Eastern Region International Etchells Championship at Metung Yacht Club
by Metung Yacht Club 27 Jan 23:20 PST
22-25 January 2021
Eastern Region International Etchells Championship © Metung Yacht Club
Over the Australia Day weekend, Metung Yacht Club held the 31st East Gippsland International Etchells Class Championship, also incorporating the International Dragon Class Regatta. Many thanks again to all the Volunteers, Keels on Wheels who were principal sponsor, Helen Crossley Arts Studio and Julie-Anne McPherson Photography for all their time, support and sponsorship.
The regatta attracted boats from Tasmania and Melbourne and was seen as a great precursor and warm up for the both the International Etchells, and International Dragons Victorian Championships. Both will be held by Metung Yacht Club over Labor Day weekend in March. If boarder restrictions are lifted, it is expected some 30 boats are likely to attend. In addition to this, Metung will also be hosting the International Cadet Victorian Championships where many of Metung Yacht Club Juniors will be participating.
Last Saturdays racing aloud Principal Race Officer Jacquie Crawford to get all 14 boats and crews off and complete 3 races in a light South Easterly breeze. Nigel Abbot borrowing a local boat named "The Archer" along with Tom Dwyer and Brandon Kibby won all three races. War of the Roses skipped by Jeff Rose, Excite skippered by Toby Richardson from Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and Tamm Ha Tamm Skippered by Christion Baillot from Royal Brighton Yacht Club finished the day with only 2 points separating the 3.
Sundays morning forecast was for light winds so Principal Race Officer Jacquie Crawford held all the crews ashore and delayed the scheduled starting time until a nice South Easterly wind settled and held. Again three races where able to held. The dominance of The Archer crew from the first day was broken with Excite winning the 4th race and War of the Roses winning the 5th race. However, The Archer again made its presence felt by winning the last race of the day. At the end of Sundays racing bar, a major incident The Archer had all but wrapped up the series, but leaving 3 boats, War of the Roses, Excite and Tamm Ha Tamm separated by only 2 points.
This meant that Race 7 on Monday was a shootout for the minor places and who ever beat who would take home silver or bronze. Tamm Ha Tamm by the first mark had 2 boats between themselves and War of the Roses, with Excite a further 2 places back, so looked strong at the time to take 2nd place overall. By the 2nd Mark, War of the Roses had narrowed that lead to just 1, and by the finish had worked their way back to be right behind Tamm Ha Tamm who ended up winning race 7. By virtue of a count back War of the Roses finished 2nd overall, With Tamm Ta Tamm 3rd and Excite 4th overall.
Overall Results: (top four)
1st The Archer skippered by Nigel Abbott with Tom Dwyer and Brandon Kibby
2nd War of the Roses skippered by Jeff Rose with Craig Rainey and Craig McCallum
3rd Tamm Ha Tamm skippered by Christion Boillot
4th Excite skippered by Toby Richardson with Buster Hooper and Wayne (Moose) Johnson.
Full results available here.