Defending Sydney 38 National Champion Lou Abraham’s is facing Another Challenge

by Sail-World on 9 Aug 2002 The Sydney 38 titles start on Airlie Beaches Pioneer Bay tomorrow morning and with such a large and high quality fleet, challenges to the 2001 Sydney 38 Nationals winner could come from any quarter.

The Grandfather of the Sydney 38 Class Lou Abraham’s will be hoping that the south easterly trades stay in hard, because fresh breezes provide the greatest tests of crew work and that has always been Lou’s hallmark.

The last winner in the Sydney 38 Class in Whitsunday racing was Hamilton CEO Wayne Kirkpatrick. His boat Asylum was top boat in the 2002 Hahn Premium regatta and his Whitsunday local crew has been training hard and their local experience will continue to give them an edge.

Graham Gibson’s experienced Ninety-Seven crew sailed well in the Southport race and will be keen to see some strong weather.

Challenges will come from Peter McNamara’s AMI Jade, in excellent form in the short period it’s been in the water. Expect to see the green hull stripes early at the turning marks.

Hugo Van Kretchmar helmed Bashful into third place in the NSW titles and Cameron Miles will be keen to improve on their second in the same series.

Bruce Taylor and his Chutzpah is another new crew who are sure to do well. Bruce is looking forward to sailing his first ever one design regatta against the old Master Lou Abraham’s.

Brett Neil and Peter Taylor from Auckland can be expected to sail their chartered Yandoo into contention. Brett won the 2000 series and will be keen to show that he can repeat that performance in a much bigger and tougher fleet.

The scene is set for some great racing but the even more hotly contested title might be the best-dressed Sydney 38 crew.

Last years Alec Barrass and his Teamsail Tassie 2 crew were easy winners and they are back again, in even more outrageous shirts.

The full entry list for the Sydney 38 One Design Nationals is

AMI Jade Peter McNamara Middle Harbour, Sydney

Andrew Short Marine Andrew Short CYCA, Sydney

Another Challenge Lou Abrahams Sandringham, Melbourne

Asylum Wayne Kirkpatrick Hamilton Island

Bashful Hugo Van Kretschmar and David Fuller CYCA, Sydney

Chutzpah Bruce Taylor RYCV, Melbourne

Clockwork Orange Eric Van Der Griend Sandringham, Melbourne

Full Bore David Buckland Port Lincoln, South Australia

Hidden Agenda Graham Gibson CYCA, Sydney

Into The Mystic Stephen Danne Hamilton Island

London Tavern Justin Lambeth RPAYC, Sydney

Obsession Hughie Lewis Bellerive, Tasmania

Prosail Team Next Matt Wenke, Craig Malouf and Peter Geddes CYCA, Sydney

Run To Paradise Michael Butler Hamilton Island

Rush Cameron Miles and Steve Robson CYCA, Sydney

Shining Sea Phil Grafton Bellerive, Tasmania

Teamsail Tazzie 2 Alec Barrass RPAYC, Sydney

The Bigger Picture Ian Douglas RPAYC, Sydney

The Bolter Rick Welch RPAYC, Sydney

The Business Jeff Matthes and Grant Halliday RPAYC, Sydney

Yandoo Peter Taylor and Brett Neill RNZYS, Auckland NZ


Sail-World will be covering the Sydney 38 Nationals in detail. We will be filming and photographing from the water and will be publishing interviews, images and results each day.