6th April 2009

Matt Whitnall wins Eaton Cup

By Peter Campbell

Matt Whitnall has ended an excellent sailing season with the RSYS by steering dot to a runaway victory in the International Etchells division of the Squadron’s Autumn Championship Regatta sailed on the Harbour over the weekend.

Whitnall scored four straight wins after a first race fourth and did not need to start in the sixth and final heat to win the historic Eaton Cup for the Etchells class.

Apart from achieving several wins in the Etchells over the 2008-2009 season, Whitnall skippered his Dragon Taranui in the Prince Philip Cup, finished a close fourth overall.

Whitnall’s dot finished with 8 points, well clear of Avalon (Michael Bellingham) on 18 points and David Sturrock’s Shindig with Shindig taking third place on a countback.

In the Dragons, just one point separated David Seaton’s Abracadabra and Carl Ryves’ Sidewinder at the end of the three heat series, with just three points to Karabos VIII skippered by Norman Longworth.

Abracadabra had a 1-2-2 card,  Sidewinder 2-1-3, with Karabos VII winning the third race.

Karma (Gary Wogan) took out the three-race Yngling regatta, winning all three races,  from Pourquoi (Hamish Jarrett) and Meridian (Jordon & Alan Reece). 

Close Window »