Zhik Combined High Schools (CHS) Sailing Championships at Belmont 16ft Sailing Club Day 2
by Rod Carter 17 Apr 2024 06:28 PDT
16-19 April 2024
Day 2 of the Zhik Combined High Schools Sailing Championship saw competitors stranded on the shore as the forecast for breeze failed to materialise. After a two hour postponement, race officials were able to set a course in the light and variable SE breeze.
Race 3 had the fleet searching for pressure in the light breeze. This made it difficult for the faster skiffs and multihulls to get away from the pack. The lighter conditions allowed a new group of boats to have an opportunity at securing a good result. Archer Sacre (Barker College) revelled in the conditions sailing his Heron to secured the win. Second place went to the ever consistent 13ft skiff 'Kitchen Maker' sailed by Heidi Bates (St Lukes Grammar) and Aidan Nosworthy (Camden Haven High School) sailing his Flying 11 added to his second place yesterday with a third.
Aidan Nosworthy managed to go a couple better in Race 4, navigating the light and variable conditions better than most to finish in first place on corrected time. The remainder of the podium saw some familiar sailors with Archer Sacre and Heidi Bates finishing second and third respectively.
The overall rankings at the halfway mark in the championship has Heidi Bates hanging onto a narrow overall lead over Archer Sacre with the defending champion Joel Beashel (Morisset High School) sailing a 16ft skiff slipping to third. With the forecast predicting more breeze for the remaining days, it is expected that some of the heavier crews will start to feature in the placings. Tomorrow will be an important day for consolidating some solid results. With very little separating the leaders, the series is poised wide open for someone to take hold of the hampionship.
Full results can be found here.