Sail Port Stephens - ‘Clogs’ takes the lead from reigning champ

by Di Pearson on 17 Apr 2010 Jan ‘Clogs’ Scholten from Sydney has taken the lead off the reigning champion at the SB3 Australian Championship being sailed at Sail Port Stephens this week – and this after only sailing the SB3 Dart for three days!

After winning the opening race yesterday Clogs pulled off a pair of second places and a fourth in today’s three races sailed on Salamander Bay to take the lead. Windsurfing champion, Dennis Winstanley from Queensland has moved into second place after scoring two wins, but had a disastrous 13th in between.

Scholten is a talented all-round sailor, with wins in many classes including grand prix yachts, one design classes and more recently Lasers. He won the Laser Master world’s title in 2008 after a short stint in the class.

Sailing with Lindsay Whitton and Chris Dawson, Clogs said: “We had a good day. I think we are doing well because we are staying open-minded. We know each other well too and we are all Laser sailors, and I think that helps.”

“This boat is like sailing a Laser upwind and downwind it has an extra sail (spinnaker) – wheeeee! I am lucky that my crew are putting in 100 percent like me – that’s what it’s about, crew work.”

Scholten went on to explain that the class rules disallow sailors to sit outside the gunwale of the boat. “It has barbed wire and a stop sign there – so we can’t go there,” he joked.

Representing the Royal Prince Alfred YC at Pittwater, Scholten, who is sponsored by the SB3 mast and boom manufacturer Selden, said: “The SB3 is a well thought-out boat and I’d love to sail it in a blow. Sadly, we’ve had very light breeze for the Championship so far.”

Despite leading the series coming into today’s three races and notching up a win in Race five, the current Australian champion, Jono Shelley, has dropped to third overall. The British sailor who lives in Queensland went out the back door with an 18th place in Race six and only has tomorrow to make a recovery.

Seventeen boats are taking part in the Australian Championship which concludes at Port Stephens tomorrow with windward/leeward races due to start from 11.00am on Salamander Bay.

The event closes with the Official Presentation at d’Albora Marina following racing.

For further information, please visit: www.sailportstephens.com.au