Zhik Australian Championships at Royal Brighton YC - Day 2

by David Staley on 31 Dec 2013 On day two of the Zhik 2013-14 Australian Championships a sunny day with moderate breezes greeted the fleets of 29ers and 49ers / FX sailing on separate race courses at Royal Brighton Yacht Club. The southerly breeze oscillated through 30 degrees most of the day, varied between 8 to 15 knots.

Today was the first racing for the 29er and 49er FX classes on the southern course. Event PRO and 49er course Race Officer Peter Moor and his race management team of RBYC and Victorian Class Association volunteers delivered five races this afternoon with mostly clean starts.

Steven Thomas and Jasper Warren (WA) from Royal Perth Yacht Club have a four point break and secured their place at the top of the 49ers with a win in the final race of the day. Will Phillips and Rhys Mara (VIC) were looking well placed after their fourth race, but a ninth in race five pushed them back two points behind David Gilmour and Sam Phillips (WA).

Olivia Price and Eliza Solly (NSW/VIC) are so far without a race win, but placed consistently well to build a four point lead. Tessa Parkinson and Chelsea Hall (WA) are next, leading Harry Price and Angus Williams (NSW) by two points. Each these teams had two race wins today.

On the 29er course, four races were sailed. With 55 boats pushing the line for every start, there were a number of general recalls and most races were eventually started under a black flag.

Charlie Wyatt and Tom Siganto (QLD) hold the most slender of leads after day two – on equal points with a tie-break from Kurt Hansen and Harry Morton (NSW). Jim Colley and Shaun O’Connor (NSW) retain third overall and are within two points of the other teams. The top three crews have built an impressive gap over the rest of the fleet. James McLennan and Tom Trotman remained the best of the rest.

The Zhik 2013-14 Australian 9er Championships continue until Friday January 3.

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