NSW Youth Championships - Wind and rain on the second day

by Mainsheet Media on 3 Oct 2011 A cold and dark morning greeted competitors on the second day of the Nautilus Marine NSW Youth Regatta 2011. Luckily most of the sailors had remembered to set their clocks forward for daylight saving, including the Queenslanders.

As the rain started to close in, PRO Mark Pryke took to the microphone to assure competitors that racing would be going ahead. Oblivious to the groans from some of those assembled, Mark went on the warn people that wind chill needed to be considered and that he was looking at running up to four races during the day.

Paul Schulz from Gill Australia, the regatta clothing sponsor, was run of his feet as the PRO’s comments sent parents and officials into a buying spree in an attempt to ensure that they and their young charges were properly equipped for a day on the water.

The days racing started with 7-10 knots. 'It was nice and calm, the sailors were barely hiking as they sailed out to the start' commented Yachting NSW coach Susan Ferris.

Not for long.

Most classes ended up only doing two races as the southerly sent gusts across the water that reached 26 to 27 knots. 'It was more the horizontal rain that was an issue' said Andrew McLauchlin who was race officer on course B. 'I think the competitors did really very well considering the conditions.'

The 29ers were the only class to complete three races after the days racing was suspended at around 1:30pm. The Victorians Tess Lloyd and Lewis Duncan retain their overall lead with Tom Siganto and Joel Turner’s Queensland 29er, Seriously Guided, moving up to second and another Victorian boat, Slayer, holding onto third place.

James Brewer and Dylan Passmore are holding onto first place in their 420 Planit after another two first places, with Caitlin Tames and Lauren Cini on Shazam coming in second and Xavier Winston-Smith and Ravi Raj bringing Highway 90 in third.

The media boat turned into a rescue boat for the 420 Why Not out of Middle Harbour Yacht Club. Mara Mohan and Georgia Sibraa had already capsized once before a dramatic pitch pole cast them both into the water. Georgia became tangled initially before freeing herself and after righting Why Not, they were towed into the club grinning all the way.

Sam Treharne continues to dominate the lead board on his Bic Techno 293. With only one race on day two, Sam sailed a great race that saw the other competitors fall out of contention.

The popular Flying 11 class has had some close racing over the last two days and the leader board has gone through a shakeup. Angus Williams and Jesse Lilley have taken first place on Whatever from Fired Up, and Kurt Hanson and Lindsay Pike on Oscar have retained second place.

In the Laser 4.7s Maximus is once again living up to its name as Jake Felsenthal from Sandringham Yacht Club edged out Cassandra Schlimbach from Canberra Yacht Club on Blonde Moments. Another Canberra Yacht Club sailor, Eliot Bassili on Nice Aft, has moved into third.

Queenslander Jake Lilley continues the interstate rivalry leading the Laser Radial class with Victorian Thomas Vincent moving up to second and Chris Anderson from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in NSW rounding out the three. Jake has placed first in four out of the six races so far and will be defending his top slot in the last day of the regatta.

The Optimist fleet had just one race on this blustery ‘summer’ day and once again Alec Brodie on Ran leads the class. Christopher Phillips on Beached Az... took first place on the day, but Alec’s second place was enough to keep him at the top of the board for the regatta so far.

Just four Sabots completed the course for the race that was run on day two. Slippery Little Sucker has done it again as Matthew Lang sailed an impressive race to take out first and retain his first place overall. Matthew has a few points in the bank but he is still keeping an eye out for MacAttack with Sophie McIntosh, his friend from Gosford Sailing Club is just waiting for him to give her an opportunity.

The Flying Ants had a quiet day today with On Fire the only boat to complete the two races and the Manly Juniors decided not to compete.

Just one day remains in the 2011 Nautilus Marine NSW Youth Championships on Lake Illawarra. With more strong winds forecast for the last day, a place in the top three is still up for NSW Youth Campionship Regatta website