2010 Musto Etchells Australasian Winter titles - Tight at the Top

by Musto Etchells Australasian Winter Champions media on 12 Jun 2010 2010 Musto Etchells Australasian Winter Championship day 2.

A glorious Queensland winter's day and for the many spectators on the sandy shoreline, the sight of the 52 boat Etchells fleet racing around marks laid in the ocean off Mooloolaba beach was exciting.

Its tight at the top and with four races completed in the Series, a fifth race in the morning will allow a worst result drop and a sixth race tomorrow will mean any of the current top three could take the title.

Principal Race Officers, Ross Wilson and Kevin Wilson, set the course at 195 in 13-15 knots of breeze, causing quite a few ocean white caps.

Race 1 of the day was a clear start - the fleet remembered yesterday’s black flag action and showed constraint at the line.

However it was not a good start for Peter Coleman and his crew on Mid Gybe Crisis as they became caught on the barging buoy behind the Committee Boat. They arrived at the start line quite late after spending precious time trying to disengage the boat, and as a consequence Coleman reached the first mark in third last place.

Most of the fleet headed left. First to the top mark was David Turton (Harold Holt) followed by 2004 Etchells World Champion Peter McNeill (Absolute Pearler), Brendan Garner (The Moe Szyslak Experience) and Jeff Rose (Fair Bump Play On).

Conditions moderated to 12-13 knots as the fleet headed for the bottom mark.

Yesterday’s race leaders were back in the pack; Hong Kong’s Mark Thornburrow (Racer X) rounded in 10th, while Alastair Gair (Velsheda) was in 20th place, one spot behind sailing legend John Bertrand (The Stig).

David Turton (Harold Holt) carried his form to the finish and crossed in first place ahead of Dave Clark (Fifteen), Brendan Garner (The Moe Szyslak Experience), Mark Thornburrow (Racer X), Doug Williams (Vertigo), Mark Johnson (Roulette), Peter McNeill (Absolute Pearler) and Graeme Taylor (Magpie). Alastair Gair (Velsheda) was ninth.

After race 1 of the day, Hong Kong sailor Mark Thornburrow had taken top position on the Series leaderboard (1, 2 and 4) with seven points, NSW sailor David Clark (Fifteen) was second (3,3,2,) on eights points, only one point behind.

New Zealand’s Alastair Gair (Velsheda) finished the race in around tenth place, the result pushing him down the leaderboard to third.

Conditions had softened considerably for the 13:00 clear start of race 2 of the day. The Race Committee set Course 1 - 2.5 laps at 195.

Respected offshore and Volvo Ocean sailor Tom Braidwood (Fantazia) started on the pin, behind him was New Zealand sailor Lindsay Kennedy (Addiction).

Braidwood headed left, but most of the fleet took the right as their option, however the light conditions soon forced the fleet to cross back.

At the first mark in a very soft five to six knot breeze, 2000 Mooloolaba Winters champion Julian Plante (North Star) held the lead from Mark Richards (Are We There Yet?), Richard Hammond (Alchemist), Mark Johnson (Roulette), David Rose (This will make her scream), Stephen Gunther (Magic Buzz), John Bertrand (The Stig), Alastair Gair (Velsheda), Dave Clark (Fifteen) Mark Dagge (Una Mas), Graeme Taylor (Magpie) and Mark Thornburrow (Racer X).

Tom Braidwood who had stayed left, got dorked and rounded back in the fleet.

At the bottom mark for the first time Plante and his North Star crew were one minute and 55 seconds ahead of Wild Oats X1 skipper Mark Richards, with Mark Johnson third. John Bertrand had made his move up to fourth as had Mark Thornburrow who was now fifth. Dave Clark was 10th and Alastair Gair rounded in 12th.

The conditions were now very soft and Race Officials shortened the length of the remaining legs.

In the dying breeze Julian Plante managed to establish a two minute, five second lead at the top mark for the second time, over his nearest rival Mark Richards.

The big improver was Tom Braidwood who had managed to sail himself into third place from 12th on the last beat.
John Bertrand was next, then Mark Thornburrow and Mark Johnson.

Alastair Gair was back in 21st position, while Dave Clark was nowhere to be seen.

As Plante turned back up the final beat his lead had dwindled to just a minute and five seconds ahead of the fast moving Richards. Up into third was Mark Johnson, followed by Tom Braidwood, Peter McNeill and John Bertrand.

Mark Thornburrow was back in ninth place while Gair, who was clearly not having his best sailing day, was in 11th place.

Plante (North Star) held off the attack from a determined Richards (Are We There Yet?) to cross the line first. Mark Johnson (Roulette) was third, Tom Braidwood (Fantazia) fourth, John Bertrand (The Stig) was fifth, Jake Gunther (The Boat) moved up in the mix to be sixth.

Series leader Mark Thornburrow (Racer X) managed tenth place, Alastair Gair (Velsheda) finished 13th. Surprisingly Dave Clark (Fifteen) was nowhere to be seen, finishing back in 28th.

Mark Thornburrow from Hong Kong holds the 2010 Musto Etchells Australasian Winter Championship Overall Series lead and has a six point buffer going into the final day, tomorrow. Mark Johnson is now second overall, ahead of New Zealand's Alastair Gair.

Quotes of the Day

Alastair Gair (Velsheda), leading the field yesterday but with a 9,13 day is now third. ‘We were struggling up wind today … it was a minefield really.

‘Other guys were just doing it better than us. We had some good moments but really just not good enough.’

Big boat skipper Mark Richards (Are We There Yet?)- 34, 2 today. ‘After a disaster this morning the second across the line in this afternoon’s race was very welcome - we had a few nice shifts and a good race, it’s not often two boats split from the fleet like that. I’m gradually getting rid of the rust.’

Mark Thornburrow (Racer X) from Hong Kong and Overall Series leader after 4,10 today. ‘We hung in there today; we were pleased to climb up to fourth in the first race of the day, definitely a keeper in this fleet, and we were deep in the second race and improved on the runs, the crew did a really great job.

‘I bought this boat, Racer X, after it won the Worlds and when it’s tuned right is very quick - looking forward to tomorrow.’

John Bertrand (The Stig) - 17,6 today. ‘Terrific racing …. what a wonderful winter’s day. It is just great to be on the water in this very active and expanding class.’

Julian Plante (North Star) – 13,1 today ‘Half way up the first beat, we went harder right than most; we kept getting lifted up, we thought we were in the top 10, then the top five, then suddenly we were well clear. We made a good gain on the run, we got better and better pressure. However going back through the fleet, we got really bad air ... we hung in there, we were getting nervous but eventually we were clear and we kept a loose cover on Ricko (Mark Richards) to the end.

‘We've not had the regatta we'd hoped for up to now but today’s win reminded us why the front of the fleet is so great. The air is clean, the boat speed is better, decisions are easier.’

Mark Johnson (Roulette) – 6,3 today. ‘What a glorious day. It was crazy out there today. For a while on the first beat, in the second race we thought we were minutes ahead and we came around third.

‘But to be second overall at this stage is good. Our combination is working very well, Peter (Conde) is looking after the rig and the boat speed, Nik (Burfoot) has his head out of the boat – we hope we will get two races tomorrow.’

Dave Clark (Fifteen) - 2,28 today. ‘We were very pleased with our second this morning, but we were buried this afternoon. Assuming we can drop that 28, we have 3,3,2 – so its all going to come down to two final races.’

OVERALL SERIES RESULTS:

Musto Etchells Australasian Championship 2010
10th to 13th June 2010

Pl B# Crew From 1 2 3 4 Tot
1 51 Mark Thornburrow, Martin Mok, Gray Gibson & Simon Cook Hong Kong 1 2 4 10 17
2 04 Mark Johnson, Nikolas Burfoot & Peter Conde Sydney 6 8 6 3 23
3 22 Alastiar Gair, Stuart McKinven, David Ridley & Derek Scott Gulf Harbour 2 1 9 13 25
4 15 David Clark, Sean Leonard & Andrew Smith Sydney 3 3 2 28 36
5 07 Julian Plante, Michael Dunstan & Nick Garland Pittwater 11 19 13 1 44
6 55 Graeme Taylor, Steve Jarvin & Grant Wharington Mornington 18 6 8 12 44
7 43 Peter McNeill, Greg Torpy & David Gleadhill Lake Macquarie 24 10 7 7 48
8 08 Brendan Garner, Tim Clark & Michael Schilt Geelong 23 5 3 22 53
9 09 Chris Hampton, Bucky Smith & Warwick Hill Melbourne 13 12 22 11 58
10 11 Gunther Jake, Tony McPhail & Stuart Skeggs Melbourne 7 20 28 5 60
11 31 Ian Johnson, Tim Ede & Phil Smidmore Melbourne 14 17 23 8 62
12 16 Richard Hammond, Roger Gain & Chris Allen Sydney 4 33 14 17 68
13 33 David Rose, Taylor Jane Rose & Todd Anderson Gold Coast 12 31 20 9 72
14 37 David Turton, David Biggar & Trent Rowell Mooloolaba 16 23 1 35 75
15 35 Mark Richards & Gary Smith Pittwater 31 9 34 2 76
16 47 Mark Bulka, David Lorimer & Oliver Tweddell Melbourne 27 22 11 16 76
17 41 John Bertrand, James Chilman & Gary Van Lunteren Melbourne 53\BFD 7 17 6 83
18 21 David Healey, Ashley Deeks, Timothy Robba & Rachael Pocock Brisbane 9 32 24 18 83
19 24 Noel Paterson, Sarah Board, Curtis Skinner & Paul Wyatt Brisbane 25 29 10 19 83
20 48 Donald Wilson, Jason Browne & Brent Connor Gosford 37 18 16 14 85
21 23 Gary Smith, Michael McAullay & Brad Sheridan Perth 33 4 21 31 89
22 20 Gary Boyd, John Boyd & Anthony May Lake Macquarie 8 11 37 34 90
23 38 Stephen Gunther, John Collingwood & Christopher Maxted Melbourne 15 24 12 42 93
24 03 Peter Gardner, Richard Allanson & Stephen Barlow Sydney 20 39 19 15 93
25 10 Jeff Rose, Craig McCallum & Craig Rainy Brisbane 19 15 15 47 96
26 36 Thomas Braidwood, Ayden Menzies, Ben Lamb & Ryan Menzies Pittwater 53\BFD 13 35 4 105
27 39 Lindsay Kennedy, Philip Pride & Trevor Swinburne Auckland 32 34 18 21 105
28 29 Simon Ellis, Gary Grey & Sutton Sa Mooloolaba 5 38 29 37 109
29 45 Steve O'Rouke, Steven Backhouse & Burke Melia Cronulla 10 26 32 45 113
30 26 Andrew York, Trevor Martin & Matthew Ramaley Mooloolaba 41 16 26 30 113
31 17 Ian Audsley, Graham Flatman & Jan Van Der Schalk Pittwater 17 40 36 20 113
32 06 Douglas Flynn, David Baker & Calvin Gardner Sydney 34 25 27 33 119
33 52 Guyon Wilson, Paul Darcy & James Wilson Geelong 21 21 42 36 120
34 28 Robert Hanna, Jake Newman & Stephen Peel Geelong 28 44 33 24 129
35 34 Tom Woods, Clyde Freeman & Keith Jensen Sydney 53\BFD 14 31 32 130
36 05 Jan Muysken, Steve Langton & Michael Stovin-Bradford Sydney 30 27 46 29 132
37 32 Doug Williams, Adrian Kiely & Darren Cooney Sydney 42 45 5 41 133
38 02 Mark Dagge, Matthew Hansen & Joshua Willis Brisbane 29 30 51 25 135
39 13 Glen Norton, Peter Rattray & Peter Wilkinson Melbourne 22 51 40 26 139
40 30 Nigel Nattrass, Andrew Coates & Hugh Leicester Sydney 26 28 52 39 145
41 19 John Savage, Glenn Ferguson & Gary Wilson Melbourne 53\BFD 35 30 27 145
42 14 Greg Eddy, David Hall, Rodney Moore & Robert Topping Gosford 35 48 41 23 147
43 18 Paul Minter, John Minter & Peter Edwards Pittwater 44 41 25 43 153
44 25 Mark Sanders, Daniel Belcher & Scott McInally Gold Coast 36 37 50 38 161
45 01 Peter Coleman, Wayne Dixon & Iain Gartley Melbourne 43 42 45 40 170
46 50 Michael Hiatt, Jamie Bennet & Mathew Johns Melbourne 53\BFD 36 38 48 175
47 27 Bryce Johnson, Rodney Verstegen & Peter Johnson Sydney 38 50 44 44 176
48 40 Patrick Meehan, James Hallam & Brendan Sneddan Brisbane 39 43 47 50 179
49 49 Charles Piggott, Warren Myles, Toby Pearce & Reece Baguley Melbourne 45 49 39 49 182
50 46 Gregory Forgan-Smith, Bruce Pitt & John Willey Gold Coast 40 47 49 46 182
51 44 Nev Willis, Edward Tait & Ian Staples Brisbane 47 46 43 51 187
52 42 Chris Larsen, Neil Hudson & Mark Jamison 46 52 48 52 198


RACE 3 Results
1 37 David Turton, David Biggar & Trent Rowell 1
2 15 David Clark, Sean Leonard & Andrew Smith 2
3 08 Brendan Garner, Tim Clark & Michael Schilt 3
4 51 Mark Thornburrow, Martin Mok, Gray Gibson & Simon Cook 4
5 32 Doug Williams, Adrian Kiely & Darren Cooney 5
6 04 Mark Johnson, Nikolas Burfoot & Peter Conde 6
7 43 Peter McNeill, Greg Torpy & David Gleadhill 7
8 55 Graeme Taylor, Steve Jarvin & Grant Wharington 8
9 22 Alastiar Gair, Stuart McKinven, David Ridley & Derek Scott 9
10 24 Noel Paterson, Sarah Board, Curtis Skinner & Paul Wyatt 10
11 47 Mark Bulka, David Lorimer & Oliver Tweddell 11
12 38 Stephen Gunther, John Collingwood & Christopher Maxted 12
13 07 Julian Plante, Michael Dunstan & Nick Garland 13
14 16 Richard Hammond, Roger Gain & Chris Allen 14
15 10 Jeff Rose, Craig McCallum & Craig Rainy 15
16 48 Donald Wilson, Jason Browne & Brent Connor 16
17 41 John Bertrand, James Chilman & Gary Van Lunteren 17
18 39 Lindsay Kennedy, Philip Pride & Trevor Swinburne 18
19 03 Peter Gardner, Richard Allanson & Stephen Barlow 19
20 33 David Rose, Taylor Jane Rose & Todd Anderson 20
21 23 Gary Smith, Michael McAullay & Brad Sheridan 21
22 09 Chris Hampton, Bucky Smith & Warwick Hill 22
23 31 Ian Johnson, Tim Ede & Phil Smidmore 23
24 21 David Healey, Ashley Deeks, Timothy Robba & Rachael Pocock 24
25 18 Paul Minter, John Minter & Peter Edwards 25
26 26 Andrew York, Trevor Martin & Matthew Ramaley 26
27 06 Douglas Flynn, David Baker & Calvin Gardner 27
28 11 Gunther Jake, Tony McPhail & Stuart Skeggs 28
29 29 Simon Ellis, Gary Grey & Sutton Sa 29
30 19 John Savage, Glenn Ferguson & Gary Wilson 30
31 34 Tom Woods, Clyde Freeman & Keith Jensen 31
32 45 Steve O'Rouke, Steven Backhouse & Burke Melia 32
33 28 Robert Hanna, Jake Newman & Stephen Peel 33
34 35 Mark Richards & Gary Smith 34
35 36 Thomas Braidwood, Ayden Menzies, Ben Lamb & Ryan Menzies 35
36 17 Ian Audsley, Graham Flatman & Jan Van Der Schalk 36
37 20 Gary Boyd, John Boyd & Anthony May 37
38 50 Michael Hiatt, Jamie Bennet & Mathew Johns 38
39 49 Charles Piggott, Warren Myles, Toby Pearce & Reece Baguley 39
40 13 Glen Norton, Peter Rattray & Peter Wilkinson 40
41 14 Greg Eddy, David Hall, Rodney Moore & Robert Topping 41
42 52 Guyon Wilson, Paul Darcy & James Wilson 42
43 44 Nev Willis, Edward Tait & Ian Staples 43
44 27 Bryce Johnson, Rodney Verstegen & Peter Johnson 44
45 01 Peter Coleman, Wayne Dixon & Iain Gartley 45
46 05 Jan Muysken, Steve Langton & Michael Stovin-Bradford 46
47 40 Patrick Meehan, James Hallam & Brendan Sneddan 47
48 42 Chris Larsen, Neil Hudson & Mark Jamison 48
49 46 Gregory Forgan-Smith, Bruce Pitt & John Willey 49
50 25 Mark Sanders, Daniel Belcher & Scott McInally 50
51 02 Mark Dagge, Matthew Hansen & Joshua Willis 51
52 30 Nigel Nattrass, Andrew Coates & Hugh Leicester 52


RACE 4 results:
1 07 Julian Plante, Michael Dunstan & Nick Garland 1
2 35 Mark Richards & Gary Smith 2
3 04 Mark Johnson, Nikolas Burfoot & Peter Conde 3
4 36 Thomas Braidwood, Ayden Menzies, Ben Lamb & Ryan Menzies 4
5 11 Gunther Jake, Tony McPhail & Stuart Skeggs 5
6 41 John Bertrand, James Chilman & Gary Van Lunteren 6
7 43 Peter McNeill, Greg Torpy & David Gleadhill 7
8 31 Ian Johnson, Tim Ede & Phil Smidmore 8
9 33 David Rose, Taylor Jane Rose & Todd Anderson 9
10 51 Mark Thornburrow, Martin Mok, Gray Gibson & Simon Cook 10
11 09 Chris Hampton, Bucky Smith & Warwick Hill 11
12 55 Graeme Taylor, Steve Jarvin & Grant Wharington 12
13 22 Alastiar Gair, Stuart McKinven, David Ridley & Derek Scott 13
14 48 Donald Wilson, Jason Browne & Brent Connor 14
15 03 Peter Gardner, Richard Allanson & Stephen Barlow 15
16 47 Mark Bulka, David Lorimer & Oliver Tweddell 16
17 16 Richard Hammond, Roger Gain & Chris Allen 17
18 21 David Healey, Ashley Deeks, Timothy Robba & Rachael Pocock 18
19 24 Noel Paterson, Sarah Board, Curtis Skinner & Paul Wyatt 19
20 17 Ian Audsley, Graham Flatman & Jan Van Der Schalk 20
21 39 Lindsay Kennedy, Philip Pride & Trevor Swinburne 21
22 08 Brendan Garner, Tim Clark & Michael Schilt 22
23 14 Greg Eddy, David Hall, Rodney Moore & Robert Topping 23
24 28 Robert Hanna, Jake Newman & Stephen Peel 24
25 02 Mark Dagge, Matthew Hansen & Joshua Willis 25
26 13 Glen Norton, Peter Rattray & Peter Wilkinson 26
27 19 John Savage, Glenn Ferguson & Gary Wilson 27
28 15 David Clark, Sean Leonard & Andrew Smith 28
29 05 Jan Muysken, Steve Langton & Michael Stovin-Bradford 29
30 26 Andrew York, Trevor Martin & Matthew Ramaley 30
31 23 Gary Smith, Michael McAullay & Brad Sheridan 31
32 34 Tom Woods, Clyde Freeman & Keith Jensen 32
33 06 Douglas Flynn, David Baker & Calvin Gardner 33
34 20 Gary Boyd, John Boyd & Anthony May 34
35 37 David Turton, David Biggar & Trent Rowell 35
36 52 Guyon Wilson, Paul Darcy & James Wilson 36
37 29 Simon Ellis, Gary Grey & Sutton Sa 37
38 25 Mark Sanders, Daniel Belcher & Scott McInally 38
39 30 Nigel Nattrass, Andrew Coates & Hugh Leicester 39
40 01 Peter Coleman, Wayne Dixon & Iain Gartley 40
41 32 Doug Williams, Adrian Kiely & Darren Cooney 41
42 38 Stephen Gunther, John Collingwood & Christopher Maxted 42
43 18 Paul Minter, John Minter & Peter Edwards 43
44 27 Bryce Johnson, Rodney Verstegen & Peter Johnson 44
45 45 Steve O'Rouke, Steven Backhouse & Burke Melia 45
46 46 Gregory Forgan-Smith, Bruce Pitt & John Willey 46
47 10 Jeff Rose, Craig McCallum & Craig Rainy 47
48 50 Michael Hiatt, Jamie Bennet & Mathew Johns 48
49 49 Charles Piggott, Warren Myles, Toby Pearce & Reece Baguley 49
50 40 Patrick Meehan, James Hallam & Brendan Sneddan 50
51 44 Nev Willis, Edward Tait & Ian Staples 51
52 42 Chris Larsen, Neil Hudson & Mark Jamison 52

* All results are provisional and subject to protest.