Day 1 & 2 - A Class Australian Nationals

Sorry all I have been a little busy playing with carbon and repairing boats to update but better late then never.

Day 1 we saw another day of 20kt NE winds along with the waves again making conditions testing.
Ashby showed everyone just why he is the A Class king with world class boat handling and balls of steel in these conditions.
Top Team Harken member for the day Spithill finished the second race 9th with only one and a half rudders which was a better placing then the first race where he finished with two rudders in 10th, maybe if he uses one rudder he might have a win. (just joking).
At the end of the day Ashby was leading from Bundock then Brewin.
Other team members Brayshaw finished 11th and Benson 15th overall.

Race 3 Start / photo by Ross Wylde-Browne

Day 2 The winds were a lot lighter than on the previous day. The first race of the day had two general recalls with a clean start on the third attempt under a black flag. Stevie Brewin (HK supporter) took the lead in this race and held it all the way to the finish line currently being the sailor to take a win from Ashby.
The second race had a good start, and the slightly increased wind speed saw Glenn Ashby dominate, and an improving performance from local sailor Nathan Outteridge giving him a third placing.




Jack Benson race 4 / photo by Ross Wylde-Browne

  Overall results after 4 races below.

Some good photos can be found here http://www.wangirslasc.yachting.org.au/?page=57551

Place	Ties	Sail No	Bow No	Skipper	Div	Sers Score	Race 4	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1		AUS111	01	Glenn Ashby		5.0	1.0	2.0	1.0	1.0
2		AUS888	88	Darren Bundock		11.0	2.0	4.0	2.0	3.0
3		AUS4	04	Steve Brewin		14.0	6.0	1.0	3.0	4.0
4		AUS973	15	Nathan Outteridge		18.0	3.0	7.0	6.0	2.0
5		AUS975	12	James Spithill		29.0	4.0	6.0	9.0	10.0
6		AUS972	16	Tom Slingsby		33.5	8.0	5.0	5.0	15.5
7		AUS308	03	Andrew Landenberger		34.0	13.0	8.0	7.0	6.0
8		AUS958	58	Simon McKeon	GM	35.0	9.0	17.0	4.0	5.0
9		AUS902	02	Scott Anderson	GM	37.0	10.0	10.0	10.0	7.0
10		AUS10	10	Brad Collett		45.0	15.0	14.0	8.0	8.0
11		AUS25	25	Stephen Brayshaw		46.0	7.0	13.0	17.0	9.0
12		GER14	14	Bob Baier		49.0	11.0	3.0	22.0	13.0
13		AUS20	20	Chris Batenberg		50.0	5.0	22.0	11.0	12.0
14		AUS967	89	Graeme Parker	GM	54.0	17.0	11.0	12.0	14.0
15		AUS13	13	Jack Benson	J	62.0	14.0	9.0	15.0	24.0
16		AUS907	29	Davis McKenzie		78.5	19.0	30.0	14.0	15.5
17		AUS961	61	Stuart Scott		79.0	18.0	19.0	19.0	23.0
18		AUS969	69	Grant Pellew		80.0	16.0	16.0	27.0	21.0
19		AUS936	36	David Parker		86.0	21.0	21.0	16.0	28.0
20		AUS949	49	Dave Brewer		87.0	23.0	31.0	13.0	20.0
21		AUS957	57	David Loutit	M	91.0	24.0	28.0	21.0	18.0
22		AUS920	79	Adam Beattie	J	92.0	22.0	25.0	23.0	22.0
23		AUS8	08	Graeme Harbour	GM	97.0	32.0	24.0	24.0	17.0
24		AUS900	62	Wayne Mercer	M	105.0	30.0	38.0	18.0	19.0
25		AUS321	32	Andrew Williams		109.0	12.0	15.0	71.0O	11.0
26		AUS844	84	Richie Howells		110.0	27.0	26.0	28.0	29.0
27		AUS933	33	Chris Parker	GM	114.0	25.0	23.0	33.0	33.0
28		NED88	06	Caroljn Brouwer	L	119.0	20.0	18.0	41.0	40.0
29		AUS22	22	Mark Johnston	GM	133.0	29.0	58.0	20.0	26.0
30		AUS101	11	John Richards	GGM	135.0	28.0	20.0	40.0	47.0
31		AUS58	19	Andrew Chaney		140.0	36.0	33.0	32.0	39.0
32		AUS898	26	Chris Cairns	M	144.0	71.0C	12.0	30.0	31.0
33		AUS911	71	Michael Kopp		146.0	39.0	37.0	34.0	36.0
34		AUS947	77	Lucas McDonald		147.0	47.0	44.0	26.0	30.0
35		AUS9	09	John Dowling	GM	150.0	41.0	46.0	31.0	32.0
36	25.0S	NED112	17	Dirk de Ridder		165.0	71.0O	34.0	25.0	35.0
37		AUS837	28	Clare Neeskens	L	165.0	37.0	29.0	54.0	45.0
38		AUS950	50	Robert Griffits	GM	166.0	40.0	41.0	42.0	43.0
39	33.0S	USA1	18	John Kosteki		167.0	33.0	36.0	71.0F	27.0
40	27.0S	AUS7	07	Hamish Sinclair	M	167.0	35.0	27.0	71.0C	34.0
41		AUS827	27	Neil Caldwell		167.0	43.0	45.0	37.0	42.0
42		AUS100	31	Simon Nelson		169.0	31.0	32.0	35.0	71.0F
43	25.0S	AUS37	37	Bruce McArthur		170.0	26.0	48.0	71.0F	25.0
44		AUS954	54	Paul Neeskens	M	170.0	56.0	47.0	29.0	38.0
45		AUS935	35	Steve Breaden	GM	181.0	71.0F	35.0	38.0	37.0
46		AUS942	42	Steven Yarrington		182.0	34.0	39.0	53.0	56.0
47		AUS880	80	Ian Michie	M	185.0	44.0	49.0	44.0	48.0
48		AUS883	83	Kasey Warr	J	186.0	49.0	42.0	46.0	49.0
49		AUS804	21	Thomas Stuchbery	J	190.0	46.0	40.0	49.0	55.0
50		AUS90	30	Pieter-Jan Postman		207.0	61.0	53.0	47.0	46.0
51	36.0S	AUS948	78	Russ McDonald	M	208.0	62.0	50.0	36.0	60.0
52		AUS932	75	Pat Drover	M	208.0	50.0	56.0	52.0	50.0
53		AUS9I4	70	Brad Wicht	M	209.0	52.0	43.0	43.0	71.0F
54		AUS668	68	Brian Cole	GGM	211.0	53.0	52.0	48.0	58.0
55		AUS5	05	Horst Kopp	GGM	212.0	45.0	54.0	51.0	62.0
56		AUS746	46	Brett White	M	213.0	51.0	66.0	45.0	51.0
57		AUS48	48	Ian Johnson	GM	219.0	55.0	61.0	50.0	53.0
58		NED888	24	Jeroen Van Leeuwen		220.0	38.0	59.0	71.0F	52.0
59		AUS944	44	Steve Wright	M	221.0	42.0	64.0	71.0F	44.0
60		AUS939	39	Campbell Miller	M	222.0	71.0C	71.0F	39.0	41.0
61		AUS912	72	Alex Duff		227.0	54.0	60.0	56.0	57.0
62		AUS739	73	William Pringle		239.0	57.0	57.0	71.0F	54.0
63	48.0S	AUS956	56	Vic Collett	GGM	241.0	48.0	51.0	71.0C	71.0C
64		AUS802	82	Konrad Schultz		241.0	60.0	67.0	55.0	59.0
65		AUS959	59	Graham Hiles	GGM	242.0	58.0	63.0	57.0	64.0
66		AUS76	23	Dario Valenza		257.0	63.0	62.0	71.0C	61.0
67		AUS955	55	John Cootes	GGM	258.0	59.0	65.0	71.0C	63.0
68		AUS941	41	Julian Jenkins		268.0	71.0C	55.0	71.0C	71.0C
69		AUS747	47	Chris Carter		274.0	64.0	68.0	71.0C	71.0F
70		AUS765	76	Mark Griffits	M	284.0	71.0C	71.0C	71.0C	71.0C

Australian A Class Nationals- Invitation Race

The race was held in a soild 17-20kt NE sea breeze with some short steep waves making the conditions challenging to say the least.
A lot of capsizes in the fleet (including myself) but a fun race alround.
The downwind runs were more like delivery trips to stay safe, then push the boat hard upwind in race mode.

Boat held together really well and everything felt solid. Very happy.

Team Harken sailor James Spithill beat everyone to the top mark in the trying conditions but a capzise down the run put him back in the fleet.

The newest Team Harken member Steven Brayshaw finished in 4th spot with James in 8th and myself in 15th. Team member Jack Benson retied after a capsize to save energy for the real racing starting today in the same conditions. (could be a smart move)

Results below.

Place	Sail No	Bow No	Elapsd	Skipper	Score	Fin Tim	ETOrd	DidNot
1	AUS888	88	34:10	Darren Bundock	1.0	15:48:10	1
2	AUS321	32	35:18	Andrew Williams	2.0	15:49:18	2
3	AUS10	10	35:25	Brad Collett	3.0	15:49:25	3
4	AUS25	25	35:52	Stephen Brayshaw	4.0	15:49:52	4
5	AUS308	03	35:53	Andrew Landenberger	5.0	15:49:53	5
6	AUS972	16	36:00	Tom Slingsby	6.0	15:50:00	6
7	AUS975	12	36:19	James Spithill	7.0	15:50:19	7
8	AUS949	49	36:26	Dave Brewer	8.0	15:50:26	8
9	AUS973	15	36:28	Nathan Outteridge	9.0	15:50:28	9
10	AUS37	37	36:53	Bruce McArthur	10.0	15:50:53	10
11	AUS958	58	37:00	Simon McKeon	11.0	15:51:00	11
12	AUS20	20	37:16	Chris Batenberg	12.0	15:51:16	12
13	AUS7	07	37:45	Hamish Sinclair	13.0	15:51:45	13
14	AUS936	36	38:07	David Parker	14.0	15:52:07	14
15	AUS969	69	38:09	Grant Pellew	15.0	15:52:09	15
16	AUS844	84	38:15	Richie Howells	16.0	15:52:15	16
17	AUS22	22	38:59	Mark Johnston	17.0	15:52:59	17
18	AUS935	35	39:20	Steve Breaden	18.0	15:53:20	18
19	AUS90	30	39:53	Pieter-Jan Postman	19.0	15:53:53	19
20	AUS952	19	40:05	Andrew Chaney	20.0	15:54:05	20
21	NED88	06	40:09	Carolijn Brouwer	21.0	15:54:09	21
22	AUS942	42	40:47	Steven Yarrington	22.0	15:54:47	22
23	AUS668	68	42:26	Brian Cole	23.0	15:56:26	23
24	AUS883	83	42:32	Kasey Warr	24.0	15:56:32	24
25	AUS880	80	43:07	Ian Michie	25.0	15:57:07	25
26	AUS746	46	45:14	Brett White	26.0	15:59:14	26
27	AUS802	82	49:16	Konrad Schultz	27.0	16:03:16	27
DNC	AUS4	04		Steve Brewin	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS5	05		Horst Kopp	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS8	08		Graeme Harbour	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS9	09		John Dowling	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS13	13		Jack Benson	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS48	48		Ian Johnson	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS76	23		Dario Valenza	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS101	11		John Richards	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS739	73		William Pringle	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS747	47		Chris Carter	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS765	76		Mark Griffits	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS804	21		Thomas Stuchbery	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS827	27		Neil Caldwell	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS837	28		Clare Neeskens	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS898	26		Chris Cairns	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS902	02		Scott Anderson	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS907	29		Davis McKenzie	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS911	71		Michael Kopp	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS912	72		Alex Duff	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS920	79		Adam Beattie	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS932	75		Pat Drover	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS933	33		Chris Parker	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS939	39		Campbell Miller	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS941	41		Julian Jenkins	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS944	44		Steve Wright	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS947	77		Lucas McDonald	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS948	78		Russ McDonald	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS950	50		Robert Griffits	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS954	54		Paul Neeskens	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS955	55		John Cootes	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS956	56		Vic Collett	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS957	57		David Loutit	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS959	59		Graham Hiles	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS961	61		Stuart Scott	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS962	62		Wayne Mercer	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS964	31		Simon Nelson	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS967	89		Graeme Parker	71.0			DNC
DNC	AUS9I4	70		Brad Wicht	71.0			DNC
DNC	GER14	14		Bob Baier	71.0			DNC
DNC	NED112	17		Dirk de Ridder	71.0			DNC
DNC	NED888	24		Jeroen Van Leeuwen	71.0			DNC
DNC	USA1	18		John Kosteki	71.0			DNC
OCS	AUS111	01		Glenn Ashby	71.0			OCS

Australian A Class Nationals

A few photos from training.
The field is looking pretty hot and to do well you are going to have to sail fast and smart.
Practice race tomorrow then Race 1 Monday.
Game On!

Downwind Fun

James Spithill (AUS 975)

Darren Bundock (Yes a Ronstan boy but still a mate)

JK

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