Zhik 29er, 49er and FX Australian Championships - Winners announced
by David Staley on 3 Jan 2014
Wyatt &Siganto lead out a 29er start pack - Zhik29er, 49er and FX Australian Championships 2013 David Price
Zhik 29er, 49er and FX Australian Championships 2013 final races were completed at Royal Brighton Yacht Club today. It was a fine but overcast afternoon with southerly breezes steadily building 10 to 15 knots ahead of the forecast westerly change.
Charlie Wyatt and Tom Siganto (QLD) have held their position at the top of the table since an impressive first day, having built an eight point lead by last night. They were able to drop their 11th placing in today’s first race and their fourth in the final race was enough to give them a three point margin and claim to the Australian 29er Championship.
Kurt Hansen and Harry Morton (NSW) sailed consistently throughout the regatta to secure a comfortable second place overall. They finished four points ahead ofJim Colley and Shaun O’Connor (NSW) in third place in the 55 boat fleet.
David Gilmour and Sam Phillips (WA) won both races today to claim the National Championship at the last possible minute.
Finishing on equal points with the leaders throughout the regatta, Steven Thomas and Jasper Warren (WA), their two wins today gave Gilmour and Phillips the tie-break. Will Phillips and Rhys Mara (VIC) would have been disappointed with their two sixth places today, but have secured their podium position with a 19 point break.
In the 49er FX competition, Tessa Parkinson and Chelsea Hall (WA) won the first race today, making it eight wins from 15 starts and reinforcing their command of the fleet. A little slow out of the blocks with a Six-Five-One their first day’s effort; the West Australians were top three for the remainder of the races except one seventh place they could drop. They won the Australian 49er FX Championship with 18 points to spare.
Olivia Price and Eliza Solly (NSW/VIC) secured second overall after leading on day one, but the teams of Hayley Outteridge and Ella Clark (NSW), and Harry Price and Angus Williams (NSW) started the final race of the regatta on equal points. Price and Williams took a win to claim the final podium place.
From the perspective of Principal Race Officer Peter Moor, it has been a highly successful regatta at Brighton.
'The good run of weather (although a bit cool at times) and the fairly consistent southerly breezes have enabled us to complete a full 16 race program. That’s what the sailors want'.
'The race management team from the host club were very welcoming to me and Tony Outteridge as visiting race officers. The team’s experience was boosted with some class association volunteers to provide a really efficiently run regatta on the water', said PRO Moor.
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