Sailing at the Mooloolaba Etchells Winters Championship has become part of the tradition for Australian Etchells sailors. Its a tough regatta, 12 so far and 12 different winners.
Brisbane sailor David Rose won the inaugural regatta in 1997. This year he and 11 other skippers are trying to win their second Winter title.
Pre-event there was media attention on those past winning skippers but much less so now.
And Rose has to share the blame for the shift of the spotlight.
Dave, Scott Backhouse and Dave's daughter Taylor-Jane Rose are sailing Fair Bump, Play On.
Usually girls sail Etchells as part of a four person crew, but that is not the case on Fair Bump.
She can be shy but when she gets going she is definitely Dave's daughter. 'I started sailing when I was five and I've done all kinds of sailing. I like the Lasers a lot. I've done an Etchells State title with Dad, but this is my first big fleet regatta.
'It seems I have to do all the real work on this boat, Dad and Scott are just too old' said Taylor-Jane laughing.
Guess every one is old when you are 13!
by Rob Kothe
6:52 AM Sat 6 Jun 2009 GMT
Click here for printer friendly version Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.
If you want to send this story to a friend, please use link below
http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Musto-Etchells-Winters--The-spotlight-shifts/57571
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
Customised news feeds -Marine Industry companies, Clubs and Associations have their own customised version of our Sail-World news feed on their website. Look_here_to_see_examples
