J24 Legends Regatta delivers aggressive racing and student masterclass

by Jenifer Wells on 8 Oct 2010 This year the NSW J24 Association added a twist to the State Championships hosted by the Gosford Sailing Club over the October long weekend. Following the annual Gosford Regatta, 18 'J24 Legends' took up the helm to compete in the Legends Regatta on the holiday Monday. Sailors must have won a national or world J24 Championship to qualify as a Legend.

The competitive spirit was palpable as the Legends, ranging in age from mid-30s to mid-60s, met their respective crews - some still shaking off the dust after a rather big 'Legends dinner' the previous night at Terrigal Crowne Plaza.

NSW J24 Association President Terry Wise fielded seven of his Pacific Sailing School (PSS) boats which were helmed by J24 Legends Mark Bethwaite, Murray Walters, John Crawford, Ian MacDiarmid, Paul Charlton and Rob Mundle – with the final boat skippered by Olympian and multiple World Champion sailor Neville Wittey. This gave PSS students a rare opportunity to learn from some of the best J24 sailors, many of whom have also excelled in other classes, from national and world titles to Olympic medals and America's Cup campaigns.

Some of the Legends may have aged a little but it did not dampen the fierce competition in the starts for the two Memorial Races dedicated to two late J24 Legends Andrew Short and Ian Bashford.

Under overcast skies in a 10-15 knot breeze the fleet aggressively attacked the starting line. Tangles and a bit of 'biffo' abounded resulting in numerous general recalls in both races. The dreaded black flag was eventually flown to ensure that the fleet could finally start – minus one boat in Race One which was deemed to be OCS.

Neville Wittey summed it up after the racing. 'The starting line was like the tiger pit at Taronga Zoo. I'm just glad there were no insurance brokers around as they would have wet their pants.'

The prestige of winning the Legends Regatta was not forgotten at the top mark in the first race as boats all over the downwind leg performed their 720 degree penalty turns after quite a few crashes among some polite shouting around the buoys.

The first race was won by J24 National President Simon Grain in Make My Jay. The second race was very convincingly taken by Neville Wittey onboard school boat Sailpac. 'It was a bit of fun and a great idea to bring all these people together,' Neville said. It had been four years since he had sailed a J24 and he has been a strong supporter of the annual Gosford Regatta.

Neville also said that it was an interesting exercise to team up with a crew he didn't know – all PSS students. 'It was great to see the crew develop and improve, both individually and as a team.'

Terry Wise surprised Mark Bethwaite at the Sunday dinner by announcing that Mark would be competing in his 'own' boat – that is, the very boat he sailed to victory in the 1982 J24 World Championships. Mark had sold Bandit after the Worlds and it has traded hands many times.

'It was the first time I had sailed a J24 sine the '82 Worlds', said Mark. 'What a surprise to step back in to the very same boat!' Mark's fortunes in the Legends Regatta were not favourable, being OCS in Race 1 and later spearing a spreader through the genoa. 'The race committee alleged that I was over the line by one millimeter but I don't believe them,' he laughed.

Mark said the Regatta was a lot of fun and he enjoyed sailing with the PSS students. Having sailed for 55 years Mark was slightly bemused that one of his crew had undertaken her first introductory sailing lesson less than a week before the Regatta. However he was full of praise for Victoria and the rest of the PSS students.

Having been talked in to the Gosford Regatta following a late drop out, Victoria laughed that she was 'still alive'. 'I find it fun to be thrown into the deep end. You literally sink or swim and I like adrenalin rushes.'

The disparity in sailing and racing experience was noted by Rob Mundle as he presented the prizes to the winning crews. 'Bob Hagan's crew had 317 years sailing experience between them and Mark Bethwaite had 122 years – with Victoria making up about 20 hours!'

Rob loved the idea of the Legends Regatta as well and was full of praise for the J24 Association, Gosford Sailing club, sponsors and crews. He was a little concerned about Terry's suggestion that the class run another Legends Regatta in 20 years time. 'Terry, I'm 64 and so is Bob Hagan. I'd suggest 10 years is a slightly more realistic goal!'