Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week - Blazer 23 Musto sets trend
by Ian Grant on 17 Aug 2009
Team Musto Ian Grant
Gold Coast sailing mates Shane Smith, Adam Lahey and Jacob Restall have a lot in common with their combined skill allowing the small Blazer 23 Musto to be a star performer in the Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week.
The trio who have come away from the colder climate to enjoy some fun sailing in the tropical winter sun are the only crew in the 100 yacht fleet representing clubs from West Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland to score ‘five bullets’ in the opening five races.
Skipper Shane Smith now the resident sailing coach at the Southport Yacht Club was a ‘pint size’ teenager when he steered Sabattack to a Gold Medal in the 1991 Australian Sabot championship over the Whitsunday Sailing Club courses on Pioneer Bay.
During the past week his tactical skill combined with the sail handling technique provided by Adam Lahey and Jacob Restall has paved the way for Musto to firm a vice-like grip on the inshore Sportsboat class championship.
Shane Smith is still a relatively lightweight but he packs the tactical punch of a super heavyweight when he enters the ‘dog-fight’ to sort the best from the rest on the race course.
Their combined form has allowed Musto to retain better than average boat speed in below average strength sailing winds.
'Our initial plan was to approach the racing with a high degree of fun factor but then race seriously at the same time'.
'From our results it appears we have got the light (wind) right'. He said.
They are also a lethal sailing team in fresh winds having reached 20 knots under spinnaker when 30 knot winds turned a pre-championship practice session on the Southport Broadwater into a survival test.
'We had a ball reaching down wind at 20 knots with Musto showing no bad habits. 'He said.
This reputation backed by their unmatched boat speed in light winds suggests the Musto crew sailing one of the older designs at the regatta could become the only champion to win with a perfect score.
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