Sunshine Coast Interschool Dinghy Regatta showcase stars of the future
by Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club on 25 Apr 2011
Sunshine Coast Inter-school Dinghy Regatta
Paul Blundell
Sunshine Coast Inter-school regatta hosted by Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club with major sponsor Stratogen Chartered Accounts and support from Ronstan and NB Laser was held over the weekend of 16th and 17th April 2011.
School Captain Liam McKenzie and fellow year 12 Sunshine Coast Grammar student Elliott Clayton steered the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club Vagabond MkII 3.7m dinghy to an outstanding victory over the weekend to win the Sunshine Coast Inter-school dinghy regatta.
With three first place results in the final series the Grammar boys won with a commanding lead over second placed fellow Grammar students Toby Pearce and Ryan McVay in Casa Noosa with Grammar brothers Ben and Hunter Vercoe third in The Noosa Journal Weekender.
In fickle SE to SW winds the winning crew battled the Noosa River tides and wind shifts whilst putting on display a faultless execution of skills gained from years of sailing on the Noosa River as NYRC juniors.
The regatta, now in its 12 year at Noosa was entered by 30 crews from all over the Sunshine Coast who competed in pool heats, Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and then a Finals series. Over the weekend 20 races were conducted.
The 10 finalists including crews from Sunshine Coast Grammar, St Teresa’s Catholic College, Sunshine Beach High, Home School Group and Matthew Flinders and also included two Primary school crews with Max Quirk & Zac Edwards from Matthew Flinders and Eloise Blundell & Eamon Kriz from St Thomas More Primary mixing it up with students from years 11 and 12.
The Primary School Trophy was won by Matthew Flinders with Max Quirk and Zac Edwards finishing fourth overall.
Regatta organiser Paul Blundell commented that again the Inter-school regatta showcased the depth of youth sailing on the Coast and congratulated the schools and clubs that have nurtured these young sailors who will no doubt be the stars of sailing in the future.
Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club website
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