2020 Musto Skiff Australian Championship at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron
by Natalie Hilton 31 Jan 2020 13:45 PST
9-12 January 2020
Casey Bates during the Musto Skiff Australian Championship © Russel Bates /
www.russellbatesphotography.com.au
The 2020 Musto Skiff Australian Championships, which took place over 9th - 12th January, saw one of the closest finishes of the Musto Skiff Class with Australian skiff sailor, Jon Newman, clinching the title with just two points separating first and fifth place.
With several competitors in with a chance of taking the top position, Newman was absolutely pushed to the wire on the final race day. However, the multiple National and World title holder managed to fend off his competitors and come out on top with the narrowest of victories. Fellow Aussies James Sly, Richie Robertson, and Paul Newman all tied a single point behind him, with Tim Hill rounding off the top five.
The Championships regatta is a major event in the Australian Musto Skiff calendar, but it nearly didn't go ahead. Within days of the event starting, the Australian Class had to rearrange the entire event in response to the devastating bushfires threatening the safety of homes and the surrounding natural areas of the original host venue in Metung.
The unprecedented decision was made to move the planned Championships from Metung Yacht Club to Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron - the host of Australia's 2018 Musto Skiff Worlds. After stepping forward to support the Class and fit the Championships into their existing regatta schedule, Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron helped to host a successful event with all 16 boats taking part and Newman being crowed as Australia's 2020 Musto Skiff Champion.
Read the full race reports for the 2020 Musto Skiff Australian Championships here.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 492 | Jon Newman | 8 | 1 | 1 | ‑9 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | ‑9 | 23 |
| 2 | 572 | James Sly | 1 | ‑11 | 4 | 1 | 4 | ‑11 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 24 |
| 3 | 452 | Richie Robertson | ‑6 | 2 | 3 | ‑5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 24 |
| 4 | 578 | Paul Newman | 2 | 5 | ‑6 | 4 | ‑7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 24 |
| 5 | 579 | Tim Hill | 4 | ‑8 | ‑7 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 25 |
| 6 | 878 | Paul Dijkstra | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 48 |
| 7 | 440 | Casey Bates | ‑11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | (DNF) | 8 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 52 |
| 8 | 117 | Hayden Brown | ‑12 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | ‑11 | 56 |
| 9 | 491 | Hayden Harding | 10 | 10 | ‑11 | 10 | (DNF) | 9 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 58 |
| 10 | 555 | Ricky Ironmonger | 9 | (DNF) | (DNC) | DNC | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 62 |
| 11 | 565 | Robin Dayes | 13 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 6 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 64 |
| 12 | 576 | Marcus Hamilton | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | (DNF) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 68 |
| 13 | 488 | Chris Peile | 15 | (DNF) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 6 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 80 |
| 14 | 554 | Wayne Bates | 7 | 6 | 10 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 91 |
| 15 | 241 | David Etherton | 14 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 12 | 12 | DNF | DNC | 106 |
| 16 | 418 | Brett Morris | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 119 |