2019 Australian Moth Championships at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
by John Curnow 10 Jan 2019 23:43 PST
7-11 January 2019
Photographer, Emily Scott has been out taking images of the foiling Moths during their 2019 Australian Championship, and turned in this gallery and report. They ran from January 7 to 11, 2019, and were staged out of the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.
Day 1: Three races were completed in a light breeze with the Race Committee aiming for 20-minute races, with a course length between 0.7nm to 0.9nm across the Regatta. Josh McKnight went straight to the top of the leader board with two bullets and a 3rd, with Luka Damic in 2nd position. A few boats were forced to retire across the day with damage however, overnight repairs saw 33 of the 34-boat fleet back out on the race track for Day 2.
Day 2:
Another three races were completed with a few thrills and spills across the fleet during the day. Josh McKnight held onto the podium position with two 2nds and a 1st, Keegan York and Andrew McDougall also managed a bullet each. A battle is also developing between Ocean Respect Racings' Stacey Jackson, and Kirstin Norris, the Regattas' two female competitors who are separated by a point.
Day 3: Racing was abandoned ashore on Day 3 due to light and shifty winds providing a rest/recovery day for the whole fleet.
Day 4: Despite a short postponement ashore, the Race Committee still managed to complete four races in glamour conditions. Racing was very tight in the front pack with 2 wins going to regatta leader Josh McKnight and one bullet apiece for Luka Damic and Andrew McDougall.
Day 5: Moreton Bay provided the goods for the final day of racing, with sunshine and 8-12 knots. With the start time brought forward to 11.30am the Race Committee were able to get four races in for the day. Reece Tailby took the first bullet, with Andrew McDougall taking the gun for the following two races. Luka Damic secured 2nd place overall with a hard fought win in the final race of the regatta.
Massive congratulations to Josh McKnight who confidently secured the regatta win and the title of '2019 Australian Moth Champion'. 2nd place overall goes to Luka Damic and 3rd to Andrew McDougall.