Australian Sailing Team -‘King of the Docklands

by SDI Event Media on 22 Jan 2008 The sun was out briefly for a Super Sunday of sailing for day two of Skandia Docklands Invitational. While the ocean racing yachts raced out on Port Philip, twenty teams of elite sailors also gathered to race in super-slick one-design sports boats as part of the Vectrix SB3 King of the Docklands event. An impressive first prize, a Vectrix High Performance electric maxi-scooter, provided good incentive for some great competition on the water.

Anticipation was intense as crews prepared to take part in the high adrenalin competition at Victoria Harbour at Melbourne’s Docklands. The harbour was transformed into a hive of activity when boats of all shapes and sizes took to the water for various events, with many describing the blustery southerly wind as potentially chaotic.

Oceanburo had a strong advantage in race one, being the Australian distributors for SB3s, skipper Kai Timm, is a tactician and top sailing coach in his own right. However, this edge didn’t help them win their heat, instead dual Olympic Medalist and ten time world champion Mitch Booth and his team took out the first heat of the day.

In race two, the Australian Sailing Team, skippered by Tom Slingsby took line honours and Andrew Campbell’s North Atlantic Sailing Team (NATO) raced to glory in the third heat. Campbell, a member of the US Olympic Sailing Team and former Youth World Champion was joined by Finn Sailor Ed Wright, a member of the British sailing team and Dave Wright, a Laser sailor and member of the Canadian Sailing Team.

Race four saw well-respected sailor and editor of Australian Sailing Magazine, Vanessa Dudley and her crew showing some early speed and technique to clinch the final heat.

Racing in short courses, there was no room for error as the experienced sailors pitted against one another put their boats to the test in a thrilling final. Laser World Champion Tom Slingsby, 49er World Champion Nathan Outteridge, 470 World Champion Nathan Wilmot and Radial National Champion Sarah Blanck, Captain of the Australian Sailing Team consolidated their considerable skills to outrace their opponents.

Arriving back at the dock Tom Slingsby was full of praise for the Dart SB3 sports boat, a relative newcomer on the Australian sailing scene. “It was nice to sail, it would get up and plane and was tactical to sail upwind” he said adding “we had a great time out there”

In a generous gesture, the four sailors of Team AST will donate their prize, a revolutionary Zero-emission Vectrix electric vehicle valued at $17,500, to the Australian Paralympic team and look forward to defending their “King of the Docklands” title at next years’ Skandia Docklands Invitational event.

The Vectrix SB3 King of the Docklands event was part of Skandia Docklands Invitational, which was proudly presented by Skandia, the Victorian State Government, the City of Melbourne, The Age and the organising authority, Royal Geelong Yacht Club.

For further information, please visit www.docklandsinvitational.com