17th January 2009
By Richard Scarr & Peter Campbell
Many of the best keelboat skippers and crew who race regularly with the Squad began their sailing careers in dinghy or skiff classes in their youth.
Carl Ryves, now one of our leading Dragon helmsmen, represented Australia at the Olympic Games in Mexico, sailing in a high performance Flying Dutchman to class just miss out on a medal.
Photo: Stephen Hall
Ian ‘Fred’ McCrossin went the other way in January. He gave up the chance to helm Martin Burke’s Riga in the Dragon’s Prince Philip Cup to return to the Flying Dutchman class World Championships in Napier, New Zealand.
Sailng a new Mader boat from Germany, McCrossin and his longtime crew James Cook had their sights on winning yet another World title in the FD class.
The Australians won the first race and good speed and consistent tactics had them in second place at series end, two points ahead of fellow Aussies, Norman Rydge and Richard Scarr.
The overall winners were the Hungarian crew of Szabolcs Majthenyi and Andras Domokos, who excelled in the light breezes, winning seven of the nine races.
The Flying Dutchman is a two-handed monohull that remains one of the fastest and enjoyable big dinghies to sail. A former Olympic class, it is an excellent choice for sailors looking to learn what Olympic sailing is all about.
The growing NSW fleet has attracted sailors from skiffs, 505s and even keelboats. The class website is: www.fd.net.au
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