2025 Victorian Contender Class Championship at McCrae Yacht Club - Overall
by Shane Baker 23 Mar 22:16 AEDT
22-23 March 2025
Light weather continued to prevail, with glassy conditions greeting the sailors. Perhaps a few sore heads from the previous night's festivities—those who know, know.
The McCrae Yacht Club stepped in with a breakfast fit for champions, serving up egg and bacon rolls to fuel the day ahead.
Race 1 was postponed as the team struggled to set a course in the fickle conditions, leading to some frustrating delays. Mostly cloudy skies with occasional breaks of sunshine made for a stunning day, but with just 5 knots of northeast wind, it was clear that the weather wasn't quite ready to cooperate.
The morning session was ultimately abandoned due to a lack of consistent wind, leaving sailors with plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine and the onshore catering. Despite the still conditions, the sailors made the most of their break, staying well-fed and hydrated.
Then, in the afternoon, the wind finally picked up to a moderate 10-12 knots, and there was a rush to the boats as sailors scrambled to take advantage of the conditions. However, their eagerness led to a general recall, and the fleet had to return to the starting line for a single race to finish the day.
Bulka added another regatta victory to his name.
As the regatta came to a close, preparations were already under way for the upcoming Contender World Championships in Lake Garda, Italy, in July 2025, where 20 Australian boats are set to compete.
Congratulations to Mark, Simon, and Michael on your podium results.
Big shout out to McCrae Yacht Club and all the volunteers for another well-run regatta.
Overall Results: (top ten)
1. Mark Bulka (Irwin Sails)
2. Simon Barwood (JCasidy Sails)
3. Michael Macdonald (Wavelength Sails)
4. Joey Randall (Irwin Sails)
5. Grant Robinson (Irwin Sails)
6. Andre Webster (Irwin Sails)
7. Andrea Bonezzi (Olimpic Sails)
8. James Ellis (Irwin Sails)
9. Sam Ellis
10. Andrew Chisholm
For more information, check out the links below: