2026 Australian International Moth Open National Championships at McCrae Yacht Club - Day 4
by Shane Baker 8 Jan 23:42 AEDT
5-10 January 2026
Another entertaining day on the water, with the wind clearly undecided about whether it was coming or going.
That said, it didn't stop the Nikki fleet from having a crack early.
Nikki racing was scheduled for a morning start, and four enthusiastic young sailors ventured out full of optimism (and possibly questionable judgment). Conditions proved challenging, with a southerly breeze sitting at 15-19 knots and peaking at a spicy 23. A little too much for official Nikki racing... but not enough to stop a couple of the young guns from showing the more mature generation how it's done. Cue exciting spills, thrilling moments, and smiles stretched from ear to ear. Nikki racing was postponed, with fingers crossed that the wind might calm itself down.
Well... calm down, it did — perhaps a little too enthusiastically.
The wind then decided to play advocate (and occasional enemy) for the Foiler and Lowrider course. The Foilers managed to squeeze in four races, with the final race stretching to three laps. Conditions were a true smorgasbord, ranging from 5-8 knots up to gusts of 18. At times, the foilers simply couldn't foil, forcing them to reconnect with their ancestry and sail in low-rider style instead.
The Lowriders, subjected to the same fickle conditions as the Foilers, powered through and managed to tick off two races.
Meanwhile, the ever-enthusiastic Nikki fleet resumed where they left off in the morning and completed four races — proving that persistence (and patience with the wind) pays off.
Racing resumes tomorrow... assuming the wind has made up its mind by then.
Current Division Standings:
Foilers
- Jack Ferguson
- Scott Babbage
- Sam Street
Low Riders
- Nigel Ferguson
- Brian Walker
- Ian Clazie
Nikki
- Finley Gleeson
- Josh Bacon
- Liam Dixon
- Bibi Stigter
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