Rolex Farr 40 World Championship winner Australian Sailing Team patron

by Craig Heydon on 2 Mar 2011 Yachting Australia would like to congratulate Australian Sailing Team Patron Guido Belgiorno-Nettis. Transfusion and her crew became the 2011 Rolex Farr 40 World Champions in Sydney last weekend.

Transfusion became the first Australian entry to win the Farr 40 World Championship since it was last held in Sydney in 2005.

It was a comeback from Belgiorno-Nettis and his crew, who won the hard fought regatta to beat the reigning World Champion, Nerone (ITA).

'On behalf of Yachting Australia and the Australian Sailing Team I’d like to congratulate Guido and his crew on a tremendous win last weekend,' said Yachting Australia CEO Phil Jones.

'Guido and the Transfusion crew sailed a great regatta and his come from behind win was great to watch,' he said. 'Guido is an important member of the Australian Sailing Team Patrons and I’m sure that he will be able to pass on valuable knowledge from the last week to our leading Olympic class sailors as they head towards the 2012 London Olympic Games.'

The Australian Sailing Team was well represented in the 2011 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship fleet with seven boats having a direct link to the team.

Martin and Lisa Hill were the second placed Australian team in fourth overall. The Hills, long-time patrons of the Australian Sailing Team, were joined onboard Estate Master by team members Malcolm Page, Nathan Outteridge and Tom Slingsby.

Marcus Blackmore finished seventh with his Farr 40 Hooligan, one place ahead of Lang Walker and Kokomo.

Australian Sailing Team Technical Coordinator Michael Dunstan was aboard Sputnik which finished the week in 13th, with Southern Star, part owned by John Calvert-Jones, in 14th.

David Gotze finished the week in 20th with his entry, Enigma.

www.australiansailingteam.com.au