Festival of Sails 2013 - International A-Class - Breakthrough win

by Danielle McKay on 27 Jan 2013 Festival of Sails 2013. With a borrowed boat and a demon of an alias, International A-Class young-gun David Parker claimed his first ever major regatta win.

Parker started the final day’s racing with a win in the mildest conditions of the regatta so far, a meek 10 knots from the southeast.

It was enough to make the boat builder nervous; knowing full well that 20-knots wind speed is his racing sweet spot.

'I was really worried at the start, you know, there are nine or 10 blokes out there who could win this,’’ he said.

But, he found new confidence racing his father’s catamaran, a relatively new design DNA A-Class.

'The new design is a lot faster,’’ he said. 'I’m pretty happy with dad for lending me his boat, it’s a great feeling to win, especially when there are blokes ranked in the top 10 out there racing.'

Winning the Gill International A-Class Trophy could be the start of a new superstition for Parker, who entered the regatta under his nickname ‘Demon’ for the first time.

'I might have to consider doing it every time if it brings me this sort of luck,’’ he said with a laugh.

Stuart Scott also finished with 29 points, but finished second on countback with Livewire2. Graeme Parker finished third with Chasingshadows on 36 points.

Sports Boats: No monkeying around

Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s Shaw 650 Monkey Business finished second and third today to claim a home victory, winning the Bundaberg Rum Sports Boat Trophy.

Skipper Cam Rae was ecstatic, and hopeful that the good form would continue heading into the national titles in April.

'We had an really ordinary first race today, so we weren’t confident,' Rae said. 'But, as they say, it’s not over till it’s over, and the boys worked really hard.

'The guys who filled the top three spots are all excellent sailors so to come away with a win is a great thing.'

Foamfast skippered by Paul Heyes finished second, six points behind on 22, followed by Noel Leith-Smith’s Vivace in third place, also on 22 points.

SB20: Daring to win

Finally, claiming the Maui Jim SB20 Victorian Trophy was Flirtatious skipper Chris Dare. It was an average day for Dare and his crew, who posted their worst results of the regatta.

Despite today’s form the team rallied to win with 11 points, four points clear of A-Play, skippered by Dean Joel, and eight points ahead of Mark Wolfenden’s Still Out of Control.

International A Class Catamaran Southern Champs 2 (Top-5 finishers after nine races)

1.)Demons New A - David Parker (29 points)
2.)Livewire 2 - Stuart Scott (29 points)
3.)Chasing Shadows- Graeme Parker (36 points)
4.)White Pointer- Stephen Brayshaw (42 points)
5.) Wild Thing - Christpher Batenburg (42 Festival of Sails 2013