Flying Dutchman Australian Championship 2026 - Overall

From an initial 13 entries, capsizes, gear damage and retirements whittled the fleet down to six competitors lining up for the last and sixth race in the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship regatta.

The championship races were held on Lake King at Metung, and hosted by the rural-based Metung Yacht Club, in Victoria, Australia.

Australian and World champions were among the competitors that had both retired and lined up for race six - Ian McCrossin and Peter Bevis on Lupicus 60 AUS33, Matt Draper and Thomas Stuchbery on Freight Train AUS001, Rafe Heale and Tom Watson on Power AUS7, Gary Cameron and Darren Hocking on Blu Tak AUS338, David Gibb and John Bailey on Lupicus NZL112 and Nick Meijer and Charlie Edwards on Circus Oz AUS31.

Rafe Heale and Tom Watson on Power AUS7 speed to the finish line, well ahead of the fleet in race six, for the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Victoria, Australia - photo © Jeanette Severs

The course, as per the previous five races, was based on the Olympic triangle course for FDs, over one nautical mile, with a wing on the first leg; and set at an axis of 100 degrees, with rolling seas.

The wind speed was a steady 17-18 knots, down from the 21-22 knots gusting of the previous race.

An orange flag was raised on the start boat after race five, while the race officer, Dean Robson, considered the value of running a final race.

The flag for the starting sequence went up at 1301 and the six FDs got away at 1306 with a clean start.

This being the third day sailing on Lake King in windy conditions, all crews were able to bring that experience to their starts.

Heale used all his experience to maximise speed and Watson hiked out on Power AUS7 at the start of race six, up against Gibb and Bailey on Lupicus NZL112.

Meijer and Edwards on Circus Oz AUS31 brought dirty air to shadowing McCrossin and Bevis on Lupicus 60 AUS33.

Despite gear problems in race one, Matt Draper and Thomas Stuchbery in Freight Train AUS001 won races two, three and four, and placed second in race five and six - photo © Jeanette Severs

Draper and Stuchbery on Freight Train AUS001 went wide of everyone else.

Cameron and Hocking on Blu Tak AUS338 held a steady course.

Everyone favoured a port sprint initially.

Power was still in the lead at the first rounding of the windward gates, followed by Freight Train, then Lupicus 60 and Blu Tak. Lupicus and Circus Oz filled the following ranks; with only three minutes 24 seconds between first and sixth boat.

Unfortunately, McCrossin and Bevis experienced trouble with getting their spinnaker up after the windward gate, which forced them to retire Lupicus 60 AUS33 from the race and any chance of winning the championship.

Heale and Watson on Power AUS7 led the way, well ahead of the fleet around the wing mark and the leeward gate; and powered towards the windward gate.

Rafe Heale and Tom Watson on Power AUS7 take on the high waves on their way to the second rounding of the windward gates, in race six, for the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Victoria, Australia - photo © Jeanette Severs

In their wake, just before the leeward gate Draper and Stuchbery in Freight Train AUS001 streamed past Cameron and Hocking in Blu Tak AUS338.

That's how first, second and third finished the race - Power well ahead of Freight Train, with Blu Tak some distance behind.

Gibb and Bailey on Lupicus NZL112 had no spinnaker use in the downwind leg to the finish line but still finished in fourth place.

Despite no spinnaker on their downwind leg in race six, David Gibb and John Bailey on Lupicus NZL112 were only 5.5 minutes behind the leader - photo © Jeanette Severs

Meijer and Edwards were last, in fifth place.

Darren Hocking, president of the Australian FD Association, presents the championship trophy to Matt Draper, skipper of Freight Train AUS001 and the new 2026 Australian FD champion. Metung Yacht Club Commodore, Peter Kanat, is on the right - photo © Jeanette Severs

Matt Draper and Thomas Stuchbery on Freight Train AUS001 are the 2026 Australian champions.

Runner up is Rafe Heale and Tom Watson on Power AUS7.

Darren Hocking,, and winner race one and the Albert Gold Cup trophy, Matt Draper, skipper of Freight Train AUS001 & the new 2026 Australian FD champion, Rafe Heale, skipper of Power AUS7 and runner-up, & Peter Bevis, crew with Ian McCrossin on Lupicus 60 - photo © Jeanette Severs

In third place, sailed Ian McCrossin and Peter Bevis on Lupicus 60 AUS33.

In his speech, Draper commended the course and starts engineered by Dean Robson over the three days.

"And thanks for turning on the wind. This is the best Nationals regatta in quite a few years," he said.

Draper also commended his crew, Thomas Stuchbery.

"Tom always wanted to sail an FD and he jumped on at the last minute," Draper said.

This was Draper's third Australian FD championship, and the first for Stuchbery as well as his first time racing an FD.

Draper shares the honour of multiple and singular Australian championships with fellow competitors McCrossin, Heale, Bevis, Henger and Bismark, and other sailors of note, Johnny Gash, Peter Bartels, Norman Rydge, James Cook, and Nigel Abbott, among others.

As winners of race one, Cameron and Hocking on Blu Tak AUS338 were awarded the solid gold and prestigious Albert Gold Cup, which is kept in Sydney.

Gary Cameron and Darren Hocking in Blu Tak AUS338 was the third boat around the leeward mark in race six, and kicked up water as they sailed toward the windward gates; for the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Australia - photo © Jeanette Severs

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