanimbla the Flagship, the RAAF Roulettes and an FA-18  fighter jet providing spectacular aerobatic displays and the Army’s parachutists landing in Farm Cove.

The Notice of Race for the 172nd Australia Day Regatta is available on the websites of the Australia Day Regatta (www.australiadayregatta.com.au), the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (www.rsys.com.au) and Sydney Amateur Sailing Club (www.sasc.com.au)

Competitors in the 172nd Australia Day Regatta on the harbour will be racing for many fine perpetual trophies that have been donated or loaned to the Regatta over the past years.

The HC Dangar Memorial Sponsors Trophy, a large embossed silver cup, will be awarded to the handicap winner of the largest keelboat fleet racing on Sydney Harbour  while the Davidson Family Trophy, a delicately crafted 140-year-old crystal and silver  claret jug, will go to the handicap winner of Division 2.

HC Dangar was a foundation member of the Squadron who, among other things was honorary treasurer for many years and was aboard the famous yacht Xarifa when it won Australia’s first ocean race, from Sydney to Newcastle and return, in 1864.

The claret jug that is now the Davidson Family Trophy originally was won by the RSYS yacht Ella in the race for Second Class Yachts at the Anniversary Regatta of 1866.  It was located in a Sydney antique shop in 2006 and subsequently purchased and presented to the Australia Day Regatta Inc by Suzanne Davidson, wife of Colin Davidson who was Regatta chairman from 1989-1995 and is a Life Member.

Another historical trophy is The Centenary of Federation Medallion for handicap winner of the Classic Yacht Division of the Australia Day Regatta.  The gold medallion is a Sydney Amateur Sailing Club trophy and is described in the SASC Sailing Program as the Sainora Medal won at the Federation Regatta in 1901.  

The City of Sydney Sesquicentenary Trophy, presented to mark the 150th anniversary of the City, is a perpetual trophy for the overall winner under PHS handicapping of the ocean race to Botany Bay conducted by the CYCA.

The line honours winner receives the Geoff Lee Ocean Race Trophy, presented by the late Geoff Lee, a former Chairman of the Australia Day Regatta Management Committee.

Gotta Love It 7 leads Australian Championship

Gotta Love It 18ft Skiff

The National Championship for the 18ft Skiffs started two weekends ago and it was been a great chance for us to put this season’s hard work into practice. The first race of the series was raced in a light to moderate north-east sea breeze. This wind direction has been very regular this season with at least half the races being raced on the north-east course. This has meant a lot of the crews have become familiar with the race track, making the racing closer and closer and boat speed has become more critical to a successful race.

We started the race well at the boat end of the start line with clear air and a good lane giving us some good options of where to go up the first windward leg. A good start often sets you up at the front of the fleet early and this is exactly what happened. We got the first mark in front but only just as we had Asko right behind us. Sailing the reaches around Shark Island is very challenging, especially when the wind is slightly in the east, making the lay-line very tight and difficult to pick. As a result Asko over took us, but not for long as we passed them soon after up the next windward leg. We sailed side by side for the majority of the race until we got stuck behind a Manly Ferry’s wind shadow and unfortunately dropped back to third and held that position until the finish. A third place over the line is always a good result but it was disappointing in the fact that a small lapse in concentration part way through the race meant we did not do as well as we could have. We took a lot out of this race which would prove valuable come the following week’s race.

We have spent the majority of last week on the water working on various parts of our sailing. From rig tuning to boat handling, I think we have covered it all and it has been extremely beneficial to our campaign.

Last Sunday’s race had the forecast that skiff sailors have been waiting for all season. Twenty five knot north-east sea breezes, strong run-out tide and sunny skies. Two of the three elements arrived for yesterday’s race. Unfortunately the breeze didn’t quite get to 25 knots but it was still a solid 20 for the most part. The run-out tide meant the chop was steep and tall, making downwind sailing pretty spectacular. We started well again, this time in the middle of the line and put ourselves in the front pack of boats early and rounded the top mark in third position behind Asko and Yandoo.

The first lap was fast. We rounded the bottom mark in fourth but only seconds separated us from Asko in first. We stayed close to our rivals all the way up to the top mark again and rounded the Beashel buoy for the second time in second place with Yandoo and Omega Smeg hot on our heels. We gybed out early from the top mark in search of more wind and to our surprise the steep chop got the better of the Asko skiff as they cart-wheeled out of control, surrendering their lead to us. All we had to do now was stay in between our rivals and the finish line for one more lap. We did this successfully and secured the win by over a minute.

New ISAF Secretary General

Jerome Pels at the 2007 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais

Jerome has steadily worked his way through the ranks at the ISAF Secretariat, since joining as Competition Officer in 1997. In the ten years since then he has been involved in all of ISAF’s major events, being promoted to Events Manager, then Director of Sailing in January 2002 and Deputy Secretary General in May 2006. He has been appointed as one of ISAF’s Technical Delegates, responsible for the overall running of the sailing competition, at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.

Jerome has had a lifelong involvement in the sport, coming from a family of sailors in Gouda, the Netherlands. Since starting sailing aged 6, he has been involved in practically every aspect of the sport, from racing to media, administration, coaching and competition management. Jerome replaces Arve Sundheim (NOR), who retires after almost 12 years in the role of ISAF Secretary General.

Jerome said: “It is both with honour and with great anticipation that I start 2008 as the ISAF Secretary General. With the Olympic Games in Qingdao it looks set to be a fantastic year for sailing and I am greatly looking forward to the challenges and opportunities my new role will bring. After ten years at ISAF I am well aware of the dedication and commitment of the people involved in our federation and I am looking forward to helping them take our sport forward.”

Jerome’s involvement in sailing began long before he joined ISAF; he is genuinely a lifelong sailor, coming from a family of Olympic sailors in Gouda, the Netherlands. As well as competing regularly, he also used to take photographs for his father, who was a sailing journalist for the Dutch publication Waterkampioen. It was on one of these assignments that he says his real passion for the sport began, when, aged 13, he listened to Dennis Conner (USA), multiple World Champion and America’s Cup winner, being interviewed by his father at the 1977 Star Worlds in Kiel.

After sailing in the Optimist, Laser Radial and Europe classes, he turned to coaching as a sideline to support his education whilst studying Law at Erasmus University in Rotterdam. During this time he became involved with some of the leading young names in Dutch sailing, and, after qualifying as a lawyer, joined the Koninklijk Nederlands Watersport Verbond (KNWV) in 1989 as Head Coach for the Netherlands Olympic Yachting Team. After initially agreeing to take over the post for one month, he stayed on to coach the team at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona where the Netherlands won a bronze medal in the Lechner event. Following the Barcelona Games, he became High Performance Director for the KNWV, eventually leading the Dutch sailing team to its best Olympic medal tally since the 1936 Games, winning silver in the Europe and bronze in the Finn at Savannah in 1996. It was in Savannah that he met the then ISAF Secretary General, Arve Sundheim.

A couple of days after taking over his new position as Secretary General, Jerome Pels took the opportunity to address some of the key issues facing ISAF at the start of 2008. Amongst the areas he addressed were sailing at the Olympic Games, challenges ISAF faces and his key goals as he takes on his new role.

Go to the ISAF website www.sailing.org to read the full interview.

Mooloolaba Sailors Leading After First Day of Racing

2008 Audi Etchells Australian Championship

Race 1 was a light challenge for the competitors with 6-8 knots from the south east and Race 2 finished off reaching 14 knots.

The long day saw racing start at 1230 hours some 3 nautical miles east of St Helena Island.  The sailors have just started to arrive back to the marina of the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron just as daylight creeps into night. 

Another two races are scheduled for Tuesday 15 January before the second crew weigh-in.

More information to follow…

www.etchchellsregattas0708.com

Race 1
1          AUS915            Koolong X                    Peter McNeill
2          AUS1362          Fair Bump Play On        David Rose
3          AUS875            Men At Work                 Bucky Smith
4          AUS1317          Una Mas                       Mark Bradford
5          AUS1144          Rapscallion (M)             David Healey

Race 2

1          AUS875            Men At Work                 Bucky Smith
2          AUS874            Racer XY                      Jason Muir
3          AUS1317          Una Mas                       Mark Bradford
4          NZL950             Velsheda                      Alistair Gair
5          AUS915            Koolong X                    Peter McNeill

Full Results - http://www.rqys.com.au/results/view.php?PHP_Results_4_941sAll.htm

Dutch lead Tornados at Asia Pacific Regatta

Anthony Nossiter (AUS) sends his Finn at Asia Pacific Regatta Day 1

In south-westerly winds averaging 12 knots, the Aussie pair blitzed the fleet in the first race of qualifying, only to drop back to 11th in Race 2.

“It was really difficult out there today.  The wind was shifting 30 degrees. We did well in the first race, but lost five or six boats up the last work and finished nowhere,” said skipper Bundock.  The 2006 world champion crew is in fourth place overall on Day 1. 

After a solid fifth in Race 1, backed up by a win in Race 2, Olympic medallist Mitch Booth/ Pim Nieuwenhuis (NED) will head into tomorrow’s racing one point clear at the top of the qualifying table.  The two have qualified for Beijing and are keen for a good result here.

Fresh from their second place at the Tornado Asia Pacific Championship last week, Olympic triallists Andrey Kirilyuk/Valeriy Ushkov (RUS) had a good day.  They trail the Dutch in second place after a fourth and third respectively, while the reigning world titleholders, Fernando Echavarri/Anton Paz (ESP) are one point further back.

“Really difficult.  There was a lot of turbulence in the water.  Lots of big shifts,” Paz said on coming ashore this afternoon.

“We have some work to do preparing for the upcoming World’s.  We want to spend all our day our there,” Echavarri admitted.

Rohan Langworthy/Jack Punch are the only other Australians in the top 20, in 15th place overall.

470 Men’s
Reigning 470 World titleholders Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page (AUS) have got a bit of work to do following Day 1 of qualifying races at the Asia Pacific Regatta at host venue Sandringham Yacht Club today.

The Aussie pair is laying seventh overall following two consistent fifth placings, but they trail the top of the table combination of Sime Fantela/Igor Marenic (CRO).

Page said they managed to take advantage of the good conditions in race one to help keep them in contention.

“Good, even wind, shifty.  It helped us come back from 30th to fifth in the first race,” Page said.

Paco Sanchez/Alejandro Ramos (ESP) are currently second following a fourth and third, while Kiwi’s Carl Evans/Peter Burling (NZL) are third.

Evans/Burling finished Race 1 in seventh position, but came back with a first place in Race 2.

470 Women’s
Meanwhile in the 470 Women’s, Erin Maxwell/Isabelle Kinsolving (USA) enjoyed a consistent day to head into tomorrow’s racing an impressive eight points ahead of their nearest rivals.

Finishing second and third respectively in the opening two races, the US pair missed out on a berth to Beijing, so are relaxed and out to make the most of their racing without any pressure.

“It was pretty fun out there…quite tactical racing,” Maxwell said “We didn’t qualify for the Olympics so we’re just here for the experience,” she added.

There are three crews all tied for second place on 13 points - Emmanuelle Rol/Anne-Sophie Thilo (SUI), Xiaoli Wang/Xufeng Huang (CHI) and Yuka Yoshisako/Noriko Okuma (JAP).

Finn
World No.3 ranked Finn sailor Edward Wright (GBR) is locked at the top of the table with Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN) following the first two qualifying races of the Asia Pacific Regatta today.

Four-time Finn Gold Cup winner and Olympic gold and silver medallist Ben Ainslie (GBR) is unusually poised in third place following two third placings on Day 1.

Ainslie, recently selected to the British team for Beijing, is clearly a class above everyone else in his event and is by far the man to beat at this regatta, heading into what could potentially be his fifth Gold Cup victory next week.

Australia’s Beijing rep, Anthony Nossiter, is in outright fifth following a fifth and seventh on Day 1.

Laser
Reigning Laser world champion Tom Slingsby (AUS) endured the highs and lows of championship racing at today’s opening qualifying event for the Asia Pacific Championship.

Slingsby won his first race of the day, however was turned around on the line of his second race following a false start, relegating the hot favourite to 43rd overall.

Undeterred by his results, having the ability to drop one bad result after five races, Slingsby remained buoyant about the series.

“The good guys are all competing…all the major players are here.  It’s going to be great racing,” the 22 year old said today.

Leading the Laser qualifying after Day 1 is Milan Vujasinovic (CRO), ahead of Britain’s no. 1 player Paul Goodison and Abe Torchinsky (CAN) in equal second place.  This is an important event ahead of the Laser World’s to be held at Terrigal in February.

A number of sailors contending for the title are here preparing for the Laser Master’s Worlds, also to be held at Terrigal.  Mark Tonner Joyce was the best placed of the Apprentice Master, currently 47th overall, whilst Jan Scholten, Master, is 50th in this hot fleet. 

Laser Radial Women’s
Set to represent at her second Olympic Games when she heads to Beijing, Laser Radial sailor Sarah Blanck (AUS) started her Asia Pacific Regatta in fabulous form today.

Blanck, who hails from Melbourne, is in equal first position following a second and first place at her home club Royal Brighton Yacht Squadron.  She will go head to head with Sari Multala (FIN) when sailing continues tomorrow, with both sailors five points clear of New Zealand star Jo Aleh.

The next best placed Australian is 2007 ISAF Youth World champion Gabrielle King, sailing in the youth event and overall in 18th position.

2.4mR 
Australians Peter Russell and Peter Thompson are joint leaders after Day 1 of the 2.4mR Paralympic class racing at the Asia Pacific Regatta at Sandringham Yacht Club today.

Locked in a tight tussle, both competitors traded the first two places in the first two races of the event.

Thompson, a two-time veteran of the Paralympics, is now retired from international competition but remains competitive at a domestic level.

“It’s really nice to come out here to sail and not have to worry about the results,” Thompson said today.

Beijing Paralympic hopeful Aaron Hill, 23, struggled with boat problems but managed to get it together by Race 2.

“I broke a gooseneck early and spent a bit of time fixing it in between races.  I was towed out to the second start and made it with 10 seconds to spare,” Hill said today.

Hill is placed third overall, four points adrift of the leaders, and two points ahead of another two Australians, Michael Leydon and Matthew Bugg in equal fourth position.

Skud
Local son and father able-bodied combination Morgan and David Staley (AUS) opened their Skud Asia Pacific Regatta campaign perfectly today.

Sailing at host venue Sandringham Yacht Club, Morgan and his Dad, the former Sail Melbourne event manager, opened their account with two wins, to skip three points clear of Amy Barnbrook/Denis Critchley (AUS), who campaigned for the Paralympics but just missed out.  In third place, just one point further behind is Duncan and Peter MacGregor (AUS).

Special thanks go to sponsors: State Government of Victoria; Parks Victoria; Mercedes Benz; Helly Hansen; Bayside City Council; Mornington Peninsula Shire Council; City of Kingston; Schenker Australia; Yachting Australia; Ronstan International; Ribsport; Silver Marine.

For all information on the Sail Melbourne 2008 Asia Pacific Regatta, including results, go to:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

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RS:X World Championships: Day two round-up

Racing at the RS:X World Championships in Takapuna, New Zealand continued today with both the men and women sailing two races each.

Conditions were excellent with a NNE breeze increasing through the afternoon and clear and sunny skies. The women’s fleet was first out, racing in the early afternoon in around 10 knots of wind. The men followed starting mid afternoon in a freshening breeze of around 15 knots.

The old guard are out-classing the young guns in the early stages of the Women’s RS:X World Championships with Alessandra Sensini ITA and Barbara Kendall NZL sharing the lead at the end of day two.

Sensini was fifth in the first race of the day following that up with a win in race four of the regatta giving her three wins from four races and eight points in total. Kendall, also on eight points had a fourth and a win in today’s racing.

The two legends of Olympic wind surfing are yet to line up on the same start line as Sensini has been racing in yellow group and Kendall in blue group so far.

France has third and fourth on the women’s leader board with Charline Piccon in third place four points adrift of the leading pair. Piccon started the day with a share of the lead and was 4th and 5th in her two races on day two.

Reining Olympic champion Faustine Merret has a share of fourth place on equal points with Blanca Manchon of Spain. Mingli Duan of China had an excellent day on the water with a first and a third seeing her climb to 6th place on the leader board.

Both Tom Ashley from New Zealand and Przemyslaw Miarczynski of Poland had a superb day on the water on day two of the RS:X Men’s World Champs each recording two wins in the two races sailed.

For Ashley this means a three point leading margin the men’s fleet having three wins from four races on the score card and a total of six points. Lafuente of Spain is second overall in the men’s fleet at the end of day two on nine points.

Miarczynski POL prefers the stronger winds and with his two wins today he leapt from 19th place at the start of the day up to fifth overall.

Myszka of Poland is lying third overall just two points back from Lafuente after placing second in both of today’s races. Le Gal of France is lying fourth with 22 points.

Racing resumes tomorrow at midday with two more races scheduled for both the men and women.

Women – Race Three
The women’s yellow group was the first to sail on day two getting underway at around 12:30 in 9 to 13 knots of wind. Reining Olympic champ Faustine Merret of France won race three of the regatta. Poland’s Malgorzata Bialecka was second and Chan Wai Kei of Hong Kong crossed in third.

In the blue group the Chinese team took two of the top three spots with Mingli Duan and Limei Sun shining in the relatively light breeze and taking first and third respectively. Blanca Manchon of Spain recorded a second place adding another good result to her score card. Barbara Kendall crossed the line just three seconds behind Sun to get fourth.

Women – Race Four
Overnight leader, Alessandra Sensini came out with a yellow group win in race four for the women crossing half a minute ahead of Lee-El Korsitz of Israel. It was Sensini’s third win from four races. Bryony Shaw of Great Britain had her best race of the regatta yet with a third place.

It was a nail biter finish for the blue group in race four. Barbara Kendall took her second race win of the regatta overtaking Spain’s Marina Alabau on the final leg of the race. Alabau lead for the entire race until being passed by Kendall who crossed the line just five seconds ahead. Mingli Duan who won the earlier race in the blue group was third, just three seconds behind Alabau.

Men – Race Three
Przemyslaw Miarczynski of Poland took out the first race of the day in yellow group beating Casper Bouman of the Netherlands across the line by 10 seconds. Ivan Pastor Lafuente of Spain, who started the day with a share of the lead placed third in race three of the regatta.

Tom Ashley of New Zealand won the first race for the blue group today, with Piotr Myszka of Poland crossing very close behind in second place. Richard Staufacher of Switzerland was third.

Men – Race Four
In the yellow group Przemyslaw Miarczynski of Poland made it two wins from two races on day two of the RS:X Worlds crossing ahead of Ivan Pastor Lafuente of Spain. France’s Nicholas Huguet was third.

Meanwhile in the blue group Ashley NZL, Myszka POL and Staufacher SUI took first, second and third in race four as they did in race three earlier in the afternoon.

Provisional Top Ten Standings
RS:X Men’s World Championships Day Two
1st Tom Ashley NZL – 6 points (3, 1, 1, 1)
2nd Ivan Pastor Lafuente ESP – 9 points (2, 2, 3, 2)
3rd Piotr Myszka POL – 11 points (2, 5, 2, 2)
4th Nicholas Le Gal FRA – 22 points (4, 3, 9, 6)
5th Przemyslaw Miarczynski POL – 23 points (10, 11, 1, 1)
6th Shahar Zubari ISR – 27 points (1, 3, 6, 17)
7th Nick Dempsey GBR – 29 points (5, 7, 12, 5)
8th Nimrod Mashiah ISR – 32 points (4, 7, 10, 11)
9th Joao Rodrigues POR – 34 points (18, 1, 5, 10)
10th Samuel Launay FRA – 36 points (14, 5, 11, 6)

Provisional Top Ten Standings
RS:X Women’s World Championships Day Two
1st = Alessandra Sensini ITA – 8 points (1, 1, 5, 1)
1st = Barbara Kendall NZL – 8 points (2, 1, 5, 1)
3rd Charline Piccon FRA – 12 points (1, 2, 4, 5)
4th = Faustine Merret FRA – 13 points (3, 5, 1, 4)
4th = Blanca Manchon ESP – 13 points (2, 4, 2, 5)
6th Mingli Duan CHN – 16 points (5, 7, 1, 3)
7th Peina Chen CHN – 23 points (5, 3, 8, 7)
8th Marina Alabau ESP – 29 points (4, 2, 21, 2)
9th= Bryony Shaw GBR – 30 points (8, 8, 11, 3)
9th = Jessica Crisp AUS – 30 points (4, 10, 6, 10)

For full results visit http://www.rsxclass.com/worlds2008.html

Gordon Ingate, 82, oldest Australian yachting champion

The victory, on Hobart’s Derwent River, climaxes a remarkable career in sailing spanning some 70 years, including 52 years sailing in the Dragons, a former Olympic class.

Ingate, a member of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, has represented Australia in the Admiral’s Cup, the America’s Cup, the Olympic Games, World Championships in Dragons and International 5.5 metre class yachts and skippered his ocean racing yacht Caprice of Huon to a luckless second overall in the 1972 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The Royal Yacht of Tasmania declared Whim, helmed by Ingate and crewed by Tasmanians Nick Rogers and Simon Burrows, as the Prince Philip Cup champions after being forced to abandon the seventh and final race because of galeforce north-westerly winds sweeping the Derwent,

Race officials waited until 1300 hours before abandoning racing, with the northerly wind averaging 35 to 40 knots on the river, squalls gusting to 65 knots.

Ingate is understood to be the oldest yachtsman ever to win an Australian national yachting championship in any class, let alone the Dragon class.

Despite 52 years of competing in the Dragon class, this is the first Prince Philip Cup win for Ingate although he tied for first with fellow Sydney yachtsman Bill Fesq in 1956,  being relegated to second place on a countback of placings.

However, it was the ninth Prince Philip Cup win for Nick Rogers, also a former Dragon class world champion, and the second for Simon Burrows.

Ingate said that Rogers and Burrows had played a key role in his victory. “I’ve been blessed with two very good Tasmanian crew….they have been excellent crew and I pay them a lot of respect because they have put me up where we are,” the octogenarian skipper said.

Second place in the 2008 Prince Philip Cup has gone to another Sydney crew, Ian McCrossin, Martin Burke and Rick Hall, sailing Riga, third to the Tasmanian boat Kirribilli II, sailed by Andrew Crisp, David Graney and John Gardiner.   Second place had to be decided on a countback after both boats scored equal points.

The top 10 placegetters in the 2008 Prince Philip Cup, announced this afternoon at The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, were:

1. Whim (Gordon Ingate, NSW) 19.7 points
2. Riga (Ian McCrossin/Martin Burke, NSW) 24.7
3. Kirribilli II (Andrew Crisp, Tas) 24.7
4. Leander (Hugh Wardrop, Tas) 37.7
5. Hotspur (Ken Stevenson, WA) 46.7
6. Sassafrass (Sandy Anderson, WA) 46.7
7. Aquila (Jock Young, Tas) 48.4
8. Mystere (Wayne Wagg, Tas) 56.4
9. Amazing Grace (Tony Mooney/Charles Stanton, Tas) 69.0
10. Gilt Dragon II (Ian Malley, WA) 76

2008 Audi Etchells Australian Championship

Fifteen sailed by David Clark, Andrew Smith and Sean Leonard ditched superstition to win the Practice Race ahead of the four up crew Men At Work with Bucky Smith, Godfrey Smith, Emma O’Rourke and Ryan Ashworth.  Peter McNeill, Peter McLachlan and Anthony Merrington sailing Koolong X finished third.

Real racing commences tomorrow with heats one and two from 1200 hours.  Racing will take place east of Green Island on the Waters of Waterloo Bay.

The forecast for the next few days of the regatta is predicting winds of up to 30 knots from the south/south east.  The rough waters were racing is will provide some intense challenges for the competitors.

For more information log onto the official regatta website – www.etchchellsregattas0708.com

Practice Race Results
1.   AUS876      Fifteen             David Clark
2    AUS875      Men At Work     Bucky Smith
3    AUS915      Koolong X        Peter McNeill
4    AUS1317    Una Mas           Mark Bradford
5    AUS891      Bandwagon       Skip Lissiman

Full Results - http://www.rqys.com.au/results/view.php?PHP_Results_4_941sAll.htm

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	RQRS Website

Day one of RS:X World Championship

After a postponement due to light winds, racing started and two races were sailed in both the men’s and women’s fleets in a NNE breeze of around six to eight knots. With just two races to count the points table is tight at the top.

There is a three way tie on the leader board for the men’s title after day one. Tom Ashley NZL, Shahar Zubari ISR & Ivan Pastor Lafuente ESP are all on four points. Both Ashley and Zubari had one win and a third place in today’s races, while Lafuente was second in both his races.

The men were first to race with the 120 competitors split into yellow and blue groups. During the first three days of racing the blue and yellow groups will be re-shuffled daily based on overall standings from the previous day.

The women took to the course mid afternoon and sailed two races coming ashore around 5:30pm in the evening.

Alessandra Sensini ITA had an outstanding start winning both her races on day one. Barbara Kendall NZL shares second place with Charline Piccon FRA both scoring a win and a second in the two races sailed today. 

Race One - Men
Shahar Zubari of Israel took out race one in the yellow group leading the race from start to finish. He crossed the finish line around 50 seconds ahead of Piotr Myszka of Poland, who climbed his way through the fleet to finish in second place. Local windsurfer Jon Paul Tobin was third in race one of the yellow group.

In the blue fleet Nikolas Kaklamanakis of Greece was won race one leading from start to finish. Ivan Pastor Lafuente of Spain was able to pull in New Zealand’s Tom Ashley as the race unfolded overtaking the kiwi who was second until the final mark. Lafuente finished second and Ashley finished third.

Race Two - Men
Portuguese windsurfer Joao Rodrigues took out race two in the yellow group, with Ho Chi Ho close behind in second place. Zubari added a third place to his race one win to complete a great start to the regatta.

In the blue group Tom Ashley rounded mark one in third place but climbed up to lead around mark four and take out race two. It was pay back for Spaniard Lafuente who crossed the line in second place behind Ashley. France’s Nicholas Le Gal was third.

Race One - Women
Alessandra Sensini won race one in the yellow group while Blanca Manchon of Spain was second and reining Olympic champion Faustine Merret of France was third.

In the blue group Charline Piccon of France overtook local legend Barbara Kendall on the final leg of race one to take the win, with Kendall crossing in second place. Young Italian Laura Linares was third in her first race.

Race Two – Women
Sensini of Italy took out race two, Marina Alabau was second and Peina Chen of China crossing over a minute behind her in third.

The top three place getters in the blue group were the same as in race one although the order changed… Barbara Kendall won race two just ahead of Charline Piccon while Laura Linares was third.

Provisional Top Ten Standings
RS:X Men’s World Championships Day One
1st = Tom Ashley NZL – 4 points (3, 1)
1st = Shahar Zubari ISR – 4 points (1, 3)
1st = Ivan Pastor Lafuente ESP – 4 points (2, 2)
4th = Piotr Myszka POL – 7 points (2, 5)
4th = Nicholas Le Gal FRA – 7 points (4, 3)
4th = Jon-Paul Tobin NZL – 7 points (3, 4)
7th = Ho Chi Ho HKG – 11 points (9, 2)
7th = Nimrod Mashiah ISR – 11points (4, 7)
9th Nick Dempsey GBR – 12 points (5, 7)
10th Nikolas Kaklamanakis GRE – 14 points (1, 13)

Provisional Top Ten Standings
RS:X Women’s World Championships Day One
1st Alessandra Sensini ITA - 2 points (1, 1)
2nd = Barbara Kendall NZL – 3 points (2, 1)
2nd = Charline Piccon FRA – 3 points (1, 2)
4th = Marina Alabau ESP – 4 points (3, 1)
4th = Blanca Manchon ESP – 4 points (1, 3)
6th = Peina Chen CHN – 6 points (4, 2)
6th = Faustine Merret FRA – 6 points (2, 4)
6th = Laura Linares ITA – 6 points (3, 3)
9th Mingli Duan CHN – 12 points (5, 7)
10th Lise Vidal FRA – 13 points (7, 6)

For full results visit http://www.rsxclass.com/worlds2008.html

OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team 2008 Announced

OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team 2008

The nine member OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team 2008 will go on to compete at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship to be held in Aarhus, Denmark from 10th – 19th July, 2008.  The Team will also be defending the Volvo Nations Trophy after being crowned the most successful nation at the same event held in Canada in July this year.

(Team selection is subject to board approval and signing of Yachting Australia Athlete Agreement)

The Team is:
Hobie 16: Jason Waterhouse & Lisa Darmanin (NSW)
Bic Techno 293: Tom England (VIC)
Laser (full rig): Tom Burton (NSW)
Laser Radial: Gabrielle King (NSW)
29er Girls: Hannah Nattress and Michelle Muller (NSW)
29er Boys: Nick Peate & Rhys Mara (NSW)

Mayor of Frankston, Councilor Alistair Wardle was in attendance and commented “I hope Frankston left you with wonderful memories and that you have forged friendships which will last you a lifetime”.

The events major sponsor, OAMPS Insurance Brokers Chief Operating Officer David Wyner said “We are very proud to support youth sailing in Australia and look forward to seeing you next year. OAMPS Insurance Brokers is committed to youth sailing and plan to be here for a long time to come”.

Phil Jones, Yachting Australia CEO said “The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2008 was the selection event for the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team.

“As a result of this regatta and the significant support from all the international classes, the pathway from youth sailing to Olympic class sailing is clearer than ever before.

“Parents can make decisions about their kids sailing in knowledge they are making long term decisions for the future.

“Sailing is truly a sport for life”.

Final results after nine races:

420 - Boys
1. David Gilmour & Andres Noe (WA) - Gold
2. Edlad Campbell & James Omay (WA) - Silver
3. Henry Say & James Owen-Smith (VIC) - Bronze

420 – Girls
1. Sanne Koelemij & Breanna Vos (WA) - Gold
2. Lauren Thregold & Megan Soulsby (SA) - Silver
3. Ashley Carney & Claire Bryan (NSW) – Bronze

420 - Mixed
1. Ben Taylor & Lauren Carney (NSW) - Gold
2. Lucy Shephard & Douglas Shephard (TAS) - Silver
3. Joel Aulich & Stephanie Strong (VIC) – Bronze

Bic Techno 293
1. Tom England (VIC) - Gold
2. Ben Morrell (NSW) - Silver
3. Aaron Wilson (VIC) - Bronze

Hobie 16
1. Jason Waterhouse & Lisa Darmanin (NSW) - Gold
2. Pip Pietromonaco & Chase Lurati (VIC) - Silver
3. Jacques Broise & David Veysie (VIC) - Bronze

Laser (full rig) - Boys
1. Tom Burton (NSW) - Gold
2. Curtis Skinner (QLD) - Silver
3. Martin Wright (WA) - Bronze

Laser 4.7 - Boys
1. Stephen Collings (TAS) - Gold
2. Rohan Langford (TAS) - Silver
3. Sean Ott (QLD) - Bronze

Laser 4.7 – Girls
1. Ashlie Lane (NT) - Gold
2. Eloise Burfurd (VIC) - Silver
3. Caitlin Elks (WA) - Bronze

Laser Radial - Boys
1. Scott Sydney (Singapore) – Gold
2. Elliott Noye (TAS) – Silver: Australian Champion
3. Hugh Osbourne (VIC) - Bronze

Laser Radial - Girls
1. Cushla Hume-Merry (New Zealand) – Gold
2. Gabrielle King (NSW) – Silver: Australian Champion
3. Elizabeth Yin (Singapore) – Bronze

29er – Girls: competed at 29er World Championship
1. Hannah Nattrass and Michelle Muller (NSW) – Gold

29er – Boys: competed at 29er World Championship
1. Nick Peate & Rhys Mara (NSW) – Gold

Entrants and suburb names can be found at: https://aus.regatta-manager.com/Regatta/RegattaPage.do?page=entries&clubContext=yaus®attaContext=youth08

For further information and up-to-date results, go to -
/default.asp?MenuID=Events/115/948/23996,Yachting_Australia_National_Championships/143/1004/

The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2008 is proudly supported by: Australian Sports Commission, OAMPS Insurance Brokers and Frankston City Council.

Day 4: Final results from Australian Youth Championship

Tom England

Jason Waterhouse won the Hobie 16 class with his cousin Lisa Darmanin. He commented “Lisa and I have been training together for the last three months as my usual crew member, Michael McCormick is now too old to compete in this event.

“It’s funny because Lisa and I usually compete against each other so it’s been good to sail together and walk away with a win at this regatta. We sailed well but made some mistakes which we will both learn from.

“The best thing about the Australian Youth Champs is that it’s a social event with lots of kids the same age as us as well as being a serious sailing regatta with international competitors”.

In the Bic Techno 293 class Tom England from Victoria won the Gold medal. He said “I started off sailing in Minnows, then Lasers and then the RS:X class.

“I have only been sailing the Bic Techno 293 class for a short time and it’s a lot easier to handle and more user friendly than the RS:X.

“The conditions for my class really need around 20 knots to be great and it only averaged around 15 knots for most the regatta.

“I am stoked to have won the Gold medal in the class”.

For the first time the Bic Techno 293 boards were contested in this regatta. Yachting Australia CEO, Phil Jones said “Windsurfing remains an attractive option for young sailors. The Bic Techno 293 offers a low cost opportunity for those wanting to compete at national level.

“We were delighted with the numbers competing in the first event and look forward to very significant growth in the next twelve months.

“Mandurah (WA) will offer perfect conditions for those competing in this exciting class at the event in 2009”.

New South Wales won the inaugural ‘State Cup’ as they were the best performing Australian state followed by Victoria in second place and Western Australia in third place.

The Presentation Ceremony will be held later at the Frankston Art Centre where the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team 2008 will be announced. The Team will then go on to compete at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship to be held in Aarhus, Denmark from 10th – 19th July, 2008.  The Team will also be defending the Volvo Nations Trophy after being crowned the most successful nation at the same event held in Canada in July this year.

Final results after nine races:

420 - Boys
1. David Gilmour & Andres Noe (WA) - Gold
2. Edlad Campbell & James Omay (WA) - Silver
3. Henry Say & James Owen-Smith (VIC) - Bronze

420 – Girls
1. Sanne Koelemij & Breanna Vos (WA) - Gold
2. Lauren Thregold & Megan Soulsby (SA) - Silver
3. Ashley Carney & Claire Bryan (NSW) - Bronze

Bic Techno 293
1. Tom England (VIC) - Gold
2. Ben Morrell (NSW) - Silver
3. Aaron Wilson (VIC) - Bronze

Hobie 16
1. Jason Waterhouse & Lisa Darmanin (NSW) - Gold
2. Pip Pietromonaco & Chase Lurati (VIC) - Silver
3. Jacques Broise & David Veysie (VIC) - Bronze

Laser (full rig) - Boys
1. Tom Burton (NSW) - Gold
2. Curtis Skinner (QLD) - Silver
3. Martin Wright (WA) - Bronze

Laser 4.7 - Boys
1. Stephen Collings (TAS) - Gold
2. Rohan Langford (TAS) - Silver
3. Sean Ott (QLD) - Bronze

Laser 4.7 – Girls
1. Ashlie Lane (NT) - Gold
2. Eloise Burfurd (VIC) - Silver
3. Caitlin Elks (WA) - Bronze

Laser Radial - Boys
1. Scott Sydney (Singapore) – Gold
2. Elliott Noye (TAS) – Silver: Australian Champion
3. Hugh Osbourne (VIC) - Bronze

Laser Radial - Girls
1. Cushla Hume-Merry (New Zealand) – Gold
2. Gabrielle King (NSW) – Silver: Australian Champion
3. Elizabeth Yin (Singapore) - Bronze

The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2008 is the selection event for the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team. A Team of up to 10 competitors will compete at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship to be held in Aarhus, Denmark from 10th – 19th July, 2008.

Entrants and suburb names can be found at: https://aus.regatta-manager.com/Regatta/RegattaPage.do?page=entries&clubContext=yaus®attaContext=youth08

For further information and up-to-date results, go to -
/default.asp?MenuID=Events/115/948/23996,Yachting_Australia_National_Championships/143/1004/

The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2008 is proudly supported by: Australian Sports Commission, OAMPS Insurance Brokers and Frankston City Council.

Bundock and Ashby claim Tornado prize

Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby

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Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin new 49er World Champions

Nathan Outteridge & Ben Austin - 49er

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	Event Website

82-year-old Gordon Ingate wins Prince Philip Cup heat

Today, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron member, won heat four of the prestigious Prince Philip Cup for International Dragon class yachts on Hobart’s Derwent River to move into a close third place on the overall pointscore with three races to sail.

Results are provisional as one of three yachts called as OCS (on course side at start) has protested the race committee against its disqualification.

Race four was sailed in a light and flukey southerly breeze that varied throughout the afternoon in wind strength and direction. 

A late easterly seabreeze caused a major change in wind direction resulting in the last downsind leg changing from a spinnaker run to a two-sail reach and what should have been the final beat to windward became just one tack to the finish line.

Despite outstanding results in international yachting, Gordon Ingate has yet to win a Prince Philip Cup,  the national championship for the International Dragon class.

However, he is getting great support from two past Philip Cup winners  - Tasmanians Nick Rogers as his mainsheet trimmer and tactician and Simon Burrows as his for’ard hand.

As a helmsman Rogers has won eight Prince Philip Cups and a world championship in the Dragon class, as well as five Sayonara Cup interstate match racing contests.  Burrows crewed for the late Bruce Calvert in his Prince Philip Cup.

“Gordon sails the boat extremely well and today we were in the lead virtually from the start,” Rogers said back at The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. “Today it was a question of finding the pressure and staying with the pressure, which at its most reached 10 knots.

“It was a great day for us…not so good for others,” Rogers added. “Gordon just steered, we set the sails and looked for the right way to go..and it all added up to a good win.”

Whim’s winning margin of 3 minutes 45 seconds was the biggest of the regatta so far,  with the Tasmanian yacht Kirribilli II, skippered by Andrew Crisp, recovering well to finish second after having to restart following a recall.

Third place went to another Tasmanian boat, Aquila, skippered by Jock Young, followed by West Australian Sandy Anderson at the helm of Sassafrass,  Tasmania’s Mystere (Wayne WaggO with the Sydney yacht Riga (Ian McCrossin), which had won two of the first three races of Cup regatta, in sixth place.

Provisionally,  Riga (NSW) still heads the overall pointscore after four races with 23.4 point, followed by Kirribilli II (Tas) on 24.7, Whim 26.0 (NSW),  Hotspur (Ken Stevenson, WA)  42.7, Aquila (Tas) 44.7 and Sassafrass (WA) 48.0 points.

Gold and Silver to Australia at 29er Worlds

All the action from the 29er World Championship 2008

Thomas and Warren were not in the box seat coming into the final day, but their fourth and two wins clinched the Championship.  They beat nearest rivals and silver medallists Byron White/William Ryan by a sizeable 19 points and bronze medallists Max Richardson/Alex Groves (GBR) by 29 points.

The massive points win was unusual in that the Championship lead swung in roundabouts, new leaders appearing just about every day.

WAIS coach Belinda Stowell, the gold medallist in the 470 Women’s class at Sydney 2000, said: “I’m very proud of the boys.  They did very well.”

Warren, 18, from East Fremantle, said late this afternoon: “We came to the Championship with an open mind, but of wanting to do well.  We set ourselves a goal of finishing in the top ten – that would have been a bonus.  To win is awesome.

“We bought this boat a year ago, with the 29er Worlds in mind.  We knew the British and Danish crews would be strong and also the Australia crew of Jamie Woods and Joel Rose” (they finished 10th), so we feel pretty happy and proud,” he said.

“We’ve only been sailing together since November 2006,” chipped in 19 year old skipper Thomas who lives in Wembley Downs.  “Jasper and I used to sail against each other as 13, 14 and 15 year olds.  We’re planning to buy a 49er this season, the main ambition is to go to the 49er World’s in 2111 and then aim for an Olympic campaign,” he said.

“It was great seeing Nathan (Outteridge) win too.  He’s been a hero in my eyes for a very long time.  He won three Youth World’s and made a big comeback after his accident – well, you have to look up to him,” Thomas said.

“We have to thank our coaches David Mann (a 49er sailor himself) and Belinda Stowell, they’ve been great.  Also we want to thank the organisers and everyone who made this event possible, it’s been a great week,” Warren said. 

Bleddyn Mon/Tom Humphreys (GBR) finished fourth overall and NSW brothers Andrew and William Chapman finished fifth.  Next came the first all-girl crew of Annemiek Bekkering/Jeske Kisters (NED) who led the series coming into the final three races.

For all information, results and more:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

Day 3: Australian Youth Championship

Jason Waterhouse & Lisa Darnanin (Hobie 16)

David Gilmour, son of World Match Racing Champion Peter Gilmour, along with crew member Andres Noe continued their lead in the 420 Boys class.

David commented on the conditions “In the first race of the day the winds were really light and going around the top mark we were in second place but managed to win it on equal points with Edward Campbell and James Omay also from Western Australia”.

“By the second race of the day the wind picked up from the south and became quite shifty but we managed to win that race as well as the third race of the day.

“Today was perfect sailing conditions and I have been really enjoying the regatta”.

For the first time in the events 11 year history, youth sailors from the Northern Territory have entered the event. Currently standing in first place in the Laser 4.7 girls division is Northern Territory’s Ashlie Lane. She said “I have just come from the Laser Nationals and placed 5th overall which I am really happy with, especially considering most of my experience is on Minnows and not Lasers.

“The conditions today proved to be challenging and I think I could have performed better than a second in race one, fourth in race two and second in race three, but I am currently sitting in the lead so it’s all good”.

For the first time Yachting Australia has included the opportunity for competitor’s results to contribute to a ‘State Cup’. A new perpetual trophy will be awarded to the best performing Australian state.  The leading state at present is New South Wales on 109 points followed by Victoria on 119 points and Western Australia in third place on 167 points.

Racing concludes on Thursday 10th January. This will be followed by the Presentation Ceremony at the Frankston Art Centre attending by 400 people where the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team 2008 will be announced. The Team will then go on to compete at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship to be held in Aarhus, Denmark from 10th – 19th July, 2008.

Provisional Results after 9 races:

420 - Boys
1. David Gilmour & Andres Noe (WA)
2. Edward Campbell & James Omay (WA) 
3. Henry Say & James Owen-Smith (VIC)

420 – Girls
1. Sanne Koelemij & Breanna Vos (WA)
2. Lauren Thregold & Megan Soulsby (SA)
3. Ashley Carney & Claire Bryan (NSW)

Bic Techno 293
1. Tom England (VIC)
2. Ben Morrell (NSW)
3. Aaron Wilson (VIC)

Hobie 16
1. Jason Waterhouse & Lisa Darmanin (NSW)
2. Pip Pietromonaco & Chase Lurati (VIC)
3. Jacques Broise & David Veysie (VIC)

Laser (full rig) - Boys
1. Tom Burton (NSW)
2. Curtis Skinner (QLD)
3. Martin Wright (WA)

Laser 4.7 - Boys
1. Stephen Collings (TAS)
2. Rohan Langford (TAS)
3. Sean Ott (QLD)

Laser 4.7 – Girls
1. Ashlie Lane (NT)
2. Eloise Burfurd (VIC)
3. Caitlin Elks (WA)

Laser Radial - Boys
1. Scott Sydney (Singapore)
2. Elliott Noye (TAS)
3. Hugh Osbourne (VIC)

Laser Radial - Girls
1. Cushla Hume-Merry (New Zealand)
2. Gabrielle King (NSW)
3. Elizabeth Yin (Singapore)

The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2008 is the selection event for the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team. A Team of up to 10 competitors will compete at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship to be held in Aarhus, Denmark from 10th – 19th July, 2008. The Team will also be defending the Volvo Nations Trophy after being crowned the most successful nation at the same event held in Canada in July this year.

Entrants and suburb names can be found at: https://aus.regatta-manager.com/Regatta/RegattaPage.do?page=entries&clubContext=yaus®attaContext=youth08

For further information and up-to-date results, go to -
/default.asp?MenuID=Events/115/948/23996,Yachting_Australia_National_Championships/143/1004/

Young Sailing Stars Look To Denmark In 2008

OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team 2007

• Boy’s One Person Dinghy - Laser
• Girl’s One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
• Boy’s Two Person Dinghy - 29er
• Girl’s Two Person Dinghy - 29er
• Boy’s Windsurfer - Neil Pryde RS:X with 8.5m2 sail & 60cm fin
• Girl’s Windsurfer - Neil Pryde RS:X with 8.5m2 sail & 60cm fin
• Open Multihull - SL 16

The SL 16 multihull is making its debut at the Youth Worlds this year and will be supplied by Sirena Voile in cooperation with the Danish distributor Børresen Boats. Other boat suppliers, and key supporters of the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, are Performance Sailcraft for the Laser and Laser Radial, Ovington Boats in cooperation with Børresen Boats for the 29er and NeilPryde International in cooperation with NeilPryde Scandinavia A/S for the RS:X.
 
The Notice of Race for the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship is now available on the newly launched championship website - http://www.youthworlds2008.org/ and on the ISAF Youth Worlds microsite - http://www.sailing.org/youthworlds

Editors Notes

• The ISAF Youth Worlds was first held in Sweden in 1971. The 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF Worlds will be the 38th championship. This is the first time the event will be held in Denmark.
  
• Past notable winners include American’s Cup skippers, Chris Dickson (NZL), Russell Coutts (NZL), Dean Barker (NZL); Olympic medallists, Robert Scheidt (BRA), Amelie Lux (GER), Ben Ainslie (GBR), Nick Rogers (GBR) and Siren Sundby (NOR); Volvo Ocean Race sailors like Stuart Bannatyne (NZL) and Richard Clarke (CAN).   The most successful ISAF Youth World Champions are Great Britain’s Sally Cuthbert and Poland’s Zofia Klepacka having won four successive titles in the Laser II and Mistral respectively.
  
• Australia are the current holders of the Volvo Trophy, awarded annually to the top performing nation at the Youth Worlds. France is the most success nation through the history of the Championship, winning the Volvo Trophy on a record nine occasions and topping the medal table with 18 gold, 25 silver and 13 bronze medals.
  
• Volvo support international youth sailing by sponsoring The Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships. This assists young sailors with the development of their sailing careers whether it be focused on inshore Olympic dreams or the offshore challenges of the Volvo Ocean Race. For further information:

http://www.volvooceanrace.org

• The 38th Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships is being hosted by Århus, Denmark in the Bay of Århus. The event will be organised by Sailing Aarhus in close cooperation with the Danish Sailing Association, ISAF and the City of Århus, represented by Sport Århus Events. For further information: http://www.youthworlds2008.org
  

Riga’s second win in Prince Philip Cup in Hobart

McCrossin, a former world champion in another International class,  the high performance Flying Dutchman, and his crew of the yacht’s owner Martin Burke and Rick Hall, excelled in the freshening seabreeze that swept up the Derwent this afternoon.

Riga led from the start but McCrossin had to produce his optimum steering and tactical skills to hold off a determined bid by Hotspur (Ken Stevenson) from Perth’s Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, the winning margin being just 29 seconds.

Close astern came Kirribilli II (Andrew Crisp) from Hobart’s Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania,  Whim (Gordon Ingate) from the RYSYS and another Tasmanian boat Aquila, skippered by Jock Young.

Sailing with the veteran Ingate as tactician is Tasmanian Nick Rodgers, a  five-times Prince Philip Cup winner and former world champion in Dragons.

After three races in the seven heat Prince Philip Cup, Riga heads the leaderboard with 11.7 points with placings of 0-6-0, with Hotspur in second place on 18.7 (4-3-2), Kirribilli II on 21.7 (4-4-3), Leander Hugh Wardrop, Tas) on 24.7 (6-1-7) and Whim on 26 points (9-2-4).

The only woman skipper in the fleet, West Australian Sandy Anderson helming Sassafass, has slipped down the leader board to be eighth overall on 40 points, today placing 10th in the fresher winds.

Each boat can discard its worst race in the series, with competition continuing tomorrow afternoon on the Derwent River.  Thursday is a lay day, with racing then continuing through to Sunday to decide the Prince Philip Cup,  the Australian championship for this classic one design class.

Australia in nail biting lead at 49er World’s

2008 49er World Championship 2008

Leaders going into racing today, Athens silver medallists Rodion Luka/George Leonchuk (UKR) are now in third place, but only one point off the lead in what has turned into a nail biting series, with only one day of racing remaining.  The winner is likely to be one of the top three.

Next best placed, 11 points behind the leaders, are brothers Pietro and Gianfranco Sibello from Italy.  Athens gold medallists, Iker Martinez/Xabi Fernandez (ESP) dropped back to sixth place overall after a shocking day with 22,10,19,14 results.  They are now 25 points off the lead in an almost unrecoverable situation.

Racing was conducted in shifty and fluky breezes which peaked at 15 knots and averaged 10 knots, “but it was all over the place and up and down,” according to race officials. 

“It was really, really hard today,” said Nathan Outteridge.  “Iker (Martinez) was with us a couple of times, but he fell away – we made our way back to ninth in the first race today.

“The breeze was so shifty.  In two races we got it right and in two races we got it really wrong.  We came from last in Race 1, to get back to ninth – that was the important race for us in terms of overall results.

“We were a whole leg behind in the third race; we just got the shifts wrong and rounded last around the top mark.  But it was too close to shore and moored boats – it made it a lottery.  The mark should have been further out, then it wouldn’t have been a problem.  Have a look at the results – it was one of those days,” Outteridge said.

Race Officials sent the 49ers off on four races today, leaving a one race to be sailed tomorrow, then the top ten from the 25 crews in the gold fleet series will then sail off for the Championship in the Medal Race, worth double points, scheduled for 3.00pm tomorrow afternoon.  Then the winner will be announced.  The Medal Race cannot be used as a drop.

More to worry about in the Silver fleet, as the two top nations which have not yet qualified for the Games, will do so following their two final races tomorrow.

Results are provisional pending protests.  The Sail Melbourne ISAF Grade 1 event finishes tomorrow.

For all information, results and more:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

Yachting loses Olympic Champion

Peter O'Donnell

O’Donnell, 68, created history at the 1964 Tokyo Games being crowned as the nation’s inaugural yachting Olympic champion alongside skipper Bill Northam (late) and crewmate Dick Sargeant in the 5.5m class.

From his humble beginnings as a 14 year old racing in the Moth class, O’Donnell went on to become one of the country’s most respected and decorated sailors winning numerous world crowns and international titles. 

In his long and successful sporting career O’Donnell competed in events including the Admiral's Cup, the Trans Atlantic Race from Newport-Rhode Island to Plymouth, England and in 1962 was aboard 'Gretel' in Australia's first challenge for the America's Cup. 

O’Donnell sailed on 'Southern Cross' winning the 'Coupe de France' in Germany in 1965 and on 'Stormy Petrel' winning the One Tonne Cup in New Zealand in 1970. 

In 1980, a year in which O’Donnell won every 'Star' class event and also the Etchell World Championships, he was awarded the prestigious title of 'Australian Yachtsman of the Year'.

During his sailing career O’Donnell has won Australian or World Championships or Olympic selection in the Etchell, Star, Dragon and 5.5 m class as well as numerous ocean racing titles. 

He sailed in the first of his many Sydney to Hobart races aboard the winning yacht 'Siandra' in 1958, and in 1987 skippered 'Sovereign' for the ultimate double winning both line and handicap honours.

“Pod was one of the great pioneers of Australian yachting,” close friend and fellow Olympic and America’s Cup yachtsman Robert Thornton said.

“He didn’t need a gold medal to prove what a champion he was – his incredible natural ability and humble approach to his sport commanded the respect of both his friends and opponents alike.

“To have achieved so much in our sport is remarkable, but perhaps the thing which gave him the most pride was seeing his children learn to love sailing – and his later passion in life, horses – as much as he did.”

Following his victory aboard 'Sovereign' O’Donnell moved from Sydney to Scone and took up the country life breeding racehorses with his family.

O’Donnell is survived by his wife Barbara, children Lisa, Michelle and David and their families including his six grandchildren.

Dutch master tricky conditions to take lead at 29er Worlds

The eventual winner will be decided from the top 25 sailing in the Gold group.  Annemiek Bekkering/Jeske Kisters from The Netherlands took the lead of the Championship today after four races. 

The Dutch pair showed superb skill on the hugely shifty and fluky course to come into their own to day with 2-1-11-2 results in Races 1 to 4.  Their six point lead over nearest rivals, James Peters/Ed Fitzgerald (GBR) is well deserved.

The British boys 12-4-5-10 results reflect the conditions on the course, where breezes ranged anywhere from 3-12 knots, with many holes on the course, it was a case of paying attention and experience.

Steven Thomas/Jasper Warren (AUS) who have twice been at the top of the leaderboard now, dropped to third place today following 16-12-4-3 results.  They are one point behind the British duo. 

Alexandra Maloney/Blair Tuke (NZL) have lifted today and are now fourth overall, counting a win in Race 4 of the Final series.

Racing continues at the Sail Melbourne event tomorrow.  Hosted by Sorrento Couta Sailing Boat Club, racing concludes on Wednesday afternoon when the Championship winner will be announced.

Results are provisional pending protests.  The Sail Melbourne ISAF Grade 1 event continues tomorrow.

For all information, results and more:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

World champs notch up a win at Tornado Asia Pacific Regatta

Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby

Although Bundock and Ashby did not win either Races 5 or 6 today, finishing with third and fifth places, they remain in the lead on nine points after dropping their worst place.  Today’s racing was conducted in extremely shifty winds of up to 15 knots.

World champions Fernando Echavarri/Anton Paz scored their first win of the series in Race 5, with Germany’s Tino and Niko Mittlemeier finished second.

Top Russian pair, Andrey Kirilyuk/Valeriy Ushkov won Race 6 and are now third overall.  Oscar Johansson/Kevin Stittle (CAN) were second in this race, with Leigh McMillan/Will Howden third.

Currently Mitch Booth/Pim Nieuwenhuis are second placed in the series overall on 17 points, the Russians one point behind, leaving Bundock and Ashby a clear eight points in the lead with four races remaining.

Carolijn Brouwer, the lone female skipper in the fleet, did not have the top three day she was hoping for.  Sitting 23rd in the ISAF World Rankings, she is very impressed by the quality of the sailors competing.

“There are a lot of top class sailors here.  It’s an awesome regatta with really high level competition. But Bundy and Glenn are in a different league; they are good in any kind of conditions. We are up with the rest of the pack, but we can push harder and do better.  We have a lot more in there,” said Brouwer, who with her crew Sebastien Godefroid is looking for a top five finish.

Looking forward to the Beijing Olympics Brouwer/Godefroid find themselves in an enviable position, they have qualified Belgium and themselves for the Games. “This regatta is good for us.

“We are in a comfortable position at the moment we have the opportunity to play around with our boat and sails and try things out before the Games. This is important for us as we don’t have as much experience as the other guys in the class so it takes us a bit longer,” Brouwer said.

The Championship concludes on Wednesday 9th and results are provisional pending protests.  The Sail Melbourne ISAF Grade 1 event continues tomorrow.

For all information, results and more:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

Hobart, Sydney yachts share lead in Prince Philip Cup

Riga, helmed by Ian McCrossin for owner Martin Burke, won the opening race in a fresh to strong northerly breeze, while Leander, skippered by Hugh Wardrop, took out the afternoon heat, sailed in a rather fickle sea breeze from the southeast.

Both boats placed sixth in the races they did not win, giving each a score of 11.7 points under the old Olympic class scoring system. Results are still provisional, being subject to possible protests.

Riga, from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron won a tightly contested opening race of the prestigious Prince Philip Cup, beating the West Australian yacht Sassafrass, skippered by Sandy Anderson, from the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, by just 5 seconds. Ms Anderson is the only woman skipper in the fleet.

Third place went to the veteran Tasmanian Dragon Mystere (Wayne Wagg), only 8 seconds astern, with just another 13 seconds to another RYCT boat, Kirribilli II (Andrew Crisp). Close astern came another WA boat, Hotspur (Ken Stevenson).

The fresh to strong northerly, which gusted to 20 knots and more, faded away between heats, with race two getting under way in a light and flukey sea breeze that later forced principal race officer Jeremy Firth to shorten the coursed.

Leander had a comfortable winning margin in heat two, beating the near 82-year-old Gordon Ingate, sailing Whim from the Royal Sydney Yacht, by 44 seconds. Third place went to the WA yacht Hotspur, which was damaged in a container during rail transport from Perth to Melbourne.

After two heats of the Prince Philip Cup, Leander and Riga each has 11.7 points with Hotspur third overall on 15.7 points from a 4th and a 3rd, while Kirribilli II is fourth on 16 points (4-4).

Whim is fifth overall on 18 points (9-2) while in sixth place is Mystere on 19.7 points (3-8).

Racing continues tomorrow and until next Sunday, but with just one race each day.

Big shifts shake up fleet at 49er Worlds

Iker Martinez/Xabier Fernandez from Spain

The Spanish sailed superbly in some of the trickiest conditions any have ever seen, scoring a ninth, win and a second place in the first three races of Gold fleet Final.  Silver medallists from Athens, Luka Rodion/George Leonchuk are second placed after a similar day, whilst Australia’s Nathan Outteridge/Ben Austin are third; winning the first race, but dropping down to 13th and 16th in the latter two races.

As Outteridge said: “I guess we did OK.  Conditions were so shifty and tricky, but at the end of the day, the best results went to the pros.  The best guys can sail in anything.  We still have a way to go.”     

Starting this morning, the 81-boat fleet was split into Gold, Silver and Bronze groups, the top 25 competitors racing in the nine-race Final series for the Championship title, so all were on their toes.  While some are purely concentrating on winning the world title, for others it’s the important job of qualifying their nation or themselves for the 2008 Beijing Games.

It was a frustrating day for all, as the land breeze fought the sea breeze, the competitors fought both, and few won.

“Every race we had there were major wind shifts.  We would have been better off waiting for the sea breeze to fill in this afternoon,” said Outteridge who was at the top of the leaderboard last night. 

“It was all happening out there today.  Normally you would get an oscillating breeze, but today the wind did things I’ve never seen before,” he said.

“The Brits (world champs Stevie Morrison/Ben Rhodes) were leading the first race and we passed them up the second beat.  We had a major lead, but the breeze died out and the rest of the fleet caught us up, but we still won, which was great.”

He and Ben Austin were not so fortunate in the proceeding two races.  Outteridge: “We got off the start well in the second race and lifted up the left corner, but then the breeze went right and kept going.  We nearly set a spinnaker going up the work!  The breeze was anywhere between 3-13 knots and shifty.  We finished 13th.”

“In the third race, we had an OK start, went well up the first beat, then missed a massive shift.  We kept trying to fight our way back to the top, but copped a big 30 degree shift, and back we went.  We worked our way up a bit, but finished 16th. 

“We could have finished in the top 10 in the last two races, but the shifts made it impossible.  Having said that, we’re doing much better at this regatta than we’ve done at any other major event, so you can’t knock that,” Outteridge said. 

“It was a hard day today.  We’ve gone well up until now.  It was tricky and fluky wind.  It’s not the end of the world though, it’s a long regatta.  It seemed impossible to predict the wind today, but it’s the same for everyone here,” said reigning world champion skipper Steve Morrison (GBR), adding: “but the event and the sailing have been great.” 

Athens silver medallist Rodion Luka (UKR) told: “It was probably the most difficult day in terms of weather conditions.  The other three days were much more stable.  Today there were big lulls and gusts, so you really had to plan in advance. 

“Some people risked a lot and gained heaps out of it; we were probably too conservative.  It’s really important to look around and see what’s happening outside the boat,” Luka said. 

Athens Olympian Pietro Sibello agreed:  “The wind was very shifty and it was hard to pick the shift and stay in front.  We had a medium day. We were second at one top mark, but finished 14th.”

However, Andre Fonseca/Rodrigo Duarte (BRA), Frode Bovim/Christopher Gundersen (NOR) and Kalle Torlan/Jonas Lindberg (FIN) are just happy to be in the Gold fleet.  Making the top 25 cut, they qualify their countries for the Beijing Games.  Two others will qualify from the Silver fleet. 

Results are provisional pending protests.  The Sail Melbourne ISAF Grade 1 event continues tomorrow.

For all information, results and more:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

Practice race abandoned at Australian Youth Championship

Laser 4.7 about to launch for practice race

Principal Race Officer, Geoff Eldridge commented “Unfortunately we could not get any races in today. When we saw the wind direction coming from the south channel in the low 20’s and then increase rapidly to 28 knots in a short space of time, we decided for safety reasons to pull the pin.

“With 100 boats on the water in those conditions we didn’t want to risk damaging boat equipment or less experienced youth sailors injuring themselves.

“Lighter wind conditions are expected over the coming days”.

The Opening Ceremony and welcome BBQ was put on by the last night. Yachting Australia’s Sports Services Manager, Glen Stanaway commented “It is great to see the number of competitors is significantly increased from last year and we welcome all competitors, their families and coaches to this marquee event on the Yachting Australia calendar.

“We would also like to acknowledge the huge support given by our event sponsors; the Australian Sports Commission, OAMPS Insurance Brokers, Frankston City Council, Quarterdeck Marine, Kelly Marine and South East Sails. Without their financial commitment to this event, it just would not be possible”.

Racing will start today off the shores of Frankston and continue until Thursday 10th January. Leader bibs will be awarded at the end of the days racing to the top performers in each class. Prizes will also be awarded at the end of the day to the ‘Best and Fairest”.

For the first time Yachting Australia will also include the opportunity for competitor’s results to contribute to the ‘State Cup’. A new perpetual trophy will be awarded to the best performing Australian state.  The ‘State Cup’ is seen as an exciting new initiative to further build the competitive experience and inter-state rivalries among the competitors who travel from across Australia to compete at the event.

For further information and up-to-date results, go to - www.yachting.org.au/youthchamps

Registration Open at the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2009

MOFSC opened for registration at 10am this morning to cues of egger competitors. There is an excited buzz throughout the club house and boat park with the many volunteers and energized young sailors busy getting everything ready before the first race start at 10am on 8th January.

Not only are there National titles up for grabs but this event also forms part of the selection for the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team for the 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship which will be hosted in Buzios, Brazil from 9th to 18th July.

The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2009 is proudly supported by: Australian Sports Commission, OAMPS Insurance Brokers and Mandurah City.

Other Links
	Event Website

Bundock and Ashby primed for Tornado title

Carolijn Bouwer & Seb Godefroid

The British crew of Leigh McMillan/Will Howden (GBR) moved into third place overall, obviously in their element in the stronger southerly winds which peaked at around 23 knots this afternoon.

In an unusual situation, the top three placed top three in both races today, just in a different order!  “In both races the lead was shared between us, Mitch and Leigh.  The three of us battled it out for the top three places in both races,” Bundock said.

Bundock went on to say: “The Spanish (world champs Fernando Echavarri/Anton Paz) pushed us hard in the first race, but we managed to push them out of third place and into fourth.”

Things got exciting in Race 4, when the Aussie duo only beat Booth/Nieuwenhuis over the line by a metre, such was the competition today.

“It was shifty and patchy, which is unusual for stronger winds.  At one stage I said to Glenn ‘let’s get out of here’, because the racing was so close we couldn’t afford to take chances,” Bundock said.

Bad luck for the lone female skipper Carolijn Brouwer and her crew Seb Godefroid (BEL) today.  The two enjoy the heavier conditions and were looking forward to both races.

“We were going really well in the first race, we rolled the Aussies and were up with Mitch Booth who was in second place, when our jib track broke, so we had to pull out and go back to the beach and fix it, which we did.

“We got back out for the second race, had great speed, but we overlaid a couple of marks, which cost us dearly.  We finished seventh, so we will try harder tomorrow,” Brouwer said.

Brouwer also commented:  “This is the best sailing I have had for a while.  I’ve been to sailing events around the world for years, but I am really enjoying the racing, the venue and particularly the hospitality that Somers Yacht Club has given us.  They are so friendly and helpful.  It’s a pretty special place with very special people.”

Racing at the Sail Melbourne event resumes tomorrow with two further races starting from 2.30pm.     

Results are provisional pending protests.  The Sail Melbourne ISAF Grade 1 event continues tomorrow.

For all information, results and more:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

Make it or break it day a tough one at 49er Worlds

All the action from the 29er World Championship 2008

Many prayed for heavier winds at this regatta, getting their wish today, although a lot more than they bargained for in gusty and shifty 20-25 knot southerlies.  It made the going tough and resulted in lots of upside-down skiffs, protests and minor injuries that kept the medical officers busy most the afternoon. 

Australia’s Nathan Outteridge/Ben Austin thrived in the heavy winds and wavy and choppy seas off Sorrento and they retain their lead of the Championship.  Fending of challenges from other teams, the Aussies finished the day with 5-1-3 results.

With a total score of 17, Outteridge/Austin are just four points clear of Rodion Luka/George Leonchuck (UKR) who moved into second place today following 2,3,2 results, and six points clear of third placed defending world champs Steve Morrison/Ben Rhodes (GBR).   

In Race 8, the Aussies, selected for Beijing, were sitting in fourth place at the first windward mark in a tight bunch with Alexandre Monteau/Damien Guillou (FRA), John Pink/Simon Wheeler (GBR) and Giuseppe Angilella/Pietro Zucchetti (ITA).  Former world champions, Iker Martinez/Xabi Fernandez (ESP) led the fleet by a good margin.

By the second time around, the Aussies had moved up to second place with the French crew snapping at their heels.  At the rounding, the Spanish crew headed out, the four behind them took a course closer to the shore.  On reaching the next mark, it was crew Outteridge in front with team Monteau hot on their tails, but the Aussies managed to hold them off to the finish.  Earlier leaders Martinez/Fernandez finished seventh.

Morrison/Rhodes had a similar day to the Aussies, with 6-3-1 results keeping them in third place and close on the tails of the leaders.  In Race 8, it was all some could do to keep their boats afloat and on track and Morrison talked Rhodes through some manoeuvres, more to reassure himself as the pair watched others capsize around them.

German brothers Jan Peter and Hannes Peckolt are now fourth, with Martinez/Fernandez moving up to fifth place.  This Championship is by no means over and continues tomorrow with a further three races.

Of those nations trying to qualify for the Games, Brazil’s Andrea Fonseca/Rodrigo Duarte are the only crew to make it into the gold fleet, currently in a pleasing 19th place.  Others seeking selection are in the silver fleet.

Anthony Kotoun, skipper of the US Virgin Island crew, here to try and qualify their nation for the Olympics, described today’s conditions:  “It was so windy and choppy; it made it hard sailing downwind.” 

He and crew Cy Thompson have been in Sorrento since December in their attempts to qualify for the Olympics.  However, big capsizes in Races 7 and 9 resulted in not finishing those races.  They are currently in 35th place on equal points with 36th placed brothers Goran and Ivan Invankovic (CRO) who are also trying to qualify their country.

Results are provisional pending protests.  The Sail Melbourne ISAF Grade 1 event continues tomorrow.

For all information, results and more:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

WA boats do well in opening Dragon series in Hobart

Winner was Gilt Dragon II, skippered by Ian Malley, while Sassafass, helmed by Sandy Anderson, placed third overall.  Both boats and crews are from Perth’s Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.

The three-race regatta is the traditional lead-up event to the Prince Philip Cup, the Australian championship for the Dragon, one of the world’s classic one-design classes and a former Olympic class.

Yesterday’s final race, sailed in light and flukey breezes, went to the Sydney yacht Riga, helmed by Ian McCrossin for owner Martin Burke, but the yacht did not contest the previous two races.

Consistency was the winning factor with overall winner Gilt Dragon II, with skipper Ian Malley and his crew of Ray Chatfield and David Murphy finishing with 13 points from placings of 4-7-2 to take first place.

The result was decided a countback of placings as the Tasmanian boat Aquila, helmed by Jock Young with crew of David Vaudrey and Toby Patterson., also scored 13 points from placings of 7-3-3.

A close third was Sassafrass, finishing on 14 points from a scorecard of 1-5-8.

Sandy Anderson,skipper of Sassafrass,  with her crew of John Moncrieft and Stephan Eyssautier, is the only woman owner/skipper in the fleet and the only woman ever to win the prestigious Prince Philip Cup.   She sailed Solveig to victory in the Prince Philip in Adelaide two seasons ago.

Fourth place in the Ted Albert Memorial Regatta was veteran former America’s Cup, Admiral’s Cup and Olympic skipper Gordon Ingate, sailing Whim, with placings of 9-4-4 for 17 points.

Tasmanian yacht Kirribilli II, helmed by Andrew Crisp, went into the final race with an overall pointscore lead but finished 14th after falling into a windless hole described by mainsheet hand David Graney as one that  “even with shovel you would have dug yourself deeper in rather than out of the hole.”

Kirribilli II, which won the Martin Graney Memorial match-racing series that opened the International Dragon class regatta, finished fifth overall  in the Ted Albert Memorial regatta, with 21 points with placings of 5-2-14.

The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania this week will conduct the seven race Prince Philip Cup, starting on Monday and continuing through to next Sunday.  A fleet of 17 boats from Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania will compete in the regatta.

Representing Tasmania will be Mystere (Wayne Wagg), Nan II (Gavin Rigby), Songlines (Craig Johnson), Freycinet (Steven Henley), Aquila (Jock Young), Kirrbilli II (Andrew Crisp) and Leander (Hugh Wardrop).

Further reports and results:  www.ryct.org.au

Australian Youth Championship starts tomorrow

Julia Hendrickson will be competing in the Laser class

Three races are expected to be completed on day one of competition in the Laser 4.7 (Girls and Boys), Laser Radial (Girls and Boys), Laser Full Rig (Boys), 420 (Girls, Boys & Mixed), Hobie 16 (Open) and for the first time the Bic Techno 293 Sailboard (Girls and Boys).

150 competitors from all states in Australia as well as Singapore have been arriving at the Club over the last couple of days including 15 year old Frankston resident, Julia Hendrickson who will be sailing in the Laser class.

Julia started sailing three years ago when her mother came across the Yachting Victoria ‘Go Sailing & Boating’ Program.

“She showed me the brochure and sailing looked like something I would be interested in and the program was really well organised. I live so close to the water in Frankston so sailing seemed like a really good thing to try. Once I hopped on a boat for the first time, I loved it and now I train three times a week at both Davey’s Bay Yacht Club and Frankston Yacht Club”.

“I even won the Commodore’s Cup award recently at Davey’s Bay Yacht Club for my commitment to training”.

“As I have only been sailing for a short time, I have never sailed in big fleets. I am looking forward to competing against a large group and from around Australia as well”.

Racing will be conducted off the shores of Frankston from Monday 7th to Thursday 10th January.

The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2008 is the selection event for the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team. A Team of up to 10 competitors will compete at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship to be held in Aarhus, Denmark from 10th – 19th July, 2008. The Team will also be defending the Volvo Nations Trophy after being crowned the most successful nation at the same event held in Canada in July this year.

For further information and up-to-date results, go to - www.yachting.org.au/youthchamps

Victory for Bundock and Ashby in opening Tornado races

Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby

Racing against some of the best Tornado sailors in the world, including world champions Fernando Echavarri/Anton Paz (ESP), Bundock said of Race 1: “We got a good start and led around the track.  It was very much a light air day and we didn’t get ashore till just after 7.00pm.”

The Aussie pair beat Tino and Niko Mittlemeier (GER) and Andrey Kirilyuk/Valery Ushkov in Race 1, then in Race 2, it was Olympic medallist Mitch Booth and his crew Pim Nieuwenhuis (NED) second and the Mittlemeier brothers third.   

The Mittlemeiers have been racking up great results lately, their most recent a third place at the Grade 1 Sydney International Regatta, held in December.

Bundock said:  “both races were held in very light and shifty easterly winds, but it was generally good for us and we managed to get one on the wire in the second race, as there was a bit more pressure. 

“In our second race, the Greeks (Iordanis Paschalidis/Trigonis Konstantinos) were Black Flagged and rolled us at the start, but we managed to catch up again and take the lead.  We are pleased with our wins, as all the top international crews are here, including the world champions.

“We found that there was more pressure near shore than there was out to sea today, but it wasn’t very consistent,” he said.

He and Ashby, who is from Bendigo in Victoria, have been selected to represent Australia at the Beijing Games.  This will be Bundock’s third Olympics and Ashby’s first.  However, Ashby won the 2006 Tornado Worlds with Bundock, and can claim a few world titles of his own, including the 2007 A Cat world title, which he won recently.

Hosted by Somers Yacht Club on the Mornington Peninsula, the Tornado Asia Pacific Championship is a Sail Melbourne ISAF Grade 1 event.  Racing continues tomorrow.

Full results will be posted on the official website in due course at:   www.sailmelbourne.com.au

IRC win to Patrice Six – with aid of Tasmanian crew

Kirby, a prominent international ocean racing sailor from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia,  brought Patrice Six, a Danish designed and built X-41 one design, to Hobart in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

He also entered Sailing South for the first time, but sought local knowledge of the Derwent River and southern waters by recruiting Steven Shields as tactician, along with other Tasmanians Claire Cunningham, Ben Morgan, Nick Jones, John Taton., Mark Dawson and John Lawrie.

Also in the crew were Michael Smith and Peter Hildyard from Queensland and Rowan (Disco) from Victoria.

“The crew played a great part in our victory, and it was great to be able to have aboard my good friends John Lawrie and David Cawthorn, who is confined to a wheelchair but sailed several races with us,” Kirby said.

”I inherited the sail number 360 and the name ‘Patrice’ from my father Ray,  who campaigned Patrice II with that sail number back in the 1970s.”

Patrice Six went into today’s final two windward/leeward races equal on 4 points with  Limit, Alan Brierty’s Corby 49, skippered by Roger Hickman, after discarding their worst race.

In race four, the morning race for IRC division, Roger Hickman powered Limit away to a fast start from the line, set by PRO ‘Biddy’ Badenach to the south-east of the John Garrow light.

Hickman quickly tacking away to the eastern shore and picked up several favourable windshifts to finish 3 minutes 22 seconds ahead of David Kellett’s Endorfin with another 2 minutes 18 seconds to Tony Kirby’s Patrice Six.

On corrected time, Limit won from Patrice Six with Endorfin (David Kellett) in third place.

After a delay of one and a half hours, the fifth and final race was started in a 6 knot easterly breeze,  but halfway down the second leg, the wind became extremely patchy with Limit, well in the lead,  sailing into a ‘hole’ and being overtaken by Endorfin.

Skipper Roger Hickman recovered the lead on the second windward leg,  but it was the Corby 49 did not hold a time advantage.  This was compounded on the final leg to the finish of the shortened course,  but Limit being brought to halt as the wind suddenly back to the west and freshened to 20 knots.

As Hickman and his crew struggled to get the spinnaker down and the headsail hoisted, the yachts astern again closed the gap.   Limit got the gun but could not beat Patrice Six, or any of the four starters in the IRC division,  on corrected time.

Patrice Six won the final race from the Tasmanian yacht Silver Mist (Andrew Sutherland) and Endorfin.

The end result was that Patrice Six won the IRC division and the Charles E Davies Memorial Trophy with a final 5 points from placings of 1-1-2-2-1, from Limit on 9 points (5-2-1-1-5), third going to Endorfin on 12 points (4-3-3-3-3).

Silver Mist won the PHS Division series, sailed in conjunction, from another Tasmanian boat Pisces (David Taylor) and Patrice Six.

Britain in front at 29er World Championship

The Danes are enjoying the light airs

The British pair started their day with fourth and third places, winning the next two, while the Aussies, who are now on equal points with third placed Henrik Sogaard/Soren Kristensen (DEN), posted a pair of second’s, a third and a seventh.  The Danes excelled in the light conditions.

Sean O’Rourke/Evan Walker are the next best of the 67 Australian crews competing, currently in eighth place and just seven points off the lead. 

O’Rourke commented on the Sail Melbourne ISAF Grade 1 event this afternoon: “It was hot out there, the breeze died quickly and then it flicked hard right.  In the middle of our second race there was a tide change and it caught us off-guard. Other than that, the breeze was fairly constant and even.

“The Europeans are really good in light airs, they’re lighter than us, and very good sailors as well.  They seem to have the edge downwind.  The same people who were at the front at our Nationals last week are the same people who are at the front end of this Championship – they’re obviously the better sailors.  “The starts are important and then you need good straight-line speed,” he said.

Hannah Nattrass (AUS), bronze medallist skipper at the 2007 ISAF Youth Worlds and currently placed 15th in the Championship told:  “We all came here thinking it would be windy; we’ve being hanging out for more wind.  Hopefully tomorrow.”

Whilst 78th placed Luke Smith and Jarrod Keys all the way from Western Australia had this to say: “We’d like more wind too; but it’s lots of fun out there anyway.  We haven’t done the best we think we could have, but the competition has been strong. 

“We’ve only been sailing six months together, but we thought we’d compete because the Worlds are in our country and all the best sailors sail 29ers and 49ers.  It’s awesome being here with the 49ers – we can’t wait to sail one.  We’ve been watching all the Olympians to see how they do it – it’s been great so far.”   

For all information, results and more:  www.sailmelbourne.com.au

Wired wins F40s at Sailing Sailing Regatta

The last race was started after a delay of an hour and a half because of lack of wind and when it did get underway the breeze swung from an  6 knot easterly to a westerly, freshening sharply to 20 knots.

Wired was caught in between wind changes, as were a number of boats, whereas the leading F40s managed to carry shy kites on the final leg of the shortened course, before reaching into the finish as the breeze backed from east to north and finally to a hot and gusty westerly.

However, Wired had notched up its third win in the morning’s race and, after discarding the 5th, it was sufficient to give Boyes and his crew a comfortable winning points margin from placings of 1-2-1-1-5 for a total of 5 points.

Second place overall went to the luckless Voodoo Chile, skippered by Andrew Hunn, which scored an impressive last race win following a second in race four.

The second place was an excellent recovery after taking a 720 degrees penalty turn because of a port-and-starboard incident with Euro Central at the start. Voodoo Chile finished on 8 points from placings of 2-dsq-4-2-1.

Third overall went to the consistent War Games, steered by Wayne Banks-Smith, on 9.5  points from placings of 3-2-2-4-3, just edging out Euro Central (Hughie Lewis) which placed 4-3-3-5-2 for 12.5 points.

Aussies set tone at 49er Worlds

Sam Phillips & Andrew Churcher (AUS)

With a race drop in place, Outteridge/Austin are three points ahead of yesterday’s leaders, brothers Peter and Soren Hansen from Denmark, who are relegated to second place overall.  Their downfall was a 14th in Race 5, which they used as their race drop.

“We got two firsts and a seventh – we cleared out at the starts and just kept going fast – we led pretty much whole way from top mark in the first two races,” Outteridge said.   

“In our third race (Race 6), someone tacked on top of us and we couldn’t get away, but we were happy to make seventh. It could have been worse,” the 22 year old said.

“Our major threats are the Hansen brothers and the defending world champions Stevie and Ben (Morrison/Rhodes from Great Britain).  I wouldn’t rule out the Olympic gold medallists from Athens either (Iker Martinez/Xabi Fernandez),” he added. 

Racing started on time in an 8-11 knot northerly, but lightened out to a top strength of around 8 knots, averaging around 5-6 knots, turning nor-nor-easterly and shifty.

Morrison and Rhodes’ group was last off the blocks.  Keeping good their promise to protect their world champion status, the pair scored 8,5,1 results to hang in at third place, using the eighth place as their drop. They are five points behind the leaders. 

The Italian Sibello brothers, Pietro and Gianfraco, and Rodion Luka/George Leonchuck (UKR) respectively worked their way into fourth and fifth places after each won his group’s Race 6 this afternoon.  Both pairs came into their own in the fluky light winds.    

Brazil’s hopes of qualifying for the Beijing Games to be sailed off Qingdao next year, moved closer to reality when Andrea Fonseca/Rodrigo Duarte scored 1,8,4  places for 12th place overall.  

That was not the case for Irish brothers Russell and Matthew McGovern.  “It’s not going according to plan,” said a disappointed Russell.  The two finished their day with 10,12,8 results and are 30th overall.

“Racing is really good, tight –and nice wind, but things aren’t going so great for us.  It’s tough, I hope we get more wind tomorrow, we’re better in that,” added Matthew. 

Sorrento’s Will Phillips/Jon Newman had a fairly good day with 3,4,11 results to be placed 17th overall, well ahead of some Olympians and high profile sailors.

Phillips commented this afternoon: “It’s great that the breeze stayed in today for our races.  It would be good to have some stronger stuff though – we like that better.   It was so shifty today, we couldn’t really use our local knowledge, but this is a great regatta.”

 A tricky day for Race Officials with a couple of general recalls and incidents.  In one group’s pre-start there was a pile-up at the start boat causing a few collisions.  Seven competitors were Black Flagged, four OCS’d and others not finishing racing.  It proved costly for those trying for Olympic qualification.