International 14 Australian Championships at Black Rock Yacht Club - Day 4

With a blowout from the previous day, 2 races were scheduled for Day 4 of the Championships at Black Rock Yacht Club, Victoria. The forecast was a building Southerly breeze starting at 5-10 knots and increasing throughout the day to 20 knots. The word of the day was 'trapeze harnesses' with 2 hook failures and velcro waistbands letting go on 4 different boats - check your gear regularly fellow skiff sailors!

International 14 Australian Championships Heat 3 & 4 - photo © Sonny Witton

Race 3 got under way in 5-10 knots and a shifting breeze making it very challenging to get comfortable. Roger Blasse and Andrew Gilligan on Late Arrival had their boat setup to perfection and made short work of the first upwind leg and had grown a healthy lead at the top mark.

International 14 Australian Championships Heat 3 & 4 - photo © Sonny Witton

The race for second was well fought between 6 boats with Mark Krstic and James Lanati on Sticky Fingers holding course for the majority of the race, a large shift up the last upwind leg brought everyone back together and the young guns on Homie; Will Wallis and Hugh Hickling crept around the top mark for the last time in 4th place, but they weren't done yet. Homie had a great downwind leg to the finish and picked up 2nd place right on the line, with Sticky Fingers finishing 3rd.

International 14 Australian Championships Heat 3 & 4 - photo © Sonny Witton

The cloud cover finally broke for race 4 allowing the southerly breeze to build, The start got under way in 10knots but quickly shifted right and built to 15knots 10minutes into racing. The boats that cleared out at the start got off to a blinder and it was Will Wallis and Hugh Hickling on Homie leading the charge out on the right hand side lay line, with the top boats fighting it out mid fleet. Lindsay Irwin and Andrew Perry on Ronstan/Irwin Sails were making the best of the conditions and built up an early lead, as the breeze increased the sea state began to rise, if you were caught mid pack it was like a washing machine, making it even more challenging.

International 14 Australian Championships Heat 3 & 4 - photo © Sonny Witton

The last downwind leg proved to be the deciding factor for a lot of boats, the mine shafts had built up quite substantially and a cartwheel was just a moment away for everyone. Race winners from Heat 3 Roger Blasse and Andrew Giliigan found one and dropped back to 13th. It was Ronstan/Irwin Sails finishing 1st with Sticky Fingers 2nd and Wang Wang 3rd. The story of the day would have to be the boys on Homie with a 2nd and a 5th in their 2nd International 14 Championships.

This event is generously supported by Sport and Recreation Victoria.

Results after Day 4: