A-Cat Australians - High drama in last race

by John Cootes Furniture A-Cat Titles Media on 7 Jan 2012 Last night, seven times A-Cat World Champion Glenn Ashby (Emirates Team New Zealand America’s Cup team, and winner of 14 multihull World titles and two Olympic Silver medals) won the 2012 John Cootes Furniture Australian A Class Championships. Ashby declared this star-studded fleet ‘the best ever.’

The final day of the Championships was another postcard day on Lake Macquarie, NSW. Blue sky and a light 10-12 knot sea breeze greeted competitors for the last race in the 2012 Australian Championships, hosted by the Wangi Amateur Sailing Club, with the minor placings to be decided in another race of 'champions'.

After eight races Steve Brewin, (2011 A Class World champion) was three points clear of Wangi Wangi local Nathan Outteridge (three times 49er World Champion).

It was a clean start and Darren Bundock (14 catamaran World titles, two Olympic Silver medals and member of Oracle's America’s Cup Syndicate) led at the top mark. Scott Anderson (1984 Tornado Olympic bronze medallist) was second.

Tom Slingsby (four times Laser World Champion) rounded fourth behind Andrew Landenberger (1996 Tornado Olympic bronze medallist) and Brad Collett (2011 NSW and Queensland A-Cat Champion).

Australian legend James Spithill (skipper of 2010 America’s Cup winner BMW Oracle) followed, then Outteridge with Brewin two places further back.

On the next laps Bundock, Anderson, Landenberger, Outteridge, Spithill and Brewin battled for the placings. It seemed that Brewin could stay with the 49er champion.

On the top of the upwind leg for the third time, Brewin was on the wire struggling with a jammed downhaul as he started to reach to the clearing mark.

Suddenly he dropped his mainsheet, the boom swung away, he capsized - it was all over. Brewin took an eternity to right his boat. He was 17th when he finally passed the clearing mark and by that time the leaders were approaching the finishing line.

Down at the finishing line Bundock crossed ahead of Landenberger and a fast finishing Outteridge, who slid across the line four seconds ahead of Anderson. Slingsby was next, then Brayshaw and Collett. Spithill was ninth, Brewin 14th.

Within minutes they were back in the boat park. It does not pay to get between a sailor and his trailer on the last day of any regatta.

Nathan Outteridge was smiling. ‘Steve was staying close initially. I was keen to try to drop us both back into the teens and then have a drag to see who could best sail through the fleet. On the last run I was really pushing. Just stoked to get second overall against this fleet.’

Darren Bundock, the final race winner was third overall. ‘It was good to get out in front today. I won the race in the first gybe, just wish that Ashby bloke was here so I could have beaten him today.’

Steve Brewin was philosophical. ‘Oh well s**t happens!! I was really enjoying the battle with Nathan. He did it well - he was sitting on me. I made a mistake. I only had a little downhaul brake and I was trying to fix that and I shouldn’t have been and I let go of the main. Game over.

‘On the way out the sail fell down and then the downhaul went. Then I was in the water, so trouble comes in threes.

‘I could have sat on the beach and done what I did here. But you know what? There is another regatta soon, then another Worlds.

‘I will look forward having learnt by my mistakes. Sure I was beaten into third place overall but it was a great, great regatta.’

Jimmy Spithill finished fifth overall. ‘A really impressive fleet, 70 boats, and a wonderful regatta. With the curved (dagger) boards, trapezing, Glenn and Nathan are on another level downwind; they are real naturals on the wire while the rest of us look like a bunch of teabags.

‘Myself, Dirk (de Ridder), Tom and Darren are taking our boats to San Francisco. On the trapeze downwind in SFO will be a blast!

‘Just to be able to mix it with Steve Brewin, Scott Anderson and Andrew Landenberger, who have had so much time in these boats, was wonderful.

‘Lastly a special thanks to Tony Outteridge, who got every race away on some great courses.’

Scott Anderson, the 2012 Grand Master Champion, finished fourth overall. ‘It’s absolutely fantastic that these guys have committed to A-Cats. Now the AC on Cats and these are the perfect boats to learn the basics. If you stuff it up, the boat tells you very quickly. Good on the guys for coming.’

Stephen Brayshaw said ‘Brilliant, brilliant racing. Not being a professional I am just stoked to come eighth in this amazing fleet. We have really, really enjoyed having to top guns here.’

Tom Slingsby, still coughing gasped ‘Last night’s rum did not help my cold. But I am getting this boat figured. If I started today I'd be looking OK, I just need more time in the boat. If I take it to San Francisco where there are strong breezes. I'll look for a 'kiddie’s corner' where I can venture out one day.’

John Kostecki (Oracle Racing tactician) laughed ‘OK, ok, I’ve done enough practicing, now I am ready to start the regatta!!’

www.a-cat.org.au

A Div Catamaran Australian Champs 2012

Hosted By Wangi RSL Amateur Sailing Club

John Cootes Furniture

Updated: 07/01/2012 2:11:01 PM

Series Results [One Design ET] up to Race 9 (Drops = 1)

Place	Ties	Sail No	Bow No	Skipper	Div	Sers Score	Race 9	Race 8	Race 7	Race 6	Race 5	Race 4	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1		AUS111	01	Glenn Ashby		14.0	[71.0C]	3.0	1.0	4.0	1.0	1.0	2.0	1.0	1.0
2		AUS973	15	Nathan Outteridge		27.0	3.0	2.0	3.0	3.0	5.0	3.0	[7.0]	6.0	2.0
3		AUS4	04	Steve Brewin		30.0	[14.0]	9.0	4.0	1.0	2.0	6.0	1.0	3.0	4.0
4		AUS888	88	Darren Bundock		33.0	1.0	11.0	2.0	8.0	[20.0]	2.0	4.0	2.0	3.0
5		AUS975	12	James Spithill		51.0	9.0	[16.0]	5.0	5.0	3.0	4.0	6.0	9.0	10.0
6		AUS902	02	Scott Anderson	GM	56.0	4.0	7.0	6.0	2.0	[25.0]	10.0	10.0	10.0	7.0
7		AUS308	03	Andrew Landenberger		75.0	2.0	8.0	19.0	[24.0]	12.0	13.0	8.0	7.0	6.0
8		AUS25	25	Stephen Brayshaw		76.0	6.0	6.0	9.0	16.0	10.0	7.0	13.0	[17.0]	9.0
9		AUS20	20	Chris Batenberg		80.0	10.0	5.0	8.0	10.0	19.0	5.0	[22.0]	11.0	12.0
10		AUS321	32	Andrew Williams		81.0	13.0	4.0	7.0	12.0	7.0	12.0	15.0	[71.0O]	11.0
11		AUS972	16	Tom Slingsby		86.0	5.0	1.0	[30.0]	23.0	24.0	8.0	5.0	5.0	15.0
12		AUS10	10	Brad Collett		93.0	7.0	10.0	20.0	[25.0]	11.0	15.0	14.0	8.0	8.0
13		AUS967	89	Graeme Parker	GM	101.0	12.0	[22.0]	14.0	15.0	6.0	17.0	11.0	12.0	14.0
14		AUS13	13	Jack Benson	J	109.0	8.0	20.0	15.0	[28.0]	4.0	14.0	9.0	15.0	24.0
15		GER14	14	Bob Baier	M	117.0	11.0	25.0	24.0	[40.0]	8.0	11.0	3.0	22.0	13.0
16		AUS907	29	Davis McKenzie		126.0	22.0	18.0	10.0	14.0	13.0	19.0	[30.0]	14.0	16.0
17		AUS958	58	Simon McKeon	GM	127.0	15.0	28.0	22.0	[36.0]	27.0	9.0	17.0	4.0	5.0
18		AUS961	61	Stuart Scott		132.0	17.0	14.0	13.0	17.0	15.0	18.0	19.0	19.0	[23.0]
19		AUS949	49	Dave Brewer		138.0	23.0	13.0	11.0	7.0	28.0	23.0	[31.0]	13.0	20.0
20		AUS898	26	Chris Cairns	M	141.0	19.0	17.0	17.0	6.0	9.0	[71.0C]	12.0	30.0	31.0
21		AUS969	69	Grant Pellew		155.0	[32.0]	23.0	16.0	18.0	18.0	16.0	16.0	27.0	21.0
22		AUS8	08	Graeme Harbour	GM	157.0	18.0	15.0	21.0	9.0	29.0	[32.0]	24.0	24.0	17.0
23		AUS936	36	David Parker		160.0	27.0	24.0	12.0	11.0	[32.0]	21.0	21.0	16.0	28.0
24		AUS920	79	Adam Beattie		179.0	[35.0]	26.0	26.0	21.0	14.0	22.0	25.0	23.0	22.0
25		AUS957	57	David Loutit	M	188.0	30.0	21.0	23.0	[32.0]	23.0	24.0	28.0	21.0	18.0
26		AUS22	22	Mark Johnston	GM	191.0	21.0	12.0	47.0	19.0	17.0	29.0	[58.0]	20.0	26.0
27		AUS844	84	Richie Howells		214.0	26.0	31.0	31.0	[42.0]	16.0	27.0	26.0	28.0	29.0
28		NED88	06	Caroljn Brouwer	L	229.0	29.0	33.0	34.0	20.0	35.0	20.0	18.0	[41.0]	40.0
29		AUS933	33	Chris Parker	GM	232.0	28.0	32.0	27.0	[44.0]	31.0	25.0	23.0	33.0	33.0
30		AUS900	62	Wayne Mercer	M	235.0	31.0	19.0	[71.0O]	37.0	43.0	30.0	38.0	18.0	19.0
31		AUS947	77	Lucas McDonald		239.0	33.0	43.0	29.0	13.0	21.0	[47.0]	44.0	26.0	30.0
32		USA1	18	John Kosteki		241.0	16.0	27.0	25.0	29.0	48.0	33.0	36.0	[71.0F]	27.0
33		AUS100	31	Simon Nelson		268.0	25.0	42.0	18.0	46.0	39.0	31.0	32.0	35.0	[71.0F]
34		AUS7	07	Hamish Sinclair	M	272.0	34.0	45.0N	49.0N	22.0	26.0	35.0	27.0	[71.0C]	34.0
35		AUS911	71	Michael Kopp		276.0	41.0	30.0	33.0	26.0	[42.0]	39.0	37.0	34.0	36.0
36	20.0S	AUS101	11	John Richards	GGM	295.0	40.0	71.0C	[71.0C]	27.0	22.0	28.0	20.0	40.0	47.0
37		AUS9	09	John Dowling	GM	295.0	43.0	38.0	42.0	34.0	34.0	41.0	[46.0]	31.0	32.0
38		AUS58	19	Andrew Chaney		304.0	[71.0C]	39.0	35.0	41.0	49.0	36.0	33.0	32.0	39.0
39		AUS837	28	Clare Neeskens	L	308.0	36.0	47.0	44.0	30.0	40.0	37.0	29.0	[54.0]	45.0
40		AUS954	54	Paul Neeskens	M	309.0	45.0	29.0	32.0	48.0	41.0	[56.0]	47.0	29.0	38.0
41		AUS935	35	Steve Breaden	GM	316.0	46.0	37.0	40.0	33.0	50.0	[71.0F]	35.0	38.0	37.0
42		NED112	17	Dirk de Ridder		322.0	20.0	71.0F	28.0	38.0	71.0B	[71.0O]	34.0	25.0	35.0
43		AUS827	27	Neil Caldwell		329.0	42.0	34.0	41.0	[55.0]	45.0	43.0	45.0	37.0	42.0
44		AUS880	80	Ian Michie	GM	335.0	38.0	44.0	38.0	[51.0]	30.0	44.0	49.0	44.0	48.0
45		AUS37	37	Bruce McArthur		350.0	24.0	71.0C	71.0F	39.0	46.0	26.0	48.0	[71.0F]	25.0
46		AUS944	44	Steve Wright	M	356.0	48.0	40.0	46.0	35.0	37.0	42.0	64.0	[71.0F]	44.0
47		AUS90	30	Pieter-Jan Postman		357.0	44.0	41.0	36.0	52.0	38.0	[61.0]	53.0	47.0	46.0
48		AUS804	21	Thomas Stuchbery	J	374.0	58.0	36.0	37.0	[58.0]	53.0	46.0	40.0	49.0	55.0
49		AUS9I4	70	Brad Wicht	M	382.0	49.0	50.0	45.0	45.0	55.0	52.0	43.0	43.0	[71.0F]
50		AUS739	73	William Pringle		397.0	56.0	48.0	43.0	49.0	33.0	57.0	57.0	[71.0F]	54.0
51		AUS668	68	Brian Cole	GGM	410.0	54.0	49.0	52.0	[59.0]	44.0	53.0	52.0	48.0	58.0
52		AUS950	50	Robert Griffits	GM	424.0	71.0C	71.0C	[71.0F]	60.0	56.0	40.0	41.0	42.0	43.0
53		NED888	24	Jeroen Van Leeuwen		430.0	37.0	71.0C	71.0C	31.0	71.0B	38.0	59.0	[71.0F]	52.0
54		AUS942	42	Steven Yarrington		431.0	71.0F	71.0C	[71.0C]	53.0	54.0	34.0	39.0	53.0	56.0
55		AUS956	56	Vic Collett	GGM	434.0	39.0	71.0C	71.0C	47.0	36.0	48.0	51.0	71.0C	[71.0C]
56		AUS48	48	Ian Johnson	GGM	436.0	52.0	71.0C	[71.0C]	43.0	51.0	55.0	61.0	50.0	53.0
57		AUS939	39	Campbell Miller	M	440.0	60.0	56.0N	58.0N	56.0	59.0	71.0C	[71.0F]	39.0	41.0
58		AUS802	82	Konrad Schultz		443.0	50.0	45.0	49.0	61.0	64.0	60.0	[67.0]	55.0	59.0
59		AUS948	78	Russ McDonald	M	449.0	47.0	71.0C	[71.0C]	65.0	58.0	62.0	50.0	36.0	60.0
60		AUS883	83	Kasey Warr	J	454.0	71.0C	71.0C	[71.0F]	66.0	60.0	49.0	42.0	46.0	49.0
61	45.0S	AUS746	46	Brett White	M	460.0	55.0	71.0F	[71.0C]	64.0	57.0	51.0	66.0	45.0	51.0
62		AUS912	72	Alex Duff		460.0	61.0	71.0C	[71.0C]	54.0	47.0	54.0	60.0	56.0	57.0
63		AUS5	05	Horst Kopp	GGM	468.0	51.0	71.0C	71.0C	[71.0F]	63.0	45.0	54.0	51.0	62.0
64		AUS941	41	Julian Jenkins		473.0	53.0	71.0F	50.0	50.0	52.0	71.0C	55.0	71.0C	[71.0C]
65		AUS932	75	Pat Drover	GM	492.0	71.0C	71.0C	71.0C	71.0C	[71.0C]	50.0	56.0	52.0	50.0
66		AUS76	23	Dario Valenza		496.0	59.0	71.0F	51.0	63.0	66.0	63.0	62.0	[71.0C]	61.0
67		AUS959	59	Graham Hiles	GGM	509.0	62.0	71.0C	[71.0C]	67.0	67.0	58.0	63.0	57.0	64.0
68		AUS955	55	John Cootes	GGM	516.0	57.0	71.0C	71.0C	68.0	62.0	59.0	65.0	[71.0C]	63.0
69	53.0S	AUS765	76	Mark Griffits	GM	526.0	71.0C	71.0F	53.0	57.0	61.0	71.0C	71.0C	71.0C	[71.0C]
70		AUS747	47	Chris Carter	M	526.0	71.0C	71.0F	54.0	62.0	65.0	64.0	68.0	71.0C	[71.0F]

(Ties: S=Score R=Race B= Bettered. Penalties: A=ARB B=BFD C=DNC D=DNE E=ESP F=DNF G=RDG L=Late Entrant M=DGM N=ENP O=OCS P=Protest Q=DSQ R=RAF S=DNS T=TLE U=DUT V=AVG X=EXC Z=ZFP Y=SCP #=NoData [x.y]=Discarded)