WA Mudlark Championship - Blondie victorious at Mounts Bay

by Jenny Honeybun on 5 May 2014 There is another championship title to add to Rosie Hennessey’s fast growing sailing repertoire which includes National, State and Club Heron Championships, all of which have been achieved in only a three year sailing career.

The 2014 Mudlark State Championships were held at Mounts Bay Sailing Club on the weekend fifth and 6th April 2014 in which Rosie Hennessey sailing Blondie sailed a perfect regatta and took out all eight heats including the invitation race.

WA’s home grown entry level sailing dinghy, the Mudlark is enjoying a revival as a popular entry level dinghy for young children to enjoy sailing. Developed here in Western Australia by sailing legend Wally Gaunt, the Mudlark is perfectly suited to local sailing conditions.

At 2.1metres the 20kg single handed dinghy is ideally suited and loads of fun for children up to approximately the age of 12 years old. It is easy to rig, inexpensive to buy and easily transported on the roof of the family car; above all it is highly buoyant and easily righted after a capsize without the need to bail bucket loads of water from the hull. There is ready supply of second hand boats without the necessity to outlay huge expense.

Mudlarks have expanded to Bunbury and are sailed at Koombana Bay Sailing Club who currently have five boat with and other three to four anticipated for the next season, such is the popularity.

The popular Muddy is currently sailed in the Perth area at Perth Dindhy Sailing Club, Mounts Bay Sailing Club and Shelley Sailing Club and also at Mandurah at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club.

For anyone interested in introducing their young children to sailing, they are welcome to visit any of the listed clubs at the beginning of the new sailing season (October 2014) or to contact the Mudlark Association in Perth: Jan Thomas 0401 673 877 (afternoons) or for any sailor in the South West, Bunbury area, Warren Drew 0419 912 490. Walpole Yacht Club has also recently adopted the 'best ever entry boat' which has gone down a treat. The Clubs and the Association also have a list of boats.

Final Gold Fleet Placings
1. Blondie – Rosalie Hennessey (PDSC) – 5 Points
2. Wild Child – Hamish Abercromby (PDSC) – 12 Points
3. Risky Business – Will Drew (KBSC) – 13 Points
4. Bubble Trouble – Jenna Everett (PDSC) – 20 Points
5. Cacka – Lucas Abercromby (PDSC) – 23 Points

Final Silver Fleet Placings
1. Wet Willy – Will (MBSC) – 10 Points
2. Wild Rider – Denver (PDSC) – 10 Points (Countback)
3. Valliant – Ashton (MBSC) – 11 Yachting WA website