Melges 24 NSW States - Clean sweep as Rooklyn Romps it in

by Tracey Walters on 15 Jan 2011 The Melges 24 fleet had a fantastic six race series over the last two days, racing between North and South head of Sydney Harbour.

On Tuesday afternoon Warwick Rooklyn stepped off the plane from Argentina where he was coaching his son in the 29er Worlds. Obviously, jetlag was no hurdle when he went out Thursday and Friday and won five out of the six races.

Awesome conditions, 15-18 knot sea breeze, swell and a competitive fleet kept Warwick working hard. Rooklyn's skiff background helped light up AUS 814 Bandit for some great downwind rides. Warwicks local knowledge of the South head break, his suburb crew work and downwind speed meant he was leading when it counted at the finish.

The only other boat to win a race was Gary Shanks and his South Australian crew in AUS 815 Outrage-Us. Not bad for the first time racing a Melges 24. Gary placed third overall and will be hard to beat with more time in the boat.

Second was No Comment AUS 746 with Nigel Smyth from Middle Harbour Yacht Club enjoying the downwind competition and giving the club a taste of what’s to come at the M24 2014 Worlds.

The Rear Commodore, Dan O’Connell and Board President, Donna Evans of Adelaide Sailing Club chartered AUS 215 Arriba Arriba. The crew were introduced to the Melges 24 the morning of the regatta but enjoyed Sydney harbour conditions and the tight one design racing.

Great to see the Nixon family with their boat AUS 679 challenging the fleet in Accru. Geoff Fogerty (Team Av) Amigos picked up AUS 816 Christmas eve and enjoyed their first Melges 24 regatta, improving each race. Ian Greentree AUS 19 Matilda had moments of brilliance and will be a force to reckon with at the Nationals in March at the RPA.

Sponsors Harken Australia and Sperry Topsiders provided a bundle of excellent and very useful sailing gear as prizes for the event. Photo/chase boat and sponsor the Rushcutter 25 is the optimum harbour day boat and perfect for viewing a day of exciting one design racing.

Thanks to Middle Harbour Yacht Club for hosting a fun, memorable summer racing series.

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Results http://www.mhyc.com.au/files/results/2010/events/M24/SGrp4.htm