Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2021 (Spars-QFX Racer) 728x90 TOP

Kids and veterans the true heroes of Heron racing

by Pamela Johnston on 2 Feb 2012
Jerome Watts and Oliver Gorman tackle the top mark Rhys Llewellyn
After nine days of sailing at the recent Heron National Championships held at Lake Macquarie, it was clear who the heroes were – the kids.

Day after day, it was the junior skippers and crew – as young as four – who were the most eager to head out in all weather conditions to race around the orange buoys in the 62-strong fleet.

Equally impressive were the veterans, some aged in their 70s, who were often the first teams off the beach.

As the winner of the 53rd national Heron series, Greg Harris (41) from Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club (NLSC) NSW, says, ‘Heron sailing is all about the kids and families’.

'That is the best thing about Heron sailing, everyone is involved: kids, mums, dads, grandparents,' says Harris.

In fact, he attributes some of his success to his eight-year-old crew, Kai Johnston.

'I credit a large part of this win to my fantastic crew, Kai Johnston, who only started crewing at the beginning of this season, but has become really professional at the tender age of eight,' says Harris.


Second place went to Paul Armstrong and his young crew, William Armstrong (7), from Dobroyd Aquatic Club (DAC) NSW, and third place went to Brien Hennessy and Rosalie Hennessy (8), from Perth Dinghy Sailing Club in WA.

The first veteran, Bill Peterson and his crew Nina Peterson, also from NSW, ranked 10th overall.

The first junior team, Jerome Watts (14) and Oliver Gorman (12), from Georges River Sailing Club (GRSC) NSW, placed 21st overall. The second junior team was Matt Doyle and Matthew Arthur from DAC, and third was Georgia Llewellyn and Eleanor Macgregor from NLSC.

Watts says that while it was a very testing regatta, he and his crew sailed better than they ever have before and, more importantly, had plenty of fun on and off the water.

'We definitely sailed our best, but the real highlights of the regatta were the social events. You just can’t find a more fun class of boat than the Heron,' he says.

With Mother Nature throwing every sort of weather pattern at the fleet, it offered everyone the chance to sail in all conditions and evened out the strengths and weaknesses of each team and their boats.

Twenty knot breezes gave the heavy boats a fighting chance, light breezes saw the smaller teams head further up the pack, while storm squalls and chop that created dizziness akin to spinning in a washing machine tested the entire fleet.


On two of the six race days, the 11-foot Herons even had 40-foot yachts and Etchells to be mindful of as each class raced around the same course. It certainly made for some interesting and challenging meetings on the water.

Other trophies went to:
1st Handicap - Tony Cope (VIC), Isabella Cope
1st Unplaced Interstate Boat - Richard Gibson (SA), Sophie Bredhauer
1st Unplaced NSW Boat - Ian MacGregor, Annie MacGregor
1st Family - Matthew Brown (QLD), Julia Brown
1st Lady - Emma Duncan (QLD), Rory Brown

For series results, go to the 'news' section on the Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club website, www.narrabeenlakessailingclub.com.

Barton Marine Pipe GlandsHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Related Articles

Oliver Heer confirms 2028 Vendée Globe ambition
The Swiss skipper aims to return for the 2028 edition of the legendary solo race with a newer boat After completing the Vendée Globe 2024 on his first attempt, Oliver Heer, the Swiss-German skipper of Tut gut Sailing, has confirmed his intention to return for the 2028 edition of the legendary solo race.
Posted today at 8:18 am
SailingFast to provide unrivalled event support
During the WASZP Games at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy SailingFast UK is set to land in Weymouth on the 8th of July and will be on-site until the 26th of July to provide the GOLD STANDARD in event support.
Posted today at 7:00 am
2025 29er Europeans at Lake Garda Opening Ceremony
More than 500 sailors paraded through the Riva del Garda's beautiful streets The 2025 29er European Championship officially opened today in stunning Riva del Garda, hosted by Fraglia Vela Riva. More than 500 sailors paraded through the city's beautiful streets in a colorful, high-energy opening ceremony.
Posted on 2 Jul
The power of tech
What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it?
Posted on 2 Jul
Jazz Turner Faces Everything and Rises
Non-stop, solo, unassisted British Isles navigation has captivated sailors & non-sailors alike Jazz Turner's Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin Vega 27ft yacht has captivated sailors and non-sailors alike.
Posted on 2 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D3
Surprise exits in Marstrand as Quarter-Finalists decided The qualifying round-robin stages at GKSS Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand finished today with the surprise departure of defending champion USA's Chris Poole/ Riptide Racing and Switzerland's Eric Monnin/ Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team from the Open Class.
Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 1
Sled sparkle in Cascais' Atlantic surf to lead After seemingly being starved of boisterous top end conditions for some years now Okura's Sled crew have been relishing a return to big breezes and big waves.
Posted on 2 Jul
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros overall
The Meltemi winds once again set the stage for the final day As the riders gathered at the event site of the 2025 FPT Paros for one last time and the Meltemi winds once again began blowing strong, the stage for the final day of the event was set.
Posted on 2 Jul
CSA commits to collaboration and sustainability
This year's AGM saw participation from a diverse group of stakeholders The Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) proudly announces the successful conclusion of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Regatta Organizers Conference, held from June 25 to June 28, 2025, in St. Maarten.
Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: Offshore classics set to race
IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it. While French round the world race legend Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (aka VDH) isn't competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, two of his former steeds will be on the IRC Zero start line.
Posted on 2 Jul