Yachting NSW Youth Championships - What a difference a day makes!

by Mainsheet Media on 2 Oct 2012 After recording winds of over 34 knots on the abandoned race course on day one of the Nautilus Marine Yachting NSW Youth Championships, day two saw the sailors spend three hours in light and variable conditions before the first race.

The 200 boats headed out onto Lake Macquarie from the boat park at Belmont 16ft Sailing Club with an almost sanguine attitude. After the strong winds and vicious chop on day one, they were heading out into barely a whisper of wind.

Competitors were on the race courses at 9:30am ready for starts scheduled for 10:00am. The wind was still not on their side however with the first races not getting underway until around 12:40pm. Support boats that had been on rescue duty were now on water delivery duty as the competitors got in more light air practice than they really wanted.

When racing started on both course A and B the PROs didn’t waste any time. Most classes got four races in whilst some even had five.

The Optimists had five races once the wind settled and Max Quirk from Queensland is still at the top of the leader board in a very strong position. With seven races sailed, Quirk is on eight points with the second placed Cameron Gise, also from Queensland, on 23 points. Eva Lorenz (QLD) has dropped back to fourth letting James Grogan (VIC) into third place on 27 points.

In the Sabots Tom Stivano (NSW) has broken into first place from third on the first day. Also completing five races, the Sabot fleet has seen more movement in the top three with San Jin Goodridge (NSW) up to second on 22 points, and Jed Fatches (NSW) moving to third on 24.

The Sabot 2-up class has Tomas Larkings and Eve Peel (NSW) in first place, with Sebastion Majarian (NSW) on his boat Wipeout in second.

After not racing on day one the Flying Ants had five races on day two. Purple Haze with Patrick Corbett and Bradley Bower (NSW) have a good lead after taking the gun in all five, with Lachlan and Mitchel Nardon (NSW) guiding their Misguided Missle into second. Abigail Hamilton and Talayna Best (NSW) round off the top three.

Five races again for the Open Bics. Tom Grimes (NSW) continues to hold onto first on seven points from his sister Jessica Grimes (NSW) on ten points, whilst Margot Mason (NSW) has edged into third.

Annalise Gilbert (NSW) is in the groove on the Bic Techno boards as she holds onto a five point lead over Jock Calvert (TAS) and Antoine King (NSW). Calvert and King are both on 13 points and some slick gybing around the mark has enabled Gilbert to keep the pressure on the guys.

Furious state against state action has made the Laser Radial fleet one of the most exciting to watch in the 2012 Championships. Thomas Vincent (VIC) still holds onto the lead with eight points, William Bates (QLD) still holds second and Stuart Plenderleith (NSW) still holds third. This hasn’t dampened the competition however as Anna Vaughan (TAS) and Cassandra Schlimbach (ACT) are putting a lot of pressure on the top three.

The Laser 4.7 fleet has seen a whole new top three come through on the second day. Conditions must suit as Brodie Crossman (NSW) on eight points now has a six point lead over second place holder Massimo Fecht (VIC). Third place is Finnian Alexander (NSW).

Owen Long and Thomas Steenson (NSW) continue on their winning way in the 42 strong Flying 11 fleet on 13 points. Finn Gilbert and Tom Smith (NSW) have leapt up into second place just six points behind. Gilbert and Smith have been showing some excellent form at times making the top mark with over a gap of over ten boat lengths. Beynon Telford and Anita McCallum (NSW) round off the top three on 25 points.

The 420s still have James Griffin and Thomas Milburn (NSW) in first place after two days of racing. Second and third place have changed however with the quirkily named Drag Queen with Klaus Lorenz and James Scott (QLD) taking second on 12 points and Dana Tavener and Catherine Pagett (NSW) in third on 15 points.

The 29ers tend to put on a bit of a show and after Belmont locals Harry Morton and Israel Smith showed a clean pair of chines on the first day, unfortunately they have slipped back to seventh after the second day. Ship Happens just happens to be their boat name and as they have only sailed together for six months, they are sure to improve in coming regattas.

Queenslander 29er crew Charlie Wyatt and Lewis Brake have made the long trip down for this regatta and they now lead by nine points over Jim Colley and Shaun Connor (NSW) on 17, and Henry and Grant Makin (NSW) in third on 21 points.

The third and final day of the regatta looks like being a lighter wind day again and as one of the largest regattas Lake Macquarie has seen for a while, as General Manager of Yachting NSW David Edwards said 'what a great way to start a Yacthing NSW Youth Champs website