Aust and Int'l Access Class Championships

by David Staley on 11 Apr 2007 The Freemasons 2007 Australian & International Access Class Championships have been completed at the Adelaide Sailing Club after 3 magnificent sunny days of racing.

Winds varied from 5 – 15 knots, both offshore and onshore, providing an excellent range of sailing conditions for the 74 competitors from 4 nations. It was the 2-3 knot tidal current that caught many competitors out, especially those more accustomed to inland waters.

Competition in a number of the divisions came right down to the wire.

In the Access 2.3 Experienced Division, the Australian Championships was won by 17 year old Duncan MacGregor (QLD). MacGregor and Yoko Okita (JPN) were tied for the International Championship going into the last day, but MacGregor won the Australian and International trophies after 1-2 placings today. 3rd and 4th placed sailors Madeline Weatherly (VIC) and Debbie Boys (ACT) were also tied after the second day, but it was Weatherly who won through to take 2nd Australian and 3rd International.
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed] In the Access 2.3 Intermediate division, Kazuaki Kaido (JPN) took the win from Robert Eadie (TAS). Takamasa Saito (JPN) edged out Sonja Gilmore (QLD) for third. Gilmore struggled with gear damage on day 2 and the stronger gusty conditions on the final day, but it was a determined effort from Gilmore who is part of the team that will represent Australia at the Special Olympics World Summer Games Sailing competition later this year in Shanghai.

Novice sailors are encouraged to participate in the Access Championships, both in two-person divisions and the 2.3 Novice division for solo sailors. In this division, first time participants Nathan and Karen Kelly took 1st and 2nd places ahead of Bronwyn Ibbotson. All were from Canberra, ACT.

The Access 303 single-person Division 6 was hotly contested. Jim Brown (NSW) and Michael Leydon (ACT) were tied on points going in to the last day of racing and each scored 1-2 today, so it came down to the result of the final race, won by Brown. Alison Weatherly (VIC) secured 3rd spot, holding out Genevieve Wickham (WA) who had to settle for 4th after her 2nd place last year.

In the two-person Access 303 competition, Michael Leydon & Debbie Boys (ACT) teamed up to dominate the racing. They stamped their authority on the fleet early and had a clear win over Alison & David Weatherly (VIC) and Heather Hadley–Powell & Bruce James (VIC). Just out of the podium places was the husband & wife team of John & Christine Elliott (NSW).

The Liberty fleet was raced as one, with results extracted for the open and servo-electric operated boats. Charles Weatherly (VIC), a previous Australian 2.3 and 303 Champion and long-time supporter of the Access classes, won every heat of the regatta leaving no doubt about his knowledge and superior skill in these boats.
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed] Joshua McKenzie-Brown (NZL) finished with 2-3 placings today to take 2nd overall. The 16 year old Joshua represented his country in the Liberty at the FESPIC Games in Malaysia last year and is planning to continue his Liberty campaign at the Access Worlds in Canada in August. Barry Coates (QLD) went 3-2 on the final day to even up the points and snatch 3rd place on a tie-break from Pittwater sailor, Helen Cregan (NSW).

Colin Johanson (VIC) won the servo-electric Liberty Division.

'The regatta has been fantastic', enthused the Access Class Vice-President Championships, Terry Peek.

'We have increased our entries by 40% over last year, attracted teams from New Zealand and Japan, and the Adelaide Sailing Club has done a magnificent job of running the event', he said.

'The weather could not have been better and we hope for similar when the Championships are hosted next year in Canberra', said Mr Peek.

http://www.accessclass.org