Western Australian Etchells Championship - Competition set to sizzle

by Etchells Swan River Fleet on 15 Mar 2013 The Western Australian Etchells Championship, hosted by the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, is set to commence this weekend on the Swan River. The seven-race series has attracted the best Etchells sailors in the state with up to 25 boats completing their weigh in and registration last night amongst thunderstorms, torrential rain and lightning amongst the beautiful setting at RFBYC.

Following a wet, wild and very windy National Championship off Fremantle in January the local fleet is looking forward to sailing in the relative confines of the Swan River. The forecast looks light and flukey and with some storm systems around the famous Fremantle Doctor may not be making its usual house call.

Western Australia is blessed with some of the best Etchells sailors in the country and two time and current National Champion Michael Manford and his crew of Dean McAullay and Nick Gray on the Croc will be hoping to add to the trophy cabinet to complete a successful summer.

Of course, past National Champions Peter Chappell on 1382 and Skip Lissiman on Bandwagon will be trying to spoil the party. So too will Dirk van der Struyf on Chilly Bin, who recently notched a sixth at the NSW State Championships, others to watch out for are the Lovelady brothers Mark and Grant sailing Heart Starter and the Mirsky racing team who were impressive off Fremantle in January.

So the stage is set – let the sizzle Western Australian Etchells Championship 2013