Sabot Sailors Sprint to the Zones!

by Robyn Valentine on 28 Feb 2006 The Southern NSW Sabot Sailing association conducted the 2006 Leichhardt Trophies Sabot Sprint and Milo Sabot Zone Championship 10 days ago, on one of the hottest and most humid weekends of the summer.

The weather didn’t appear to worry the young sailors’ though, as they were ready and rigged to hit the water by noon on the Saturday and 9.00am on Sunday.

The event was based on a series of eight sprint and short course races over the two days, held on the picturesque Parramatta River, France and Hen & Chicken Bays.

The Sabot is Australia’s premier junior sailing class and racing is conducted under two separate divisions - ‘2-up’ or Junior Division where both the Skipper and Crew are under 12 years of age, and the ‘1-up’ or Senior Division whereby the skipper is between 11 and 16 years of age.

A flotilla of spectator boats took up vantage points around the course to watch the event, which was organised and hosted by Abbotsford 12 Foot Flying Squadron.

Sailors aged five to sixteen years represented clubs from Yarra Bay, Georges River, Vaucluse, Abbotsford, Hunters Hill, Drummoyne, Dobroyd, Lane Cove and Greenwich.

Many of the young sailors had recently returned from competing in the National Championships and Sabot Week Regattas in Yeppoon Queensland, whilst for others this event was their first taste of racing having recently participated in Sabot association ‘learn to race’ events hosted by Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Club and Drummoyne Sailing Club.

Southern NSW Sabot Sailing Association Vice-President, Andrew Glassock was really happy with the smooth running of the event and the way the young sailors performed,

“All the kids had a great time, considering the weather and the trying breezes. It’s been amazing, witnessing many of them participate in the sabot ‘learn-to-sail’ and ‘learn-to-race’ programmes, and then watching them perform out on the water”, commented Andrew.

The competitors and their families enjoyed a social evening on Saturday following the racing, and an afternoon tea provided by the club on Sunday after the presentation.

Results:

Sprint Champion

Junior 2up “It’s all Good” sailed by Jackson Evans & Greta Quealy
Senior 1up “ Shake a leg 2” sailed by Toby Dind

Zone Champion

Junior 2up “Shake a leg” sailed by Felix Grech & Natalie Koreman
Senior 1up “ Shake a leg 2” sailed by Toby Dind

Handicap winners were

Junior 2up “Little Devils” Nicola Elliot & Imogen King
Senior 1up “Supersonic” Phillip Kurts

The Milo Encouragement Sabot Clogs award were presented to
Junior 2up “Nothing” Eugene Stroinovsky & Nicole Barnes
Senior 1up “Shadowfax” Jennifer Pagett

For all news about sabots sail onto www.sabot.com.au