NSW Cherub State Championships - Harden Up dominates round 1

by Rolf Lunsmann on 29 Oct 2013 In the 2013-14 NSW Cherub State Championships, Kirk Mitchell and Andrew Stephenson from Drummoyne Sailing Club put their stamp with three straight wins in the first the races of the series. Sailing at Belmont on Lake Macquarie the pair dominated the 26 strong fleet in the first of four rounds that will decide the Championship.

In a fresh 18-22kt conditions on Saturday and then again in more moderate breeze on Sunday they showed great speed and top flight boat handling to set up solid leads in each race. Behind them, the Belmont crew of Brett and Ryan Lancaster managed a set of top three placing to sit second in the overall point score. Current Cherub National Champion Trevor Fay, now sailing with Morgan Frew, rounds out the top three after the first round.

The second round of the series is due to be sailed at Mitchell and Stephenson’s home club of Drummoyne in November where they should again prove hard to beat.

Their boat Harden Up!, is a Matthews design that Mitchell and Stephenson built in the winter of 2012 and which they have been progressively improving since. Their steady progression has now taken them to the very front of the fleet. With the National Championships to be sailed at Bunbury in Western Australia over Christmas, the pair are firming up as early favorites.

Progressive Results NSW States Round one
1, 3170, Harden Up!, Kirk Mitchell and Andrew Stephenson, DSC, 1, 1, 1, 3pts
2, 3158, Causin’ Haavik, Brett Lancaster and Ryan Lancaster, B16SC, 3, 3, 2, 8
3, 3144, Wally, Trevor Fay and Morgan Frew, B16SC6, 2, 4, 6, 12
4, 3116, Hooters, Morgan York and Dylan Neilson, B16SC, 7, 5, 5, 17
5, 3169, New Order. Andrew Stewart and David Stewart, B16SC, 5, 6, 7, 18