Melges 24 Australian Championships day 3 - Melges mix it up

by Tracey Walters on 29 Jan 2012 Melges 24 Australian Championships fleet was back in Corio Bay for day three of racing. Hot sun and a light to moderate South Easterly breeze set the scene for three windward leeward races.

The fleet seem to get closer together the more races they complete. Big achievers of the day were Heath Townsend Kaito the Western Australian representative and Dave Alexander Foxtrot from South Australia.

Kaito were pleased with their setup and boat speed, they found clear air in the final race and capitalised on their position to cross the line in first place. Foxtrot have crept up through the fleet, they have been getting good starts and working hard up the first beat, it paid off for them today with a third and finishing race 8 in second place behind Kaito.

Boat of the day again went to Warwick Rooklyn’s slick team on Bandit with two firsts and a third leading the regatta. Kevin Nixon Accru mixed their results with a fourth, second and fifth. Glenda Nixon took a tumble landing hard on her elbow but soldiered on finishing the racing when she noticed the swelling of her arm and decided on a trip to Geelong hospital.

If the stars align for Accru they still have a shot at taking the title of 2012 Australian Melges 24 Champion, but at this stage Bandit are looking like they won’t be giving it up easily. The fight for third place will be a battle between the two ex National Champions, the two Heaths (Heath Walters Arriba Arriba and Heath Townsend Kaito).

Full results are available online.