Masters lead the way in the 37th NSW Tasar Championships

Boats coming back to shore - 37th NSW Tasar Championships Fiona Powell

Heather Forton and John Balass - big improvers this regatta! - 37th NSW Tasar Championships © Fiona Powell

After doing three races in exceptionally variable conditions on Good Friday, all were happy to have some consistent strength on the race track!

Race 1 eventually got away after two generals and an eventual black flag start with the fleet divided on their favoured end due to wind and current. The early leaders were Shane Guanaria and Tara Wilson, with Leigh Riddell and Clare Woods close behind and Joel and Gemma Skelton in third. Rob and Nic Douglass rounded the top mark back in tenth, only to be second by the wing mark, and leading from Shane and Tara, and Leigh and Clare by the bottom. These results were unchanging to the finish, with Joel and Gemma Skelton finishing in fourth and Michael Quirk and Marise Hannaford in fifth.

The start for race 2 also took a while to get away, this time with four general recalls, including one off a black flag. Five boats sat the race out, including two Victorians. Rob and Nic Douglass led around the top mark, with Shane Guanaria and Tara Wilson, and Rick Longbottom and Daryl Bentley close behind. The Dougli extended their lead on the reaching legs, only to give it away on the next work, when they headed too far right, letting Shane and Tara, and Rick and Daryl through. Rob and Nic caught up on the run, but were unable to pass Rick and Daryl after well-timed luff. Shane Guanaria and Tara Wilson took their first State win together as a combination, with Rick Longbottom and Daryl Bentley in second, Rob and Nic Douglass in third, Hugh Tait and Stephen Hancock in fourth and John Balass and Heather Forton in fifth.

Race three was the first clean start of the day, this time Rick Longbottom and Daryl Bentley had a turn leading around the top mark, with Leigh Riddell and Clare Woods in second and Brad Stephens and Jenny Overton, John Balass and Heather Forton (showing continued improvement in results), Chris Parkinson and Matt Fitzgerald and Noel Borel and Els Leenaars in a pack close behind. Rob and Nic Douglass again sailed through from plus ten at the top to be third at the wing, with John Balass and Heather Forton in fourth and the places were unchanging from there to the bottom. By the second top mark Rob and Nic had moved into second, with Rick Longbottom and Daryl Bentley maintaining their lead and Leigh Riddell and Clare Woods in third.

Rob and Nic Douglass, regatta leaders lifting their boat in - 37th NSW Tasar Championships © Fiona Powell

Rob and Nic Douglass pushed Rick and Daryl in a tacking duel all the way to the finish, with the two finishing less than three seconds apart. Leigh Riddell and Clare Woods finished third, with Shane Guanaria and Tara Wilson sailing through to fourth and Chris Parkinson and Matt Fitzgerald holding fifth after an awesome race. John Balass and Heather Forton fell back on the final work, only to realise after racing that their centreboard casing had become dislodged out the bottom of their boat. They still managed to hold on to eighth position.

Following redress of the black flag start in race 2, all five boats were awarded average points due to an error by race management.

After six races, the overall results have Rob and Nic Douglass, of the Masters division are leading on eight points, with Rick Longbottom and Daryl Bentley, and Shane Guanaria and Tara Wilson both on 16 points going into the last day. All is on with these three boats having 13 State Championships between them! Leigh Riddell and Clare Woods are in fourth, with the first Victorian boat, sailed by Heather MacFarlane and Chris Payne in fifth, including their redress score from race 2.

For full results, click here

Three more races are scheduled to be sailed today, and three tomorrow if the weather plays ball!

There is a definite level of excitement in the fleet, as the sailors discuss options for the next Worlds, which will be sailed from Busselton, WA in January 2015.

For more information on the Tasar, click here