Same Story. Different Name
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS 2 Sep 2018 15:00 PDT
Open Etchells European Championship ©
www.sportography.tv
The impending 2018 Etchells World Championship at Brisbane tells a tale almost as old as time immemorial. Going back not quite as far as that, you would have used Cecil B. DeMille to create the movie about it all. Today, it is probably J.J. Abrams or Jon Favreau, with specific reference to their work installing comic heroes to the big screen, or rebooting some of Hollywood's greatest ever franchises.
Now the word we are wandering around is epic, and the phrase that once best described that is, 'Bigger than Ben Hur'. Come October 18, 2018, the highly competitive Etchells Class will hold their World Championships on the waters of Moreton Bay in Brisbane. The event for this Class, now in its 50th year, is staged out of the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, on the shores of Manly.
87 entries have already been received. RQ also needs no explanation, and therefore, the Class, the 2018 Etchells World Championship and the Club also all fall into the classification of epic. Given that the plan was to have 95 boats, and their super-keen crews from all around the globe, all bustling on the start line, it looks like odds on to be achieved. So well done to all of those who have made the commitment to be here.
You might be old enough to remember who Charlton Heston was. Alas, he will obviously not be there. Neither will Robert Downey Jnr, or Chris Pine, if they are more your age bracket. Don't fret, however, for it certainly does not mean that there will be a shortage of 'names' around the place. It's just that they'll be sailing demi-Gods, not acting ones...
So what all that means is that it won't be easy out on the water. Far from it, actually. Conversely, everything off the water, from logistics to entertainment, has been made super easy. Entries close on September 14, so if you are going, and are just holding on to your entry fee for as long as oyu can, go and place that date in your phone, with a reminder for the day before. See 2018 Etchells World Championship for all you need to know.
Tacking! Mr Kite, the 40-footer penned by legendary offshore Naviguesser, Andrew Cape, is for sale. And at just $185k. Best of all you get a canting keel, full carbon boat, carbon rig and standing rigging, that was built by Boatspeed in 2005 – yes – we built boats on the Central Coast back then!!! (and good ones at that) Fred Barrett did a full round of optimisations in 2009 that gave it an IRC feel, and she can be sailed short-handed. She is fully set up for Cat2, and has a big wardrobe, as well. Take a look - here.
Right oh - here today there are some gems for you to review. We have information from the Fireballs (remember them), J/24s crown a new World Champ, Optis, kiteboarders, Il Duce's pics from Magnetic Island Race Week, 49ers and Nacra 17 Junior Worlds, Finns, our friend Ian Thomson and his ocean Crusaders continue the clean up the world over, Team INEOS UK take the test mule out for a fang (the etymology of that comes from Juan Manuel Fangio BTW), there's a plethora of AC material for those who care (others look past this statement to the next), Middle Harbour YC get set for a big season, the Volvo Ocean Race, Golden Globe Race, J/70 Australian Championship at the Squady, Extreme Sailing Series, and certainly there is much, much more.
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John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS