NSW Tasar State Championships - Victorians take top four

by Nic Douglass on 12 Apr 2012 The 35th NSW Tasar State Championships concluded on Sunday at the Illawarra Yacht Club.

Nine races were completed over the three days of racing, with all competitors commenting on the quality of the venue and the Yacht Club community.

The conditions for the final day were challenging with the Nor’west to Nor’east breeze creating plenty of opportunities for passing, and being passed. Heat seven was won by Al Murray and Darren Eger, and heat eight by Heather MacFarlane and Chris Payne.

The Victorians dominated the overall top five. Paul and Bronwyn Ridgway took the Championship in their win in the final heat from Heather MacFarlane and Chris Payne. Third was Al Murray sailing with Darren Eger and then Pete Ellis and Charlotte Birbeck. All four of these boats sail from Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne.

Nic Douglass from the Canberra Yacht Club, sailing with father Rob up the front, was the first NSW/ACT boat in fifth, also claiming the Masters trophy. The first Grand Masters were Paul and Bronwyn Ridgway and fellow Victorians Derek and Gwen Warne were the winners of the Super Grand Masters title. Heather McFarlane won the ladies division and Jeremy and David Elmslie, also from Victoria took out the Junior title.

Daniel Boetteger and Kirsten Norris of the Defence Force were the only other trophy winners not to come from Victoria, taking the Handicap title for the first time.

Over $400 dollars was raised for the Breast Cancer Network Australia over the event and Scott Ramsay and Elaine Burnett were the inaugural winners of the Tasar Memorial Trophy.

For more information about this great cause, Breast Cancer Network Australia, http://www.bcna.org.au

More information on this great international class, including the full Tasar results here

Photos are available here

Thanks to all the sponsors, Bethwaite Design, Zhik, Maxy Boats, Good Gear and Deanna Harken for their support of the event. A special thanks to Illawarrra Yacht Club for being such fantastic hosts.