Etchells Australasian Winters - They’re coming from around Australia

by Tracey Johnstone on 22 May 2014 The Etchells sailors are coming from just about everywhere around Australia to compete in the 18th Etchells Australasian Winter Championships which is being run by Mooloolaba Yacht Club from the 5th to 8th June.

With less than two weeks to go the entries are starting to arrive in quickly. It might have something to do with the Late Entry fee date fast approaching or, and more likely, the Outlook diary reminder is saying, ‘time to enter the Etchells Winters’.

Dirk Van Der Struyf will be again by representing West Australia. While it would be good to have a few more entries from the west, at least Van Der Struyf will be able to go home after the event bragging about what the others missed out on.

The Melbourne fleet will be led by Noel Drennan and his team of Glenn Ferguson and John Shalvey. The participation by this multiple World Championship competitor and dual Victorian Champion reinforces the quality of competition expected in Mooloolaba this year.

A new starter from the Melbourne Fleet is Sandringham’s Grant Allen.

Nick Gunner racing with Sam and Simon Gunner are travelling up from the Geelong fleet to compete in their first Etchells Winters.

David Baldwin is the only Cronulla Fleet entry received to date. This will be his first Etchells Winters. Luckily he will have plenty of support and advice coming from the rest of the Winters fleet.

The Sydney Fleet is well represented by skippers Doug McGain, Steve Billingham, Michael Stovin-Bradford, big boat specialist Roger Hickman, North Sails Michael Coxon, Mike Thackray with Ragamuffin 100 crew manager Tony Ellis on the team, and 2011 Etchells Winters and 2012 World Championship winner Tom King.

Out of the Pittwater fleet there is, to date, Geoff Bonouvrie and a very new fleet member and sole female skipper entry, Jill Connell.

Lake Macquarie continues to provide entries with skipper Tom Woods returning to Mooloolaba with his team of Keith Jensen and young Kane Sinclair.

The Lake’s Paul Garaty will also be back in Mooloolaba, using the Etchells Winters as a warm-up event prior to the World Championship. 'We just want to get in as much sailing as we can before we get to Rhode Island. The Winters are a good opportunity. Like the other guys are saying, it’s good opportunity to do some sailing at home and then jump on the plane and do the pre-regatta and then straight into the worlds,' Garaty said.

Travelling north from the Lake is 2004 World Champion crew Greg Torpy. In a turn-up for the books, this regatta Torpy gets to hold onto the helm while his super maxi yacht skipper, Wild Thing’s Grant Wharington, will be on the mainsheet. Torpy has raced the Etchells Winters many times, but this year will be his first time as a skipper.

Southport’s Fleet will be represented by perennial Etchells Winters entrant, Greg Forgan-Smith. An entry from Mark Sanders is also expected.

Mark Bradford is the leading the Brisbane Fleet entry list. He is another skipper who will compete in the Etchells Winters, using it as a warm-up event before heading across to the World Championship.

His fellow skippers will be Stephen Toms, David Healey, Noel Patterson and the very focused 2012 Etchells Winters winners GenXY led by Matthew Chew.

Travelling down from the Whitsunday’s will be the Mojo team led by Simon Ellis.

Organising committee chair, Trevor Martin, said he is expecting at least 35 entries this year. 'There are a few known Etchells sailors that have still not entered. They will be there I know, but may not show up on the entry list until very late in the day.

'I am pleased we are seeing a good number of new skippers to the class and to the Winters. This means there will be some good competition for the Newbie Award,' Martin said.

Online entry closes on the 3th May 2014.

For all event information including the Notice of Race and online entry, go www.mooetchells.yachting.org.au or www.mooloolaba.yachting.org.au

Follow the Etchells Australasian Winter Championship on Facebook, go https://www.facebook.com/MooloolabaEtchells.