Australian International A Class Championships 2012

PREVIEW 2012 A CLASS CATAMARAN AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: THE BATTLE OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONS

The John Cootes Furniture Australian A Class Catamaran National Championships will be a unique event for the Australian summer of sailing . The event will bring together three current World Champions to race at Wangi, on the waters of Lake Macquarie.

 

Current World Champion Steve Brewin

Tom Slingsby is the current  World Laser champion (2011 now making three World Titles) and just crowned ISAF World champion in Perth a few weeks ago, and he is continuing to win virtually every International Laser event in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics.

Nathan Outteridge is the 2011 champion in both the 49ner and International Moth Class, and is also looking good for a medal at the London Olympics after winning Gold for the 49er class at the ISAF Worlds in Perth. These two will be pitted against Steve Brewin, whom recently secured the 2011 A Class Catamaran World Crown in Aarhus, Denmark.

 

The form guide for this regatta will also be complicated by the infusion of a number of the AC 45 sailors who will be heading down under for the Christmas break in their AC 45 campaigns .

Team Oracle will be very well represented. James Spithill will bring along his tactician John Kostecki, and trimmer Dirk de Ridder. Darren Bundock and Tom Slingsby will represent the other Oracle AC 45.

Glenn Ashby and Adam Beashel will fly the flag for Emirates Team Zealand.

 

 

Life at the top will be tough, as these sailor will be racing against other Australians whom filled the top six  places in the Danish Worlds. The Aussie Titles will be a true "Champion of Champions " contest.

Around 70 boats are expected to contest the event ,which will be hosted by the Wangi (RSL)  Amateur  Sailing Club , under the direction of  PRO Tony Outteridge, during the first week in January Zhik will be the other major sponsor,in addition to John Cootes Furniture.

 

Simon McKeown, a long time A Cat sailor and current Australian of the year has indicated that he is very much looking forward to competing in the regatta.

 

Interest in the regatta is very strong and we have received numerous enquiries from people who sail other classes of boats seeking to charter boats for the event

 

One thing for sure this event is going to be big and is going to take world class skill to just finish inside the top 20.

 

Cannot wait 'Game On'.

Sail Sydney Regatta 2011

Last week we had the all classes Sail Sydney Regatta down on Botany Bay. This regatta I had the first chance to test out my new rig (Fibrefoam) and sail (Brewin). The great thing about the weekend were the conditions as we had 8-10kts over the weekend which gave me perfect conditions to test over a range of wind speeds.

Me rigging for the first race.

The out come was the new set up was very fast in the 8-12kt range and with a little work will also be fast in the stronger conditions.

The weekend saw 11 boats racing with another Harken sponsored sailor Jack Benson from the NT coming down to race along with Harken supporter Steve Brewin.
Steve is the current World Champion and Jack is number 2 in the World, so the the sailing level was very high.

On the left higher and faster

With my old rig I use to sail around just behind these guys but just not with them. Bring in the new rig and I now race on top of them and can be in front of them now. So I'm one very happy camper.

The end results saw Stevie take the win with Jack 2nd, Andrew Williams 3rd and myself 4th.

Steve Brewin top mark rounding

Jack Benson top mark rounding