Australian 9er Championships - Aggressive Day 2 for the 29ers
by David Price on 31 Dec 2013
Tight racing throughout the 29er fleet David Price
Zhik 2013-2014 Australian 9er Championships Day 2 for the 29er fleet was always going to be a day of aggression and for some redemption from the opening day of competition.
Australia’s cream of the crop, the fourth, fifth and sixth world ranked 29er teams Kurt Hansen and Harry Morton, Charlie Wyatt and Tom Siganto, and Jim Colley and Shaun Connor continued to swap the lead over seven races completed so far with one drop in this sixteen race series. These teams remain very close on the scoreboard with the lead being shared by teams Wyatt-Siganto and Hansen-Morton on 14 points and Colley/Connor on 16 points.
It’s still early days in the series and the ultimate prize remains within the reach of at least the next ten teams comprising sailors from WA, QLD, VIC, NSW and world ranked number two skipper with his new crew from New Zealand Marcus Sommerville and Isaac McHardie sitting at present in eighth position. The prestigious female skipper’s competition in the series is also being fiercely contended with both youth female skippered teams Amelia Stabback with Nathan Edwards from NSW and Alicia Spencer with Jacob Dennison from WA lying in fifth and seventh positions.
The breeze has been strong over the first two days of racing, and the seaway on Port Phillip Bay has been quite a challenge for these young teams with a few broken masts, a destroyed mainsail and various other repairs and equipment replacements to deal with among the 57 entries in the 29er fleet. Day three looks comparatively lighter conditions ensuring we will see tight racing continue before a reserve day for New Year’s Day gives the sailors some time to rest.
