Vance cousins win third successive WA Pacific National Cherub Title

by Cameron Rule on 6 Apr 2011
For the third year in a row Steve and Blake Vance on Serenity Now from Perth Dinghy Sailing Club have won the Pacific National WA Cherub Championships. Off to a shaky start, the boys found their form after heat 2 winning six out of the remaining eight heats. After such a successful career in Cherubs, the Vance cousins will concentrate on sailing their 14 foot skiff.

Second place was tied between Cam Rule and Cain McVee on Cunning Linguist from Mounts Bay Sailing Club and Brennan Stead and Elliot Mahar on Fine Mess from Perth Dinghy Sailing Club. On count back however, Cunning Linguist won out taking the runner up position again.

The ten race championship was held over four months at Mounts Bay Sailing Club, Perth Dinghy Sailing Club, Koombana Bay Sailing Club and Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club. The sailors were treated to some strong wind, in particular a 20 knot plus offshore breeze at Mandurah Offshore Sailing and Fishing Club. In fact the last race on the Sunday was cancelled due to dangerous conditions. Highlighting the gnarly conditions, heat 7 saw Cunning Linguist, then Fine Mess both cart wheel just before the downwind finish line. Cunning Linguist managed to still win the race, however whilst Fine Mess was one metre away from floating through the line Serenity Now flew past and took second position.

Alistair Standing and Rachel Jones on Juicy showed glimpse of brilliance by sailing for survival in the heavy offshore wind in Mandurah to place second in heat 6 and then by winning heat 10 at Mounts Bay Sailing Club by demonstrating tactical superiority in the light conditions.

The social side of the competition was, as always, just as exciting as the racing. The sailors enjoyed the weekend stays, particularly visiting the clubs and pubs in Mandurah and Bunbury.

Proud sponsors Pacific National, Australia's largest private rail freight operator, assisted the State team transporting their Cherubs to the National Championships in Adelaide.