Aaron Linton defeats Steve McConaghy in Fanta Sea Cruises/Hamilton Island Laser Championships

by Di Pearson on 18 Aug 2003 No race series would be complete without a bit of a challenge in a production boat. It sorts out the men from the boys and the women from the girls, and that is what happened today on beautiful Hamilton Island on the layday of the Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race Week.

Michael Spies was Director of proceedings, a bit of a shame, because he’s a fairly dab hand at the helm himself, a large entry of sixty four competitors for this very popular event which featured 16 heats, with four into the semis, then the final.

The course was inside the marina – approximately 200 yards of windward/leeward one and two lap races in very light airs. May the skilled and the light win!

Start line was between the two marks, the course so short that the umpires made competitors capsize and re-right their boats for any penalties incurred – maybe that should try that at some of the Grade 1 and 2 events – I bet it would cut down the penalty rate.

First rounders to face three other competitors, the winner of each going through to the next stage where they faced only one other competitor – match racing style.

There were a number of star competitors out there, sorry to say that John Bertrand, Russell Coutts, Cameron Miles and Nev Wittey, did not compete – perhaps they decided to let everyone else off the hook.

However, we did spy Jan ‘Clogs’ Scholten there, along with 1996 Soling Olympic rep. Steve ‘Macca’ McConaghy, young Tom Spithill gave it a go, and is sure to follow in brother James and sister Kate’s match racing footsteps. Aaron Linton and a number of girls entered too.

Nev Wittey, commentating from the course, reported that a young girl of around 12 years of age, and thought to be a Sabot champion, sailed with plenty of skill, ‘yes, it was light on the course, but she had the thing planing, she was impressive and one to watch for the future.’

Unfortunately, he does not know her name, typical of a bloke, but if you identify yourself to the writer, I will make sure you get a mention.

Into the semi-finals went Steve McConaghy sailing here on Colin O’Neil’s Aftershock, Aaron Linton from the local Sydney 38, Asylum, owned and skippered by one of the race favourites and Hamilton Island CEO Wayne Kirkpatrick, Tony McCrae from the Victorian entry Prowler and the token Kiwi, Brad Rush.

In the end, it was McConaghy and Linton into the final, where, Nev Wittey says, Linton, a former youth sailor from Queensland, and extremely talented sailor, got all the luck.

‘I don’t want to take away from his ability, because he is a very good sailor, but he got out of trouble numerous times very luckily, whereas Steve had to fight hard to stay alive.

Linton carted off the $500.00 prize money, along with dinner for the entire crew on Asylum, whilst McConaghy, as runner-up, also scored dinner for his entire crew.

I’m free for dinner guys.

Thanks to the sponsors and Michael Spies for a fabulous day had by all, and we look forward to next year’s event.