2023 Ronstan 505 Australian Championship at Darling Point Sailing Squadron - Overall
by Jordan Spencer 28 Jan 20:02 PST
22-28 January 2023
Winners Chris and Thor - 2023 Ronstan 505 Australian Championship © Jordan Spencer
The final day of the Ronstan 505 Australian Championships was more of the same, light gradient breezes, but this time just slightly more breeze than yesterday.
505's love a breeze. They plane upwind and down, and the fleet has worked out that in a 505, when you have your crew on the wire upwind, it is quicker to keep your crew on the wire and reach downwind rather than run. This means there are transitions when lighter crews are on the wire and planning and heavier crews are watching. The last days racing for the 505's was raced in exactly those conditions.
Racing started at 12.00pm on the last of a flood tide in a 6-8 knot Northerly. Most of the fleet elected to start late in the gate and the orthopaedic surgeons were happy as there were a lot of bent legs on the crews trapezing and their knees were suffering. Late on the beat there were a few shifts right, then left allowing a reshuffle, but there was a gaggle of boats at the front. The lead boats included Mal and Jack Higgins, Alexandra Alder and Marcus Cooper, and the Careys. Mal who normally sails with Camel, (Nick Johnson, 6'4 and 105kg) and flies upwind in big breezes was loving having Jack on the wire, (6'4" and 78kg) because they were flying up and downwind in the marginal breeze. Alexandra and Marcus were loving it too holding on to second until almost the end when Kev Cameron and Sam Heritage, who had been moving through the fleet all day made their pass.
For the overall, Paterson/Schoenhoff and Quirk/Brokerhoff finished 9th and 10th respectively focussed on each other rather than the fleet. For Paterson/Schoenhoff it was time to wear white, they could finally put away the bridesmaids' dresses. Ironically, for Quirk/Brokerhoff, they ended in a tie for second with Malcolm and Jack Higgins. The fast-finishing Higgins' team ending third overall after the countback.
It was a great regatta. A success thanks to the volunteer efforts of the members of the Darling Point Sailing Squadron, (the blue roof in Manly Harbour). A special mention to Lyn Hanlon, she is awesome. It was a grass roots effort and they are often the most fun events. The 505 sailors and their families from that club all put in a huge effort as well, the DPSS also won the teams trophy, (the fleet with the best result from their top three finishers). And a big congratulations to Jack Higgins, finishing third on his first go in a 505. Plus, congratulations to 15 year old Ashlie Duffield on a 5oh for the first time, on the wire!!
The next nationals are scheduled for Jervis Bay. The place is a paradise. Grab yourself a 505 now.
Thanks to all the sponsors - Ronstan, Doyle, Muir Marine, One Sails, Manly Boathouse, BAAHOUSE + BAASTUDIO Architects and GMD
Results can be found here.