Big breeze hits Kiwis at Australian 420 Nationals in Fremantle

by Angus Haslett on 1 Jan 2015 Day 3 of the Australian International 420 Nationals at Fremantle Sailing Club - and the strongest breeze by far with a peak of 28 knots and plenty of choppy/steep waves.

Before the crews left the shore the breeze was building and it did not disappoint on the course, with nothing under 20 knots and for most of race 7 a fresh 25knot SW sea breeze. Temperatures were cooler today with clear blue skies and this seems to set the Fremantle Doctor up nicely.

There was no doubt this was the day for the heavy, skilled crews and the local Western Australian team of Emerson Carlberg and Lachie Gilmour posted two wins and now comfortably lead the regatta. For the Kiwis it was a day of trying to stay upright with Haslett/Mitchell the only ones to not capsize but they struggled to get into the top 10, finding like the other Kiwis, the short, sharp steep chop unfamiliar and posting a 10th in Race 6 and a 14th in Race 7.

Mannering/Stoodley who after a 20th in Race 6 put a nice race together in Race 7 to finish with a 12th. Weston/Balogh recovered well after several capsizes to take an 11th in Race 6 and a 22nd in Race 7. Copeland/Stenhouse lost a pole and Emma Stenhouse unfortunately got taken out by the boom and they were advised to retire by the medics for the seventh Race, joining two others ashore one with a broken hand the other a broken wrist. Plenty of carnage on the water for the sailors and rescue boats to deal with, with a broken centreboard, rudder box, trapeze wires and ripped spinnakers.

So the last day of racing for 2014 was an exciting and challenging one, but most importantly invaluable learning for the sailors. Back on shore the mood was buoyant as stories on how to handle the boats and the conditions got shared and the hope for more strong breezes so they can master the conditions over the next 10 days.

That led nicely into the New Year evening's celebration where the Kiwi 29'er team joined with the Kiwi 420's at the Fremantle Yacht Club where around 200 sailors and supporters gathered for a BBQ dinner and to toast in the New Year - well at least on NZ time!

Day 3 Results (first drop taken)
Mannering/Stoodley 12th (20,12)
Haslett/Mitchell 13th (10,14)
Weston/Balogh 14th (11,22)
Copeland/Stenhouse (23, DNS)