Sabot Southern NSW Zone Championship - Returning to the River

by Andrew Glassock on 9 Feb 2013 The Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club, which runs over the weekend 16-17 February, will be hosting the 2012-13 Southern NSW Sabot Zone Championship. Sabots have raced on the Lane Cove River for over fifty years. Current Olympic Silver Medallist in the Women’s Match racing, Lucinda Whitty and three-time Olympian Karyn Gojnich starting their sailing careers in a Sabot on the river.

The first Zone Championship was held in 1970-71 and Lane Cove boats won both the Senior and Junior Titles – Hot Wheels crewed by brothers Peter and Brian Burgess the Juniors and Gary Wells in Trinidad won the inaugural Senior title.

Race Director Greg Larkings says the aim of this regatta is to put on an event where the next generation of Sabot sailors can sail their first inter club regatta. Larkings said 'we hope to attract those kids who have taken up sailing this season, done a Learn to Sail, are now able to sail their own club course and want to step up to an interclub race. We hope to see between 40 and 50 Sabots on the river'.

Lane Cove 12 footers has a fleet of 10 Dinghy Sports Sabots that is uses for its week long Learn to Sail program, this season the club has run four courses giving over 80 kids the opportunity to get out on the water and experience the sport of sailing. Chris Kelly the clubs Sabot class secretary said 'our aim is that kids who've done a learn to sail course at the club will use the club boats to get out there and give it a go. That’s what they’re for, supporting young sailors.'(For information on LTS courses offered go to Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club).

This regatta will also be the start of the build up toward the 50th Sabot National Championships which are to be held by Drummoyne Sailing Club over the Christmas New Year period, as part of Drummoyne’s centenary celebrations.

Southern NSW Sabot President Simon Barrington said 'the kids will have the chance to do sprint races on the Saturday and then sail in the area around Cockatoo that will be used for the Nationals in less than 12 months and don’t forget said Barrington this is the Golden Jubilee regatta and there will be Gold on offer!! Check out Sabot50 for all the information on the up coming 50th Nationals.

The generous support of sponsors, Gill Australia, Harken Inc, Club Marine, Chapman High Performance Sailing, Michael Bartley Shipwrights, Ferrero Australia means there will be lots of prizes and encouragement awards and in a first for Sabots a 'dash for cash' will be held on the Sunday with the start off the Club house and then a race down the river, through Humbug and a finish out off Cockatoo.

All the racing on Saturday will be in the river starting off the club and the club extends an invitation to all to come down and sit on the verandah and from 1:00pm watch the racing. Sundays racing will be best viewed from Clarkes Point Reserve at Woolwich starting from midday.