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Barton Marine Pipe Glands

52nd Australian Contender Championship at Gosford Sailing Club - Overall

by Ross Hansen 21 Jan 2022 04:02 PST 17-21 January 2022

It was looking like a great day for sailing with a 13-18 knot South Easterly blowing before the start. After several start relocations racing got away in fresh breeze but a rain squall came across and before boats got to the top mark and the wind dropped to zero!

The second attempt to start was again in fresh breeze, but another rain patch came across and within a minute the wind had dropped to 2 knots!

Racing was eventually abandoned after time ran out and Matt Mulder 'Socially Distant' BSC AUS2434 was crowned Australian Champion 2022 on only 10 points. Matt sailed so well and consistently all week and was presented with the trophy by past champion Mike Alsop who won his last title 52 years ago! It's Matt's fourth title and 29 years since he won his first title. Matt is a great guy and sailor, much deserving this title.

It was set up for an epic final day with 3-time world champion Mark Bulka 'Balance' 2457 McCrae YC looking for a couple of wins, but didn't get the chance and sailed so well too on only 12 points.

Lindsay Irwin 2486 'Angry Tractor' Blackrock SC capped off a great regatta with 3rd overall on 25 points and a highlight was winning the final race.

The Gosford sailing was so happy for the Contender Association, giving them a go at running the event and with seven relative new Contender sailors to the class they learned a lot.

Peter Walsh had a perfect regatta running everything and showed why he's so well regarded in the sailing community. There were more volunteers than sailors involved, making this event a great one, so thank-you to everyone.

Paul Cohen 'Encore' 2270 ACT was also acknowledged for his efforts organising everything for the regatta and presented with a fine wine. He also finished 4th overall and to top it off he won a magnificent Garmin watch in the raffle supplied by our sponsor Garmin. Tony Arends won the other prize of a Carbon Tiller from sponsor CST.

Sam Ellis GSC won the Rookie prize after just joining the class with good results.

Overall Results: (eight races, 1 discard)

PosSail NoBoat NameSkipperR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8Pts
12434Socially Distant (BSC)Matthew Mulder1111321310
22457Balance (McCrae YC)Mark Bulka4222112212
32486Angry Tractor (Blackrock SC)Lindsay Irwin34833(UFD)3125
42270Encore (Canberra YC)Paul Cohen25352751029
52676Eugene (SYC)Grant Robinson784471071247
62565Hector (Blairgowrie YS)John Lindholm1361461056551
72560No Diggity (McCrae YC)Jeff Owen839101268852
72615Inherently Unstable (BSYC)Sam Reid59678(DNS)11652
92642SSHHH (CYC)Andrew Sutton111310119812768
102669Respite (GSC)Sam Ellis1720(RET)12534970
112444Return (GSC)John Humphries97119171216(RET)81
122670Big Red (BYRA)James Meggison16101281411131583
132349Outrageous (Airlie Beach SC)Luke Mairs614211411(UFD)91186
142575Knotasha (McCrae YS)Joey Randall(DNS)15718(OCS)417488
152411Tricky (GSC)Brian Pike10111913159181389
161306Sweet Spot (GSC)James Ellis15175(RET)6(RET)10(DNS)92
172580Ujio (GSC)Ross Hansen1216151921131514104
182Sydney Swans (GSC)Lindsay Pike1912161718142216112
192643Battleship (Teralba SC)Steve Ianna201913(DNS)131514(DNF)113
202196Sou Easter (Manly 16Ft)Matt Triglone1421171620161917119
212648Flipper (Blairgowrie YS)Ned Lindholm2118181516(RET)20(FOC)123
223Kintsuji (RQYS)John McLean22232020191721(FET)138
23669Trash Talk (SPYC)Tony Arends18222221(DNC)(DNC)(DNC)(DNC)158
242131Captain Risky (GSC)Nathan Gulliksen(DNC)(DNC)23(RET)(DNC)(DNC)(DNC)(DNC)170

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