Aus O’pen Cup realises its promise of a competitive fun filled regatta

by Karen Thomson on 16 Apr 2012 Australian sailing can take heart for the future if the amount of fun, spirit of fair sailing and adventure exhibited by sixty-four young sailors at the recent Australian O’pen Cup is anything to go by.

Introduced as recently as 2006 the ISAF recognised O’pen BIC promises youngsters a true glide machine for real excitement and fun on the water. While serious competition sailing is well and truly on the O’pen BIC agenda by also including adventure and freestyle competition this versatile little boat allows children with a range of abilities to learn from each other and enjoy the sport.

Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club, Queensland, hosted this years’ cup over the Easter weekend.

The eight-race point scoring series was sailed in generally light winds that tested the skill of all the sailors. As the competition progressed and tension mounted, an adventure race followed by some free styling would shift the mood from tense and competitive to jovial and relaxed and laughter would once again fill the air.

O’pen BIC regattas are about ensuring sailors have a good time with a competitive element and this one certainly filled the brief.

The young sailors willingness to help each other both on and off the water was commendable and a delight to witness. A weekend of healthy competition concluded with sailors teaming up for one last adventure a race with a Le Mans start, lots of capsizing, skipper and crew changes and a final dash along the beach to the finish line. It was to the sound of sixty-four laughing young sailors filling the Noosa air that the 2012 Australian O'pen Cup regatta finally closed.

Results:

Overall (Gold Fleet)
1st Tom GRIMES, Antaris (Belmont 16SSC, NSW)
2nd Sean HERBERT, Snappa Crappa (Manly SC, NZ)
3rd Zoe THOMSON, Myspace (Royal F’water Bay YC, WA)
4th Brendon WRIGHT, White Out (Royal F’water Bay YC, WA)

U12 Division
1st Sean HERBERT, Snappa Crappa (Manly SC, NZ)
2nd Kristen WADLEY, Gas Bag (Tinaroo SC, QLD)
3rd Lachlan ATKINS, Swift Shift (Cronulla SC, NSW)
4th Simon MURNAGHAN, SimonSays (Manly 16SSC, NSW)

U15 Division
1st Tom GRIMES, Antaris (Belmont 16SSC, NSW)
2nd Zoe THOMSON, Myspace (Royal F’water Bay YC, WA)
3rd Emmanuel BLANCH, Tenacity (Noosa Yacht & Rowing Club, QLD)
4th Oliver MEDD, Merlan Rocket (Royal F’water Bay YC, WA)

Open Age Division:
1st Brendon WRIGHT, White Out (Royal F’water Bay YC, WA)
2nd Hayden Johnson, Charter (Noosa Yacht & Rowing Club, QLD)
3rd Hannah HOOD, Jellyfish (Port Lincoln YC, SA)
4th Sophie NINNES, Bickini Bottom (Adelaide SC, SA)

Overall (Silver Fleet)
1st Luca ROSEVEAR, John (Manly YC)
2nd Annelise KNAAK, Northern Annelise (Great Lakes SC, NSW)
3rd Travis WADLEY, Trav’ler (Tinaroo SC, QLD)
4th Jack KELLY, Friendly Field (Lane Cove 12ft SSC)

Freestyle
1st Elosie BLUNDELL & Hayden JOHNSON
2nd Sophie COTTAM & Jake NYE
3rd Michale THOMSON & Keeden WALKER
4th Hannah HOOD & Mikaela KEAL

Congratulations to place getters. Full results online here

Thanks go to Paul Blundell (NYRC) and sponsors Ronstan and Zhik without whom such a fantastic event could not have taken place. Next year Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club in Western Australia will host the 2013 Australian O’pen Cup. Good luck, have fun and fair winds to all who venture there.