Consistent results are the key to the 29er Nationals

by Jane Moffat on 3 Jan 2013 In the way of all good regatta series, the crew with the most consistent results wins – whether that be a line of bullets across the score card or a line of fifths.

Kiwis Markus Somerville and Jack Simpson NZL119 finished with a score of 62.5 with 11 of 16 races scoring fifth or higher. Their last three races of the regatta included two bullets which helped them pull away from Harry Price and Angus Williams AUS 16 who finished in second on 80.5 and are the new 29er Australian Champions.

After leading the regatta coming into the last day with the slimmest of leads Charlie Wyatt and Lewis Brake AUS20 had a disaster on the final day being black flagged in race 15 and placing 31 in race 16 finishing just .5 behind Price and Williams.

Tom Siganto and Joel Turner AUS1929 finished third Australian boat, whilst they relished the heavier weather in early part of the regatta the lighter winds saw them slip down the fleet and finish on 89 points.

First junior skipper is past Australian Optimist Sailing Team member Jim Colley who with crew Shaun Connor AUS1851 finished ninth overall.

One of the great 29er stories is that of Tess Lloyd who after her accident last year is back competing and with crew Eliza Solly have finished in 10th, with the second half of the regatta seeing her with top three results for four races. Lloyd takes out the first female skipper prize and Lloyd and Solly together are the first al female crew.

Lloyd and Solly will now be heading off to Tasmania to compete in the 2013 OAMPS Australian Youth Championship. Lloyd and Solly along with many others will be chasing a place on the Australian Youth Sailing Team to compete at the 2013 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Limassol, Cyprus.