Zhik 47th Australian Championships

28 Dec 2012 - 4 Jan 2013 - Port Lincoln, South Australia

Overall Results

Race Reviews -

28th December 2012

Australian  Championships Practice Race

 The sun was out as we awoke to a perfect day in beautiful Port Lincoln.

The morning consisted of measuring and registration followed by PRO "Uncle Mike's" briefing. With us all dazzled by some changes to the sailing instructions - and Sri Lanka's collapse in the cricket we headed off on to the race course.

The breeze was offshore from the south east ranging from 12 to 20 knots, 30 degree wind shifts and a very small short chop.

From the writer's point of view it all went pear shaped from the moment he hit the water. Josh the almighty crew popped his knee cap out and inverted his knee less than 100 metres from the beach. After much profanity he managed to pop his knee back in and being either brave or stupid insisted he was fit to race.

The 25 boats entered the start sequence with a sly grin as PRO " Uncle Mike" made a blew and forgot a course flag causing much confusion. A quick postponement and this was fixed and we lined up for a start with the breeze around 18 knots.

Robin and Joel leapt out the blocks and took the early lead. They were closely followed by Jack and Tom, Greg and Havas and Nathan and Dave working up the right.  Around the top mark the reach was tight -  free - tight - free ----- damn 30 degree wind shifts. The second reach was even more  shifty.

The position s remained unchanged at the bottom mark but the second beta stirred it all up a bit. With the broken crew still nursing a sore knee Ben and Josh picked their way from sixth to second.

Rounding the top mark Josh's knee again popped out with much swearing, allowing Greg and Tom past in the process.

While things closed up and spread out again on numerous occasions the positions on the final lap positions didn't change a lot with Robin and Joel securing the win, Tom and Jack second, Greg and Havas third and Ben and broken Josh fourth.

Other notable performances came from Matt and Matt with Thomo and Eddie the Eagle close on their heels who found the gust of the day on the first reach of the last lap, closing a half leg long gap in a matter of seconds to threaten taking places on the podium.

There was tight racing throughout the fleet and at the bar all had a story to tell.

The day finished with the welcome night gourmet BBQ and a few beers. Tomorrow looks to bring good breezes for the first two races.

Thanks go to Dave Godden, Mike Rogers and all the other volunteers for making the event happen.

In finishing - just a quick note that Josh ended up at the hospital with a dislocated knee cap, torn cruciate ligament and hyper extended knee joint. Surprised he could stand let alone crew the race and put the boat in the top four.

As they say tomorrow is another day so stay tuned...........

29th December 2012

We awoke again to a near perfect day. The wind was out of the East and ranging between 12 and 15 knots.

Race 1

Race one started with a single recall - Thommo and Eddie the culprits who scored an OCS. As always it was Robin and Joel who led proceedings, closely followed by Tom and Jack. Matt and Matt had a great start and were pushing the leaders followed by Greg and Havas.

As the race went on Robin and Joel maintained their lead by covering Tom and Jack. The rest fought it out for the minor placings.

Special mention goies to Gordon Lucas and Chay Haldane who showed moments of brilliance but failed to capitalise.

Race 2

Race two began in a dying breeze - around twelve knots. Robin and Joel came off the pin and soon tacked across the fleet. Tom and Jack again were close behind with Greg and Havas having a great tussle with old sparring partners Thommo and Eddie.

Positions remained steady as the day went on with Robin and Joel scoring a comfortable win finishing the day with the perfect score card.

Further back in the fleet Tim and Ralf had a great race finishing 11th.

While the wind was much less than the prctice race the trickey seas and tight racing has worn us all out. It will be an early night for most with two more races scheduled tomorrow.

30th December 2012

Race 3

Robin and Joel came off the pin and quickly leapt ahead of Greg and Havas. They rounded in front closely followed by Greg and Havas. Matt squared produced a good race with Tom and Jack sitting mid pack. Down the run Tom and Jack closed the gap on the leaders and by mid-way up the second beat had slipped up into second place. Greg and Havas continued to fight with Tommo and Eddie the Eagle, pushing themselves closer to the followers of the fleet as they went. They were lucky to hold on, keeping close to Matt squared as they approached the finish.

Moments of glory came from Nick and Brett, as they looked threatening pushing the antisocial Stocko and Dave, tempting them to have a beer after the race.

Special mentions go to Lance and Hamish, for finishing in the teens and showing moments of tactical brilliance.

Robin and Joel continued their dominance, to the rest of the fleet's displeasure. Tom and Jack lead Greg and Havas, who only scraped across the line ahead of Tommo and Eddie.

Race 4

For once Robin and Joel were not ahead at the top mark, Tommo and Eddie lead the fleet ahead of Greg and Havas. The Dreadlock Boys were closely followed by the Cleatus Clowns chasing hard. As the run went on Tom and Jack skipped through to second with Robin and Joel close behind. Through the second work Robin and Joel found early pressure on the right and slipped into the lead. Tom and Jack were relagated to second once again, whilst the rest of the boys fought it out behind for the minor placings.

On the final lap little changed accept for Greg and Tommo, playing the same games they had been earlier in the day. Greg and Havas pumped their way ahead of Tommo and Eddie to steal third place (hot air and testosterome pays).

A good day was had by all, but the breaze is dying and tomorrow looks to be light and shifty.

31st December 2012

Race 5

With only one race today, lighter conditions presented themself. The fleet sailed for an hour to the start in 5 knots of breeze from the East.  As the start time approached the breeze built to 8 knots allowing trapezing.

The first start was a general with the fleet a bit to keen to get the racing over and head in for New Years beers.  Under a black flag, the race got under way with no casualties.

Thommo and Eddie won the start and led the fleet to the first mark, followed by Tom and Jack then Greg and Havas. Robin and Joel were missing in action after getting a bit lost. They eventually rounded in 13th place looking a bit out of place.

Down the first reach Robin and Joel quickly moved through the fleet, rounding the gybe mark in 5th. On the cecond reach they moved to third hot on the heals of Thommo and Tom.

Up the second lap positions remained steady but by the third Thommo was doing his best to throw the race away by not covering the others. Robin and Joel moved into the lead, determined not to throw away the perfect score card. They maintained their lead to the finish making it five from five.

Thommo and Eddie held on to second with Tom and Jack third.

Now it is time to see in the new year with a few quiet beers. Have a good night and stay safe.

2nd January 2013

It was a new year but little changed at the front end. Robin and Joel continued their dominance.

Race 6

Under a black flag starting was tense at the boat. Darryl and Damien misjudged it and ended up watching from the sidelines. Jack and Tom with Ben and rebuilt Josh came from the boat looking good but it was Robin and Joel who again leapt ahead coming from the midle of the line (obvoiusly well hidden).

Around the top mark it was the boys on Holiday followed by Thommo and Eddie then . Down the run Tom and Jack were going backwards fast, and Stocko moving forwards at the same rate. The fleet were bunched at the bottom mark making things tense. Positions remained very similar for the second lap in the dying conditions. On the final lap on the day a major wind shift to the left shook things up. While the front three got away unscathed the rest of the fleet was nearly reversed. The move of the day came from Jim Hughes and Heath Belton who sailed the beat without a tak coming from eighteenth to sixth.

Robin a nd Joel won again of course - nothing new there!!!

Race 7

Having shifted the course to suit the new breeze the race got away surprisingly to a clean start with a heavily favoured pin end. Three point for guessing who popped out in front again. The Holiday was in full swing with Joel and Rowd on amore of a luxury cruise than sailing a nationals heat. The surprise performance came from Nick and Sam in Scatter Gun whoe rounded in second place. Again things were tight behind. Other than the lead boat positions continued to change as the race went on. It came down to the final mark rounding to determine the minor places with 6 boats on top of each other. There was alot of shouting fromGreg and Havas who shut the door on Ben, banging into Tom in the process. Tom with acceleration from Greg's push got second with the Arnolds sneaking through unscathed for third. Ben did a quick pirroet  losing little ground and snuck through for fourth.

4th January 2013

After a wasted day of drifting with no wind on Thursday, the fleet arrived for the final day to find the opposite problem in the form of a unpleasantly hot northerly gusting over 30 knots.

With first and second already decided there was little enthusiasm from the rest of the fleet.

As the morning went on the wind shifted slowly to the west and abated. Around 11:15 it stopped altogether and then shifted to the south - A SEABREEZE PERHAPS?????

As the sailors changed and hit the water they soon realised they were only being teased by the gods.  As fast as it had gone south the wind shifted back to the north west coming off the hills to provide 30 degree wind shifts and changed is pressure from 10 to 25 knots.

Race 8

Race 8 got under way with the fleet heading off to the left then as a pack heading back to the right  Positions shuffled around with pressure playing a huge part as the fleet approached the top mark. Robin and Joel, having won the nationals already were cruising along, again moving into the lead. They were closely followed by Thommo and Eddie then Matt squared.  On the second lap Tom and Jack came through into second and on the final lap Nick and Brett recoded their first podium result moving into third.

The rest of the fleet looked like they would face one more shuffle of the dice as the wind died to a whisper.  All managed to limp across the line just as to all's amazement the wind kicked back in at 20 plus knots.

Race 9

Black flags and general recalls were the order of the day for Heat nine. Robin and Joel got sick of the games and headed to the beach, kindly allowing at least one other boat to win a trophy - How kind we thought!!!!

Thommo and Eddie took up the invitation and quickly opened up a solid lead. The fleet were without the Holiday already enjoying a margarita, plus Tom and Jack, Jon and Elise and Nathan and Dave who had fallen to the black death. Soon the beach became crowded with Kevin and Peta plus surprisingly Greg and Richard joining them with breakages.

As the racing continued Darryl and Damien were involved in a couple of incidents that would lead them to the protest room.

In the tricky conditions - now gusting above 25 knots as a southerly front approached - many boats were trying to fish for the great whites using mains as lewers and legs as bait. (Luckily only one baby one was sighted during the race).

Matt squared and Nick and Brett both continued their good days following Thommo and Eddie across the line. Behind them were some notable results with so many of the boats already toasting the winners on the beach and others upside down.  Well done to Simon and Matt on recording a solid forth and Tim and Ralf snaring a fifth.

Before presentation PRO Mike became Protest Committee member Mike, with Port Lincoln Sailing Club Commodore Ben Kealsey roped in as well. Darryl and Damien were knocked out after the first of two protests went against them, the second protest then being withdrawn.

And so the regatta came to an end with Robin and Joel clear winners, Tom and Jack clear second and Thommo and Eddie sneaking through for third with a great last day.

Robin and Joel were last seen trying to get their pile of trophies into the car for the trip home and debating about which to leave behind.

Thanks must go to Dave and Danielle Godden for all the organising they did. To Mike Rogers and his band of ringins for coming together to provide some top racing and to Port Lincoln for providing good weather, great hospitality and a marvellous venue.

A number of boats carried GO Pro cameras during the event so keep an eye out for videos appearing on the net. Andrew Lloyd took over 2000 photos of the event and links to the photos can be found on the Galleries section of this web site.

We hope to see you all next year in Warrnambool for a shortened regatta running from boxing day to new years. Then we all pack up and head to Thailand again....... Good Times Ahead!!!!!!

Finally......Sorry for the slow posting - the mouse stopped turning the wheel and the internet dropped out. Had to drive 650km's to get a connection.  More photos  and stories will be posted soon so stay tuned.

Regatta Schedule.