NSW Tasar State Championship 2021 at Speers Point Amateur Sailing Club

The recently crowned MG14 NSW State Championship duo, Hugh Tait & Bec Hancock delighted not only friends and family over Easter, but the whole sailing community, by claiming this year's NSW Tasar State's Trophy.

Bec is Australian Sailing's 2019 Youth Sailor of the Year, and has already established herself as an elite sailor especially in the Nacra 15 Class winning the 2019s World Youths Mixed, Australian Youth & Australian Championship Titles. Joining forces with Hugh Tait who is a former NS14 Nationals & multi State Champion, they formed a highly technical & skillful team at this year's Tasar State Titles, outperforming even the current Tasar National Champions.

Podium 2nd and 3rd place getters James & Tara Burman, and Rick Longbottom & Darryl Bentley during the NSW Tasar State Championship 2021 - photo © Paul Bellamy

Here's the Regatta wrap...

This year's State's hosted by Speers Point Amateur SC 'is done' & what a fabulous 3 day Event it was with glorious sunshine & a challenging array of shifty breezes to keep competitors' wits about them.

Congratulations to our State's 2021 Title winners Hugh Tait & Rebecca Hancock who scored 11pts from 9 races (with a 2 for their 'drop') pulling out 5 heat wins. 'But' didn't they have some hard & fast rivals pushing them all the way! Strategic match racing with current Australian Tasar Champions, James & Tara Burman generally had both teams well out in the lead beyond the reach of competitors. The Burman's finished 2nd on 14pts taking 3 bullets, whilst in 3rd place on 31pts was 'Hurdy Gurdy #790 'steered by 1986 Tasar World Champion Rick Longbottom sailing with Darryl Bentley. In 4th was Trouble' helmed by elite multi Class skipper Michael Quirk with wife Marise, and 5th were our Port Macquarie boys, Paul Robertson & Jack Corthals racing another 'golden oldie' Flembouyant #900.

The Burmans getting an early lead during the NSW Tasar State Championship 2021 - photo © Paul Bellamy

The race track was set for competitors out on the waters of Warners & Cockle Bays, at the northern end of Lake Macquarie. As any NSW sailor knows, winds can be very fickle around the Easter period, especially a little 'inland" from the coast. For all days the breezes started light & built, with Fri & Sat 'SE -E's' & Sunday'NE's' experiencing extremely wide swings and frequent gusts. Racing was tricky & all competitors soaked up the challenge. 9 heats were scheduled & completed, and every boat in the fleet finished them all. Congratulations goes to all entrants! Sunshine, sparkling blue waters, post-race beverages & perfect on site camping ~ the Event couldn't have been better!

Divisional & HCP winners:

Ladies Helm - Kerry Fyfe (WSC)
Junior Helm - Jessica & Charlotte Greenhill GRSC (sharing the tiller)
Masters - Meika Wright & Sean Ahern (ADF)
Grand Masters - Rick Longbottom & Darryl Bentley (RANSA/CanbYC)
Super GM - Michael Quirk & Marise Hannaford (RPEYC)

Handicap
1st - Ralph & Nicola Stanford (WSC)
2nd - Malcolm Handel & Bea Calvette (NSC)
3rd - John Stannard & Matt Cull (SthBrisSC/GRSC)
4th - Rick & Darryl (RANSA/CYC)
5th - Derek Hadwen & Kelly Saltman (BSC)

Team'S HCP Trophy returns to 'Georges River SC' per their Club's 3 top boats on HCP: Skippers' John Stannard 3rd; Jessica/Charlotte Greenhill 8th & Bernie Streater 9th.

Hugh and Bec receive the trophy at the NSW Tasar State Championship 2021 - photo © Craig Greenhill

Jess & Charlotte Greenhill with their dad Craig, taking the 'Junior Helm' Trophy at the NSW Tasar State Championship 2021 - photo © Craig Greenhill

Making it all happen for our Tasar Class this year, we thank PRO Jeremey Atkinson, his expert Race Committee & the generous volunteers of SPASC. We also welcome the support provided by our Event Sponsors ~ Lake Macquarie City Council, NBSailSports, Shoreline Apparel, Boatropes.com.au and Bar Karate Sailing Podcast.

A final thanks to our host's Tasar Class Captain, Chris Parkinson. 'Parky' has, & still to this day devotes his life to our Class haven been great friends with The Late Frank & Late Nel Bethwaite in the Tasar's early design & production stage, whilst racing at Northbridge SC. A former Class Assoc President, he's often seen cruising around the Nation attending Regattas & supplying those spare parts often needed. Thinking about NSC.. there must be some magic about this scenic inner Middle Harbour venue in Sydney. It's certainly produced some great sailors including our own Hugh Tait, Bec Hancock & Tara Burman!

Again, congratulations to all competitors who took part in this Easter's'44th Tasar State Championship'. Despite the low numbers, the fleet made it up in all its degrees & levels of competencies & experience, from multi 'cross class' State, National and World Champions to beginners getting out there, giving it a go & having fun.

Overall Results: