8th December 2007

Etchells sailors have eye on World Championships

Sydney Etchells sailors are gearing up for World Championships – in Chicago in 2008, then in Melbourne in 2009 and in 2012, hosted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.

Already there is a high interest in racing Etchells among many of Sydney’s leading sailors, with the RSYS fleet attracting more than 30 entries for the Main Series this season.

The Squadron’s Etchells fleet is said to be the largest competing regularly in club racing in the world, with more than 20 boats turning out each Saturday.

Last Saturday, with two top boats away in Brisbane to contest the Queensland State championships, the Mini Regatta attracted 19 boats for three heats of highly competitive racing over short harbour courses. 

In fact, there were 20 starters as one boat competed – and finished first across the line in two heats – but unfortunately had been not officially entered for the mini regattas, which are also qualifying races for the Worlds in Chicago.

Officially, the top performing Etchells on Saturday were Bob Weir and Steve Tracy’s Ganesh with a 1-9-1 scoreboard, a week late 50th birthday present for Weir.

Weir and Tracy have set winning the Squadron’s mini regattas as their goal for this season and are now well placed to achieve this,

The two next best boats on Saturday were John Dunn’s Bald Eagle with 8-1-5 and QRS, owned by Ian Kingsford-Smith and Alastair Stone with 6-4-2.  Stone helmed QRS as Kingsford-Smith was  filling the role of race officer for the regatta.

However, first boat to finish in the second and third heats, was No Excuse  skippered by Etchells newcomer Rupert Henry, a recruit from Sydney 38 OD competition.

Whilst an entrant for the Etchells Main Series with the Squadron,  Henry inadvertently did not enter No Excuse for the Mini Regattas,  but is keen to qualify for the Chicago Worlds.

“Rupert had two good wins, but we could not list him as an official competitor,” Ian Kingsford-Smith explained.

“However, Ganesh, with Rob Weir on the helm and Steve Tracy and Peter Bigalow , put in two excellent races, officially winning races one and three.

“The close competition epitomised the close fleet racing we enjoy in Etchells one-design racing, with three seconds separating the first three boats in heat one, Ganesh, Holy Grail (Tim Malchanoff & David Albert) and Avalon (Phil Dash & Michael Bellingham). Indeed there was only 25 seconds between the first six finishers.

Kingsford-Smith said he was pleased with the south-easterly course set from a starting line in Sirius Cove, although the windward mark had to be moved from off Garden Island to Double Bay after the wind shifted to the left.

Fleet representative Peter Alexander, who sails Tonic,  said the regatta was sailed in an 8-10 knot breeze swinging up to 20 degrees.  “It was a day of quick tactical decisions and fast tacking and gybing,” he said.

Saturday’s Mini Regatta was part of the Sydney fleet qualifying races for the 2008 World Championships, which will be held on Lake Michigan, Chicago from 20-30 June.

The Sydney Harbour fleet is eligible for up to ten places at the Worlds, and a number of prominent Sydney fleet sailors have indicated they will compete.

In March 2009 the Royal Brighton Yacht Club will conduct the World Championship and in February 2112 the Sydney fleet will host the Worlds as part of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s sesquicentenary celebrations.

The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron will host the 2008 Australian Championship on Waterloo Bay from 9-18 January, with a strong interstate contingent expected.

Among them will be dual world Etchells champion Colin Beashel, who is returning to the class with Alinghi America’s Cup sailor Will McCarthy and another Alinghi crewman in campaigning North Sydney Station for the Nationals.

The NSW State Championship will be sailed on Botany Bay from 21-28 February 2008.

Close Window »