Raceboard National and Oceanic Championships overall
by Greg McInnes, Mark Ward, Adam Hampton 25 Jan 2018 05:24 PST
Women's champion, Lissa McMillan (sail no.443), had no problem mixing it up with the males © David Bell
29 competitors returned to the scene of 2016 Raceboard Worlds for the 2018 Oceanic and Australian Raceboard Championships at the brilliant Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron's dedicated sailboarding Centre of Excellence which provides direct access to Brisbane's Moreton Bay, Queensland, which has again delivered spectacular conditions with blues skies and steady winds. The local Dugongs and sea turtles also made an appearance on the racecourse to welcome the sailors.
Racing took place over four days with a the maximum of 15 races run for the championship. Race director John O'Brien's handling of the combined Formula and Raceboard Championships was exemplary.
Day one's ESE winds of 10 knots in the morning increasing to 13-15 knots in the afternoon provided perfect conditions with four races completed. New Caledonia's Alexandre Rouys won the first race and Cam Harrison won three races.
Day two delivered similar sublime conditions. Close racing at the head of the fleet resulted in two wins for Mark Ward, and one each for Richie Reynolds and Justin Lord while Cam Harrison showed consistent form taking second place in each of the four races.
Top three in the men's fleet after eight races were Cam Harrison, Mark Ward, and Alexandre Rouys.
Top three in the women's fleet were Lissa McMillan, Melanie Webb, and Courntey Schoustrop.
Day Three saw the gloves come off for a light wind sailing day of 5-8 knots, well, to be more accurate the gloves went on, with a number of the fleet feeling the effects on their hands and all types of hand protection was seen on the water.
Most interesting has been Cam Harrison's washing up gloves. He swears by them and given his ranking as leader, they were obviously not doing him any harm. Also National Sailboarding coach and ex world.
champion Max Wocjik made an appearance and scored two firsts and a casual second. A stunning class act.
It was great to see so many younger, newer sailors and a good bunch of females in Raceboards, and for the less experienced or newly back in the sport a shorter course set for them kept them in the thick of the fleet.
The last day was where it came down to the wire, and it was a test of wills, bodies and hands in 4 races, with the wind in the 10-20+ kn range. Places were gained and lost and not just the ones at the pointy end but also in those fights midfleet-pitting mate against mate, fighting tooth and nail. It was tough out there however there was not a single protest all championship.
The first race was fast and exciting in the building breeze, but it quickly grew too strong for some. After the first race the fleet scurried back to shore, wondering if there was enough energy in the tank to compete on big sails for the remaining races with many changing to smaller rigs better-suited for the strong breeze.
Racing was tight and with the high quality of proficiency even the slightest of errors proved costly.
If conditions weren't testing enough with the strong winds, careful sailing was necessary, to avoid the resident dugong mother and calf grazing on the sea grass at the windward mark.
At the end of a tough championship and with the finish line in sight the beach was crowded with friends, family, spectators, daredevil kiteboarders and those sailors who had surrendered and just couldn't give anymore.
Final positions for the bulk of the fleet came down to the last day of sailing which rewarded the efforts of those who could master the more challenging conditions.
First place was successfully claimed by Cam Harrison of NSW, closely followed by Alexandre Rouys (NC) in second and Justin Lord (NSW) in third place. Lissa McMillan was the best of the females.
As usual big thanks to all volunteers especially Lissa McMillan and Richie Reynolds, every one involved from RQYS, and prize sponsors Max Wocjik's Maksior Windsurfing gear, Tambourine Rainforest Skywalk and
Welcome BBQ prawns donated by Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association. Noice!