Zhik Combined High Schools Sailing Championship - Day 1
by Rod Carter 18 Apr 2018 02:40 PDT
Zhik Combined High Schools Sailing Championship © Redhotshotz Sports Photography
Invitational race
The opening day of the Zhik Combined High Schools Sailing Championship dawned a cool, wet and cloudy day at Belmont. With a forecast of a southerly ranging between 20-25 knots.
The fleet of 115 boats saw competitors waiting anxiously for the start. The breeze typical of this time of year shifted greatly as the rain squalls swept through the race course. Eventually the breeze settled and the race committee started the race in a steady 12 knot ESE.
Conditions were tricky, occasional shifty and patchy conditions fooled several sailors.
The race saw a close duel between two NS14s Hayden Hansen (St Edwards College) and Rory Murtagh (Great Lakes Secondary College) battling it out for the lead with only seconds separating the pair most of the race. However, Murtagh received a score penalty for failing to sign on and relinquished his position on the podium. With the pair battling it out Max Downey (Normanhurst Boys High) sailing his F11 'Don't Tell Mum!' managed to sneak through to take the win.
Last year's champion Aimee Gallaway (Asquith Girls High) has returned sailing 'Flying Nemo' her F11 and showed she is here to make a presence known with a solid fifth overall in the race.
The event continues to provide competitors with a great opportunity to trial different classes and enjoy the off the water fun. 'We've always been committed to the highest quality of race management on the water and I think we have a formula that really works. I'm also fortunate to have a great team of people running the regatta, access to one of the most desirable sailing venues in the country as well as a terrific assembly of sponsors, beginning with Zhik, our naming right sponsor for the past couple of years and associate sponsor's Redhotshotz Sports Photography' says Race Officer Rod Carter.
Interestingly, several boats failed to sail the correct course. This resulted in a large number of boats failing to finish. No doubt many competitors will be consulting their sailing instructions and course maps prior to races one and two tomorrow.
Full results