NSW Tasar States 2022 during Sail Port Stephens

Rounding the leeward gybe mark, an area which saw plenty of capsizes during the NSW Tasar States 2022 © Sail Port Stephens / @sailorgirlHQ

Defending Champion Hugh Tait wins this year's NSW Tasar State Championship, this time with wife & crew Anna making it an extra special victory for this team. Amongst a fleet of 27 boats with competitors entering from around the nation, it was sailed in conjunction with 2022's Sail Port Stephens and wasn't it a doozy!

The 3 day Event threw competitors into a spin, dishing up pelting rain and gusty squalls in between solid racing in fresh winds, to 'no racing and no wind'. It challenged the best out of everyone, and the best we had - in fact 3 former Tasar World Champions.

Chris Dance & Peter Hackett #2980 leading on a broad reach from Hugh & Anna Tait #2925 on Race Day 1 during the NSW Tasar States 2022 - photo © Sail Port Stephens / @sailorgirlHQ

One of these World Champion crews was VIC's Chris Dance & Peter Hackett, stepping off a National's win over New Year at Port Lincoln SA & keen to continue racing in competitive fleets in the lead up to 'Worlds in Seattle USA', in September.

Here steps in 'Hugh & wife Anna Tait' from Northbridge SC. They too had been choice favourites at Nationals haven led the fleet the first half of that week. Together with their resume of National & State Titles wins in other Classes including NS14's & MG14'S, they were not going to let this State Title pass them by. It was thus no surprise that both teams were level pegged at 1st on the leader board after Day 2's blinding 4 heats in solid E/SE's & rolling waves that made for plenty of errors & capsizes.

Competitors racing in between rain squalls on Race Day 1 at the NSW Tasar States 2022 - photo © Sail Port Stephens / @sailorgirlHQ

On previous Day 1, 3 heats were raced. Heat 1 saw the Tait's as well as many others, struggle in light air & a shift that trapped the bulk of the fleet on the wrong side of the course. Heat 1 became most competitors 'points drop". Not to be deterred however, the Tait's came back with wins in Heats 2 & 3, where squally winds & rain suddenly required thigh burning hiking upwind. To everyone's delight it also made for exhilarating and drenching rides on reaches & runs. Unofficially taking away the pointscore drop in Heat 1, the Tait's led after Day 1's racing by just 1pt over Chris & Peter, who shared equal points with 1986's Tasar World Champion from Canberra YC, Navy's Rick Longbottom sailing with Darryl Bentley.

One of the 4 race starts on Race Day 2 of the NSW Tasar States 2022 - photo © Sail Port Stephens / @sailorgirlHQ

Day 2's racing began with the fleet heading out through another squall to the race start. There were a few late launchers, some who made it to the start line in time and some who assisted their 'buddy teams' arriving back to shore de-masted. Most were back on the race course for the remainder of the day's heats however to enjoy more fast furious racing. Up in the top bunch there were no surprises with Chris & Peter picking up 2 x 1sts & 2 x 2nds, now equalling points with the Taits but falling to 2nd on countback. The Navy boys raced a 5th, a 3rd followed by a 1st, but then a 9th in Heat 7 due to an equipment problem on their classic older boat #790. The message from these experienced sailors is 'don't ever use any new or untested gear on race day... Their nearest rivals in 4th & 5th just 4 & 10 pts away respectively from Rick and Darryl, were GRSC's Gary & Robyn Ratcliffe (their overall qualifying 6 scores being 4,4,4,4,5,2) and VIC's Heather Macfarlane & Chris Payne (6,5,3,5,6,4).

Working the main sheet for wind and waves during the NSW Tasar States 2022 - photo © Sail Port Stephens / @sailorgirlHQ

So it was after Day 2's racing, a tie for 1st on points with one deciding day of racing to go. Well, wouldn't you know it, Day 3 greeted sailors with Port Stephens' infamous blue skies & glorious sunshine. The Race Committees of both the Bay Sailing Centre and Soldiers Point YC were however sceptical for any early racing with breeze of a certain strength needed to prevail to prevent boats floating out to sea with river current & tidal flow. Crews waited... and waited. A filling in light breeze eventuated early afternoon, the AP came down & boats went out in the direction of the Start line until the breeze faded. The horn blasted to officiate that all races were abandoned & the Regatta was finished. Hugh and Anna Tait became this year's NSW State Champions!

Presentation of State Champion's Hugh & Anna Tait who stand either side of Chris Dance & Peter Hackett in overall 2nd at the NSW Tasar States 2022 - photo © Sail Port Stephens / @sailorgirlHQ

The event concluded with cheese, bickies & champagne in the boat park, before an official Presentation in the Bay Sailing Centre. A big thankyou for everyone who participated in the Event and to our Scratch, HCP & DIV winners who appear below, including this year's 'Best Performing Buddy team', an incentive for teams to share skills to improve abilities out on the race course. Thankyou also to the volunteers & Race Committees of the BSC & SPYC, the latter whom welcomed us to their Club on sunset for Sat night's 'seasonal award ceremony & farewell to Class stalwart Chris Parkinson'. Thank-you also to the wonderful support, prizes & Trophies donated by Sail Port Stephens, and to our life members who visited, spectated and told us some great tales from early Class times.

Overall Results: