Paper Tiger Australian Nationals - Rose takes title in Adelaide

by Neville Rowe on 22 Jan 2013 Bruce Rose of Tasmania, sailing 'The Apprentice' took out the 43rd Paper Tiger Australian National Championship at the Meningie Sailing Club on the waters of Lake Albert SA over the week of 29th December to 3rd January.

Six races over the first three days saw positions change dramatically, shifty conditions and varying winds from four to fifteen knots tested even the best of skippers. At this point Alex Craig from Victoria was holding first position followed by Bruce Rose, Bryan Anderson, six times winner, his father Peter Anderson three times winner and Garry Williams four times winner.

Everything pointed to a very exciting contest, but in the end it was Bruce Rose who won through for his fourth Championship with 18 points from Alex Craig on 21 and Bryan Anderson 24.

Sailors in the 40-boat fleet came from New South Wales, Victoria Tasmania and South Australia.

Organisers were pleased to have some closing racing between experienced female competitors, with the best placing going to Sarah Ashley-Jones from McCrae in Victoria in 20th place. Commendation should also go to Janica Markovitch for some great sailing with an 11th in one race.

The Class has a rosy future; the boat is an excellent catamaran for the younger person to learn on in fact Olympian sailor Glen Ashby started his career in the Paper Tiger. Sixteen- year old junior Joshua Thorpe from the Bendigo Club took out 11th Place and the Junior championship. The oldest sailor was Bob Ramsay who at 76 years of age had a 21st placing. Bob won the title back in 1981.

In two out of every three years, Australia competes against the New Zealand Team for the Interdominion cup, a hotly contested event. The Australian team are current cup holders, and the coming Interdominion Regatta is set down for this Easter. The event will feature our team comprised of the Top ten Australian sailors and a further 10 Aussies. They will sail against a similarly selected Kiwi team at the Muritai Yacht Club in Wellington over three days.