Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments BFD 2024 Leaderboard

International Etchells Australian Championships - Consistency is key !

by Mandy McEvoy on 28 Jan 2011
Triad crew (L to R) Grant Simmer, Andrew Palfrey and John Bertrand - 2011 Rex Gorell Prestige Etchells Australian Championship Etchells Media http://www.etchells.org.au/nationals/
Rex Gorell Prestige 2011 Etchells Australian Championships - Coming into my first Etchell’s regatta and it being a Nationals (no pressure) I had heard from many experienced one- design sailors 'consistency is key' and it certainly proved that way on the leader board at the end of the 2011 International Etchells Australian Championships hosted by Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) from eighth – 15th January 2011.

Etchells have widely been described as 'Olympic Sailing in non Olympic years' and we had incredible talent out on the water for the week.

The International Etchell’s current World Champion, a man that certainly needs no introduction to those of us in yachting circles (plus I don’t have enough room to recite all his achievements – in or out of an Etchells – John Bertrand (JB) and his team on board Triad won with 34 points (dropping their first race place of 24, they were 1/3/9/4/5/12 for the week) from Mark Bulka and his team on Perfect Balance on 36 points (1/8/[17]/16/2/4/5) from the Hong Kong guys on Racer X 923, skippered by Mark Thornburrow 37 points (12/3/8/[20]/ 9/3/2).

Triad also won the Masters Division (average age of 50 years) and even the Grand Masters (JB thanked Grant for that one!) – a veritable 'clean sweep' and at presentation Jake Gunter (The Boat and Vice President and Governor of Australian Etchell’s Fleet) presented JB with a wonderful framed photo from the recent World’s in Howarth, Ireland – acknowledging his fantastic and important contribution to the Etchells class on the Australian and indeed International stage.

John was ably assisted by Andrew 'Dog' Palfrey (coach of Artemis Racing) who he has been sailing with for some three years but seconded Grant Simmer back to Oz from his current residence in the UK, where he has been presiding as CEO of the now abandonned English America’s Cup 'Team Origin' after previously on the Directorship of Alinghi. Grant, as navigator greatly assisted John helming Australia II to that incredible America’s Cup victory in Rhode Island 1983.

It was certainly great to meet Grant – in so many humbling ways – but none more than the fact I finally met someone that bruises worse than I do after a hard day on the ‘racetrack’! He spoke openly about the joy of sailing again with John after many years and (more generally) being back on an Etchells after some 12 odd years. Their crew work was a testimony to the men, all talented yachtsmen (obviously) but I can certainly vouch they are 'good blokes' too.



Now back to consistency – we had none from the Weather Gods ... and there was some concern from our PRO Greg 'Spud' Sinclair early that we would not get a Regatta, given that six races constituted a Regatta in the Sailing Instructions such that by Day 2 Spud amended them to four races and five plus with a drop. We got that eventually with a seven race Regatta but boy with many postponements due to lack of breeze, forecast too much breeze or lack of consistency to set a stable course added to unusual humidity and lack of visibility with constant rain made it a most challenging week out there on Corio Bay.

I don’t have to tell you all about La Nina and the most extreme version in some 35 years here in Oz but she was out in force on Corio Bay .... NNE at 20-30kt’s one day had locals shaking their heads – never had they seen wind at that direction at that velocity for so long!

The minor placing’s were close too with Mornington sailor Graeme 'GT' Taylor on Magpie taking out fourth place with 44 points, Noel 'Nitro' Drennan on Jack’s Hut fifth on count back 51 points from Gary Boyd on B Squared; Damien King on Barry 54 points; Brad Sheridan US Forces 1223 57 points; Cameron Miles on Are we there yet ? 59 points and 10th place went to David Clark’s Fifteen 64 points.

Special Mentions must go to the 'Big Boat' boys from Living Doll – Mike Hiatt bought two Etchells from the US mid last year and his 'partner in crime' Shogun Skipper Rob Hanna a new one too and all three boats – Bad Doll, Extra Bad Doll and Smoking Gun had a good Regatta.

Unfortunately Mike Hiatt was unable to steer due to a broken elbow sustained on Living Doll at this year’s Sydney to Hobart, so he was resting up to compete in Audi Victoria Week but came down a few days to spectate and cheer the boys on. My favourite boat – Grand V or 'the Red boat' as we named her for her red hull had a glamour end to the Regatta with a 10th. The boat, owned by Gordon Hinds was purchased for a mere $5,000 – hence the name.

I was certainly honoured to be in such fine sailing Company and revelled in it all. RGYC did a marvellous job in hosting us all – especially the cafe girls who got swamped on the testing days where 51 teams from 12 odd yacht clubs bunkered down at the club whilst Race Officials tried diligently to get us out and racing. Next stop Victorian State Titles, March long weekend hosted by Royal Brighton Yacht Club.

www.etchells.org.au/

Sea Sure 2025Zhik 2024 DecemberV-DRY-X

Related Articles

Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 2
Philip Köster triumphs again in Pozo Izquierdo The 37th edition of the Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup delivered a thrilling second day this Sunday, once again marked by strong winds and the talent of the world's best windsurfers.
Posted today at 8:47 pm
A perfect start to the 5th annual AEGEAN 600
Cloudless blue skies, crystal clear waters and perfect 12-15 knots of northerly wind At the very southern end of the Greek mainland at Cape Sounion in Attica, today's start to the 5th edition of the AEGEAN 600 was perfect: cloudless blue skies, crystal clear waters and perfect 12-15 knots of northerly wind.
Posted today at 8:39 pm
29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 4
One race, one storm, and one big lay day vibe With qualification wrapped and the fleet now split into six groups—Gold, Silver, Bronze, Emerald, Purple, and White—Day 4 of the 29er Europeans kicked off with early optimism and an earlier-than-usual launch in pursuit of the morning breeze.
Posted today at 7:09 pm
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 1
Full foiling conditions launch the World Championship with four high-intensity races for both fleets The iQFOiL World Championship kicked off today in Aarhus with dynamic and demanding conditions that truly tested the world's top foiling windsurfers. The wind was anything but steady, shifting in both direction and intensity throughout the day.
Posted today at 7:01 pm
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais overall
American Magic Quantum Racing win Rolex TP52 Worlds after breezy week in Cascais. Doug DeVos' American Magic Quantum Racing crew were crowned 2025 Rolex TP52 World Champions today in Cascais, Portugal.
Posted today at 6:54 pm
Red Bull Sailing Academy Opens
A new hub for current and future superstars to reach the top of their sport Marina Monfalcone, North Italy, made waves yesterday, as sports superstars gathered to open the Red Bull Sailing Academy, marking the beginning of a new era in the sport.
Posted today at 12:53 pm
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 1
Philip Köster edges out Marcilio Browne in one of the closest finals ever Philip Köster edges out Marcilio Browne in one of the closest finals ever as Pozo delivers 50 knot winds and waves.
Posted today at 11:42 am
America's Cup: French give the Brits the "Hurry-up
Frustration builds between Cup factions over lack of progress with Protocol. Last weekend's missive from the French America's Cup challenge team is further evidence over the building frustration with progress towards the 2027 America's Cup in Naples.
Posted today at 11:12 am
The oldest video footage of Moth sailing
A look back into our video archive, to when the name of this class first settled down We delve into our video archive to find the oldest possible videos that show Moth racing. Are these International Moths, British Moths... or was the name still Olive, Inverloch 11ft, National Moth or Brent One-Design?!
Posted today at 11:00 am
GKSS Match Cup & Nordea Women's Trophy overall
It is the first time the Match Cup Sweden title has been won by a Danish Skipper Denmark's Jeppe Borch/ Team Borch Match Race, and France's Pauline Courtois/ Match in Pink by Normandy crowned the new champions of Marstrand in a day of fierce weather for the final of 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy in Marstrand.
Posted today at 7:14 am