Australian School Team Racing Championship Day 4

by Luke Tupper on 15 Jul 2012 The fourth and final day of the Australian Schools Team Racing Championship saw Scotch College (WA) victorious over St Joesphs College. John Bertrand presented the perpetual trophy to a jubilant Scotch College team. Third place was taken out by Christ Church Grammar (WA) in a close fought petit final with St Michaels College (SA). All teams where extremely closely matched with each during the series.

In total 201 races were sailed during the four day regatta, an excellent effort buy the race officials and umpiring crew. Lou Hutton as race officer with guidance from Geoff Eldridge as the principal race officer were able to get consistent races off in a shifting Albert Park Lake breeze.

At the end of the swiss league qualification series, Christ Church Grammar was on top of the standings, only gaining the top position in the last race of the day beating the current leader St Michaels. St Michaels had held the top position for most of the regatta and had an equal number of wins but was placed in second position due to the last race by Christ Church Grammar.

Scotch College and St Josephs cemented their place in the finals having eleven wins each, one win clear of fifth place team The Hutchins School (TAS).

In the first semi final Scotch College had the first win in the series against St Michaels but only by a two point margin. The second race saw St Michaels win with a one point margin between the teams. Scotch College won the final race with an emphatic first, second third win but those places were only decided after tactical manoeuvre at the finish line.

In the second semi final St Joesphs School won the first race convincingly against Christ Church Grammar. Christ Church Grammar returned with a convincing win of their own. In the final race St Josephs caused the vocal South Australian crowd to erupt with cheers as they ensured their state was represented in the final.

The final series looked as though it was going to be a clean sweep by Scotch College. Races one and two were both won by Scotch but involved quite a few tactical traps at marks to keep St Josephs College behind. In races three and four St Josephs got the upper hand on Scotch by paying special attention at the start to the faster of the Scotch College boats that had been trapping them at the marks.

In the final race the teams paired off with two pairs choosing the starboard side of the course and one pair heading towards the port side near the spectators. The racing previously had seen a number of mark traps, but in this race both teams where showing off their fleet racing skills, going for boat speed instead of tactical manoeuvres in the stronger breeze. In the end Scotch college sealed the event with a boats in positions one and two. A dunk in Albert Park Lake was due for the winners of the Australian Schools Team Racing Championship.

The Albert Sailing Club had its clubrooms filled to overflowing for the presentation. The winning three teams being presented with trophies and medals. Scotch College raising the trophy in triumph.

Final standing:
1 Scotch College (WA)
2 St Josephs School (SA)
3 Christ Church Grammar (WA)
4 St Michaels College (SA)
5 The Hutchins School (TAS)
6 The Friends School first (TAS)
7 St Virgil's College/Guilford Young College (TAS)
8 Iona College (QLD)
9 Esperance Senior High School (WA)
10 Brisbane Grammar School (QLD)
11 Mentone Grammar (VIC)
12 Shenton College (WA)
13 St Leonards (VIC)
14 The Friends School second (TAS)
15 The Peninsula School (VIC)
16 Immanuel College (SA)
17 Sydney High School (NSW)
18 Churchie (QLD)
19 Haileybury (VIC)
20 Geelong Grammar School (VIC)
21 Launceston Church Grammar (TAS)
22 Canberra Grammar School Final Results