Fortunes shift on final day of Youth Championships

by Peter McIntosh on 2 Oct 2012 The winds of fortune favoured those who made the most of shifty light sea breeze on the final day of the three-day Nautilus Marine NSW Youth Championship on Lake Macquarie. Early leaders in several classes were overtaken by rivals in the 10-race series involving 200 entries from throughout NSW and visitors from Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania.

The racing was keenly contested, no more so than in the 42-strong Flying 11 class where Belmont’s Owen Long and Thomas Steenson in Slick were overtaken and beaten on countback by Manly’s Finn Gilbert and Tom Smith who managed to win the final three races for gold in their boat called Tom.

In third spot were Sarah and Harry Parker from Avalon in Wave Runner, despite not competing in the first two races when a strong westerly wind knocked the teenage fleet and the 24-hour race yachties about. In fourth spot in F11s were Lane Cove’s Greta Quealy and Maximilian Parker in Decoy followed by Beynon Telford and Anita McCallum from the host club Belmont.

The 420 and Sabot classes also shuffled top spots dramatically on the final day. In the Sabots early leader Gosford’s Jordan Makin in Need for Speed slipped to third behind lightweight winner Jed Fatches from Wangi Wangi in Black Pearl and Sang Jin Goodridge from Hunters Hill in Little Demon Too.

In the 420s, Xavier Winston-Smith and Joshua Dawson (RPAYC/MHYC) in Bob pipped Klaus Lorenz and James Scott from Queensland in Drag Queen by two points, while Sunday’s leaders James Griffin and Thomas Milburn from Middle Harbour Yacht Club slipped to third spot overall. Big improvers on the final day were Caitlin Tames and Chelsea Powe (MHYA/RPA/GSC) in fourth spot followed by Dana Tavener and Catherine Pagett from Drummoyne.

Max Quirk from Queensland dominated the large Optimist fleet finishing 15 points clear of runner-up Cameron Gise, also from Queensland, followed by Blake Selley from Woollahra Sailing Club. Cian Campbell, from Middle Harbour, won the Optimists silver fleet, while the two-up Sabots were won by Thomas Larkings and Eve Peel from Lane Cove.

Tom Grimes and Jessica Grimes, from Belmont, dominated the Open Bic Class, finishing first and second respectively, while Patrick Corbett and Bradley Bower from IYC took top honours in the Flying Ants.

The 16-strong 29er class was won convincingly by Charlie Wyatt and Lewis Blake from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Panther, 10 points ahead of Jim Colley and Shaun Connor from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and in third spot were Tess Lloyd and Eliza Solly from Victoria.

The Laser Radial class was tightly contested with Thomas Vincent from Victoria holding on to win by a point from Queenslander William Bates followed by Sydney’s Stuart Plenderleith. Brodie Crossman, from RPAYC, was a comfortable winner in the Laser 4.7s followed by Woollarah’s Finnian Alexander and South Lakes sailor Sam Booth who saved his best day to last on his close to home turf.