Melges 24 Australian Championships - Spectacular racing

by Hamish Nicol on 11 Jan 2015 The 2015 Melges 24 Australian Championships, after two days and with five races completed, are at their mid-point with spectacular racing and Adelaide's great craic.

PRO Rogers was tongue firmly in cheek when he promised steady 15kt sea breezes because the 14 competitors have seen everything from light Northerlies disappearing to nothing to howling 20-29kt Southerlies with 2 meter swells. Add in the bushfires on the way over (now thankfully out),gear breakages and involuntary swims due to the conditions and you have a fleet well aware that they are under examination conditions.

Thus far the front of the fleet has a familiar look to it at the halfway stage with Chris Links (fresh from Wild Oats Hobart win) helming Cavallino to several wins with Olympic Gold Medal winner Nathan Wilmot calling tactics. Adelaide favourite Robbie Duessen is following closely in second overall with Red Mist's red coachwork unmissable in the surf. Jonno Bannister's Penultimate Challenge from Mornington Peninsula is in third crewed by a team of local hot shots. Another local boat Adrenaline has had a tougher time of it for fouth overall. Having been second after the first day Luke Stephen's team had to survive a swim and a wild broach avoiding Red Mist.

Of course every day has been followed by great social with copious sponsored beer as is Adelaide tradition available at the dockside to a tired but elated group of competitors and race officials. And last night were treated to a huge feast of local South Australian Kinkawooka Mussels.

The teams now prepare for an already breezy day three, examining their gear (two forestays failed on day 2) perhaps as well as breakfasting like champions at the club.