Manly Junior Nationals - a swell time for everyone

by Mark Willson on 7 Jan 2008 Manly Junior National Championships - Race Report for Race 4 and 5, Saturday January 5, 2008

On Saturday 5th of January the fourth and fifth heats of the Manly Junior National Championships were held in a large swell and chop (from ferries, spectator vessels and waves bouncing off the headlands) in the entry to Middle Harbour.

The wind was from the South East at 8 - 10 knots for the morning race but a very light 2 - 5 knots for the afternoon. The light wind in combination with the large swell and chop made for challenging conditions for the fleet.

At times it looked like the small MJs were climbing mountains as they sailed to windward. The fleets light weather sail trim and helming skills were fully tested. In the afternoon the breeze was swinging up to 30 degrees which also required excellent tactics.

In the Open Fleet the day belonged to Too Hot to Hoot - Robert Wojck and Grace Triglone of Manly 16ft SSC as they scored a perfect 1 - 1 record for the day. Second place in the morning race went to Another Dark and Stormy - Billy Ditmarsch and Sam Holmes also of Manly and Seaya - Harvey Bates and Henry Coleman of Cronulla SC in third.

In the after noon second went to Spiked -Paul Darmanin and Lucy Copeland of Manly and third to Another Dark and Stormy Billy Ditmarsch and Sam Holmes also of Manly.

After five races completed it seems that the championships is still wide open with three Manly boats currently filling the top of the points table and best placed for overall honours. Points without a drop for the first 5 boats are:

BOAT 1 2 3 4 5 Points

Spiked 2 1 2 4 2 11
Another Dark and S. 3 5 3 2 3 16
Too Hot to Hoot 1 6 11 1 1 20
Seaya 8 4 6 3 7 28
Full Throttle 7 3 4 7 9 30


In the Novice Fleet Scratch Result Seaking - Isabelle Quigley and Sam Bannon of Cronulla SC sailed very well to win the morning race while Black Cat - Joh and Francis MacDonald of Vaucluse 12ft SC again showed excellent speed in the light winds to win the afternoon race. Second in the morning went to Two Chances - Ben Bannon and Kate MacDonald of CSC and third to Twiggy Two -Clara Kearns and Lara Fox of MH16'SSC. In the afternoon second went to Cheetah - Dominic Ellis and Jamie Hargrave of M16ftSSC and third to Panda - Hannah Lanz and Clare Costanzo of Avalon SC.

On handicap in the Novice Fleet the results after five races are:

BOAT 1 2 3 4 5 Points

Bahari 5 1 5 13 3 27
G Brothers 8 13 3 3 6 33
Children Overboa 1 8 2 7 16 34
More Fear 3 11 7.5 4 10 35.5
Black Cat 2 9 10 11 5 37

After a layday on Sunday and with two races still to come on Monday and Tuesday all the sailors will be keen to improve their position. The wind on Monday is forecast for a brisk 18 - 23 knots and it is sure to test the everyone' skills.