SLAM Combined High Schools Championship - Makin and Turner lead

by Rod Carter on 14 Apr 2014 The local sailors, Henry Makin and his crew Jarrod Turner (Avondale College), sailing their Cherub ‘French Tickler’ have kept their good form streak going with another two solid results in today’s races to be outright leaders at the halfway point of the SLAM Combined High Schools Championship.

Conditions were a little more favourable today with the winds slowly fading as the day went on. Race 3 saw competitors sail in a 12-16knt breeze with Henry Makin taking the win on corrected time. In second place was Nathan Lilley (Balgowlah Boys High) sailing his Flying 11 ‘Hi Roller,’ with 29er sailor Jess Grimes (Merewether High) in hot pursuit finishing third. Reilly Tasker (Bulli High School) who wore the leader’s jersey today failed to finish in Race 3 and has slipped back in the fleet.

Race 4 saw the breeze freshen to 18knts before the rain clouds rolled in and the breeze eventually faded to 8-10knts. Nathan Edwards (Newington College) who yesterday narrowly had his I14 sunk, won the race on a borrowed boat. The minor placing saw Will McKenzie (St Johns Nowra) sailing his Hobie 16 ‘Jeff’ in second place and further behind in third was ‘Sneaky’ and Taipan 4.9 sailed by Nicholas Hord (Lake Munmorah High School).

While the overall scoreboard may look like the Makin is doing it easy at the front, they have had to work hard to maintain their advantage. With four races remaining the chasing pack have them well in their sights.

Special thanks to the event sponsors SLAM and Deckhardware for their ongoing support of the regatta, who are both present at the event and have worked with many sailors to get them on the water each race.

For full results click here