2015 West Australian Musto State Championships - Best ever!

by Chris Sutherland on 13 May 2015 The 2015 Western Australian Musto State Championships was the best ever. Held over the weekend of 9th and 10th May at Fremantle Sailing club. For the second year, Denis Jones won on 12 points overtaking Thor Shoenhoff in the last race. Thor on 14 points was second and Arthur Brett on 15 points third, Marcus Hamilton was fourth on 17 points from fifth Chris Sutherland also on 17 points.

13 Boats entered which is 100% of the Fleet, in WA, two sailors came from Victoria, Marcus Hamilton (second in the Worlds) and Tim Hill (ninth) added to the Fleet, in addition Steve Thomas and Fang Warren from the 49er/ Moth Fleet. Add to these were Denis Jones and Arthur Brett, this was probably the greatest concentration of sailing talent in Perth this year.

The weather pattern was essentially light, sea breeze on Saturday up to 12kts and Sunday race one a light dying easterly followed by westerly sea breeze getting up to 12 knots. Off Fremantle in moderate breeze is ideal sailing for Mustos.

All the races were close on. On day one, races one and two were Denis Jones's he won easily from Thor setting the tone for the regatta, The first race was in a light 7kt westerly that gradually built and shifted left, race three Marcus Hamilton won with Thor second again, Denis third. At the end of day one, Denis led on five points from Thor on six. Then bunched together were Marcus 14, Paul Green 14, Chris Sutherland 15.

Day two was a light dying easterly, PRO Keith Charlwood got the fleet away and clearly Arthur was on for a big day leading around the first mark, the breeze died down the run and Thor, James Lewis and Chris drifted over the finish of a shortened course Denis had his worst race an eighth. The sea breeze arrived shortly after and race five got away in a light building westerly everyone had a weed excuse at some point and to risk clearing the foils or not changed a few positions. Arthur started his late challenge for the title with a clear win Marcus second Sutho third again.

In the last race a 10kt Westerly, Arthur again made a break and was not headed. At the bottom mark Marcus and Thor rounded 2,3 and headed left, Sutho fourth went right and got a shift rounding the top mark second. Denis was fifth at the bottom. Thor made a hash of clearing his foils and fell back while Marcus rounded the top mark third Denis rounded fourth. On the run to the finish Denis sailed through a weeded up Marcus and Chris, and nearly caught Arthur, The two places Denis gained down the run gave him the regatta by two points from Thor.

Overall a great regatta, sailed at the very end of summer in Perth hence the lighter breezes, Steve Thomas showed what a great sailor he is although his first regatta coming fourth in race one, before more breeze made crew work an issue. Denis again showed his talent and improved his light weather sailing a little, Thor also proved he is a good sailor apart from two bad races, and Arthur proved he still has it.

Results

Rank	Fleet	Boat	SailNo	HelmName	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Total	Nett
1st	Musto	4 Legged	489	Denis	1.0	1.0	3.0	(8.0)	5.0	2.0	20.0	12.0
		Octopus		Jones
2nd	Musto	Mexican Hunter	513	Thor aka "	2.0	2.0	2.0	1.0	(7.0)	7.0	21.0	14.0
				Boat Boy"
3rd	Musto	George	488	Arthur Brett	3.0	5.0	(9.0)	5.0	1.0	1.0	24.0	15.0
4th	Musto	Skid Marc	453	Marcus	(7.0)	6.0	1.0	4.0	2.0	4.0	24.0	17.0
				Hamilton
5th	Musto	DFWMOIWBYFL	511	Chris	(8.0)	4.0	4.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	25.0	17.0
				Sutherland
6th	Musto	Coming from	424	Paul Green	6.0	3.0	5.0	6.0	6.0	(8.0)	34.0	26.0
		Behind
7th	Musto	Jet	00000	Tim Hill	5.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	(14.0	6.0	46.0	32.0
									OCS)
8th	Musto	Leroy	524	J Lewis	9.0	9.0	(14.0	2.0	8.0	5.0	47.0	33.0
							DNF)
9th	Musto	Gun	218	Richard	(11.0)	11.0	8.0	9.0	4.0	9.0	52.0	41.0
				Shallcross
10th	Musto	Italian Job	5111	Steve	4.0	8.0	10.0	(14.0	14.0	14.0	64.0	50.0
				Thomas				DNC)	DNC	DNC
11th	Musto	Firefly	429	Jason	10.0	10.0	11.0	(14.0	9.0	10.0	64.0	50.0
				Brownie				DNF)
12th	Musto	Luna Loco	357	Chris Jahn	12.0	12.0	6.0	(14.0	14.0	14.0	72.0	58.0
								DNF)	DNC	DNC
13th	Musto	Bumble Bee	417	Fang	(14.0	14.0	14.0	14.0	14.0	14.0	84.0	70.0
				Warren	DNF)	DNS	DNS	DNC	DNC	DNC