Australian Sabot Championships - Thunderstruck bolts ahead

by Peter McIntosh on 31 Dec 2009
Australian Sabot Championships.

Thunderstruck, skippered by Gosford's Vardon Robson, bolted to the lead after the second day of racing in the 46th Australian Sabot Championships on Brisbane Water.

Robson recorded his first win today (Wednesday) and thanks to consistent high placings is 7 points clear of South Queenslander Joel Turner in the 63-strong senior division.

Southern NSW competitor Dylan Passmore is currently just behind Turner in third spot and Victorian Oliver Kalpokas is fourth with a first and second placing to his credit.

As the southerly system gradually lost strength and the wind eased from 12 knots and shifted to the east course changes were required but principal race officer Huge Leicester and his team handled the tricky conditions efficiently and with minimal delays between races.

Northern NSW sailors had a pretty pleasing day on their home turf with Kirk Mitchell recording his first win in the fourth race to be fifth overall and Matt Lang placing third in the third race. Teammates Kurt Hansen and Henry Makin recorded their best results in the fourth race with a seventh and eighth respectively and lightweight Bradley Leicester pulled off a ninth.

In the junior fleet of 18, Gosford's Sophie McIntosh and Jordan Makin in Double Diamond consolidated their lead with a first and second, nine points clear of Dana and Jessica Tavener, of Drummoyne. The pirates, Gosford's Blake and Ashleigh Robson in Black Pearl, are currently third and having recorded three second placings they remain firm title chances with six races remaining and a possible two drops to come into play.

Tasmanians Thomas Cooper and Isabella Millhouse lead much of the fourth race but fell victim to the wind shifts and instead South Queensland's Lily Geck and Carlton Smith notched up their first victory in a shortened race.

The championships have been sponsored by Robson Civil Projects and Performance Sailcraft Australia, with daily prizes being awarded by Ronstan, Zhik and the Australian Reptile Park.

The championships wind up on Sunday.