Having a Swell Time in Mooloolaba

The latest sky Day One ADCO Etchells Australasian Winter Championship  ADCO Etchells Australasian Winter Media

Heading out to the 2012 ADCO Etchells Australasian Winter Championship course shortly, combination of swell and seaway will give us four-five metres. There is a mixture of rain and sunlight in the distance and now up close in the water, forecast is 15-20 knots with gusts to 25 so it will be an interesting day on the water.

Lots of TV interest in this classic one design event, we had a long segment on Win TV-9 news last night, and Channel 10 state-wide did their weather report with the help of the three young Etchells sailors. This morning Channel 7 will be with us.


When you looked around the room at the Welcome function last night at the Wharf Tavern, most of the Etchells class big guns are here, just a few months after an intensive Etchells Worlds in Sydney. We are missing Damien King and John Bertrand, but they will be back next time.

As Roger Hickman said 'It might only be a 40 boat fleet, but its all class. As relative newbies (only third Mid-Winters) if we can finish top 30 we will be pleased.'

Mark Thornburrow from Hong Kong is sailing his fourth event in Australia in the last year. He has Bucky Smith from the 2009 Etchells World Champion crew with him. Mark said ‘Just love this regatta, varied offshore conditions, sometimes strong as we are about to have, sometimes soft but blue skies and always always great competition.'

Expecting big things today of Colin Beashel with his knockabout crew of Richie Allanson and Gary Gudmunson, also from Dave Clark, Tom King, Chris Hampton, Mark Johnson, Ross Lloyd, Peter McNeil, Dave Rose, GT (Graeme Taylor), Jake Gunther, Jeanne-Claude Strong, Mark Bulka - heck in fact the whole fleet.

Mooloolaba Fleet captain Trevor Martin said last night ‘The healthy thing for this event is that just on half of the fleet are first timers at the Mid-Winters.'

We will be reporting from the water all day.

Have a great Friday - we will!!

Mooloolah River Mouth yesterday. ADCO Etchells Australasian Winter Championship  ADCO Etchells Australasian Winter Media

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