Monjon Australia 2013 J24 Victorian Championships are almost upon us, this will be another hard fought regatta and now is the time to get your entry in and arrangements made for accomodation and travel.
Regatta dates are the 20th and 21st April. Venue is Sandringham Yacht Club.
Click here to go to the regatta page for more information that will help you
The NOR and other race documents and notices to competitors will be available shortly from the SYC site.
Once again our friends at MONJON are the Major Sponsors of the regatta being very generous in their help of the class here in Melbourne – Thank you very much Jon at MONJON.
MONJON is a specialist security company that provides professional ‘in-house-trained’ personnel, equipped with leading edge technology that meets the demands of their many national and multi- national clients.
MONJON specialises in Static Guard, Patrol Guard, Electronic Surveillance, and Security Training, including Road Traffic Management services for sites ranging from major construction to TV and Film production sets and major events.
So if you or anyone you know needs security and more in Melbourne then go to the MONJON site www.monjon.com.au
Also sponsoring the regatta this year is UK Sails. Sam Haines of UK has donated a brand new kite to be won by the skipper that comes exactly in the middle of the fleet. Sam’s aim is to support the class stalwarts who make up the bulk of the class by being there every week and not usually winning any silverware. Here’s one for you guys in the pack – how good is that – thanks Sam !
If you need to ring and find more information out, then contact: Sarah Thompson 0415 931 046 or Kirby O’Brien 0403 025 250
If you didn’t win the Nationals in Melbourne and if you aren’t Ben Lamb then you didn’t, well you get another chance as the Victorian States are coming up and will have much the same line up of keen trophy hunting skippers.
Known as the ‘Balmy Regatta’ the Vic States always attracts a good turn out and a great social scene. So if you are sitting on the fence and can’t make up your mind then now is the time to slip off to the YES side.
Entries will be online through the Sandringham YC site www.syc.com.au and the NOR will be out soon for more information
Regatta dates are :
April 20th-21st
Want to see and download the whole poster – here it is:
Once again our friends at MONJON are sponsoring the regatta, so if you need security and more in Melbourne then go to the MONJON site www.monjon.com.au
Just want to ring and find out, then contact: Sarah Thompson 0415 931 046 or Kirby O’Brien 0403 025 250
In conjunction with Charter World Yachting Holidays Terry Wise from Pacific Sailing School is organising an adventure of a lifetime!
Terry wanted to give the J24 guys and girls an opportunity to enjoy this fantastic opportunity and asked me if I knew any that might want to go, so I said quick – on the website with this idea.
You can join Terry sailing on a 45ft cruiser this July sailing through the superb Cycladic Islands of Kea, Siros, Mykonos, Paros, Serifos, Kithnos and Hydra. Rich in historical archaeological and cultural significance, the Greek Islands are the world’s favourite cruising waters. A 12 night cruise from $2790 per person.
Spaces are strictly limited to 6 people plus Terry (in charge of ice for drinks !)
Please RSVP by 22nd February 2013 if you’re interested.
Note – this is a sailing holiday with friends and not a PSS course.
We have had significant interest from various parties regarding participation in the CN Management South Australian J24 Titles being held at the CYCSA over the weekend of the 9th and 10th of March. Our primary aim is to get as many local boats out on the water as possible and have had a good response from both local and interstate crew. As things stand we have 3 boats still available for charter. These have been offered to local sailor s from other classes but would also be available for any interstate crews. Boats currently still available include Amazing Grace, a Peter Stevens refit special, with the current owner keen to join in as part of a visiting crew and last years winner JJF, an older boat but with practically everything excluding the hull replaced for new in the last two years. Both of these boats could be absolutely on the pace and will be allocated on a first comer first served basis. So man up! Bring your sails, and we will hopefully see a few of you in March.
Simon’s note: I know there is a growing swell of interest in Melbourne to go to Adelaide for the SA States, better book a boat sooner rather than later if you want to be on the water !
Some bloke getting ready on a balmy morning for the Monjon Vic States
The Monjon 2013 Victorian State Champs being held on the 20 – 21st April is likely to be a repeat of the the hugely successful and very competitive 2013 Musto J24 Nationals just held. Although we expect a different weather regime which should suit those who like a lighter breeze. Tradionally known as the “Balmy Regatta” for its warm balmy, hazy days, the Vic States is already attracting a swag of interstate entries with several boats being left here from the Nationals.
Once again we are expecting a fleet of over 20 boats competing for the title, which for many years has been owned by Dave Suda and his crew on Pacemaker but last year taken off him by Ben Lamb, our recent Nationals winner. Better sharpen up Dave, the nationals results show this one may not go your way either. And that means there will be a number of top yachts vying for the top spot. Arthur Crothers plans to be back to defend (Bennie not yet confirmed I gather). Steve Girdis will be back, as will the SA sprinter Doug Watson (Two legged Donkey! – you have to be kidding) and Peter Stevens in Haywire, a renovated boat that will turn your head with it’s interior fitout, we have yet to see how fast it is. I hear Terry plans to get a couple of boats down – that may mean Sean is back, we don’t know yet but with a string of seconds recently Sean must be keen to take out a title pretty soon. Seems like he has been in the desert for a while. Could we entice Wallis from retirement and radio controlled playthings, if you have a good yacht and need a top skipper – why not try your luck with a call to him. He did pretty damn well in Sydney with barely a practice day or night out.
Looks like the Thommo Cup will be back on too, with Janette planning to come down with a hotshot girl crew – this is going to be a party for sure, you need to be here !
Then there is the growing list of locals that are at the pointy end on any given day, younger guys like Adam coming up, veterens like Hugo getting back into it again, there’s the girls and Brendan – it’s gonna be a fight on the track again but one thing for sure about the Balmy Regatta, the social side is a big one too and I hear Sarah and her team are at it again with the onshore antics.
So plan to come to Melbourne, if you do then give us a call soon and we’ll organise some accom and all the other things that make your stay in our city just the best time you can have in a J.
NOR will be out soon so check back here for a copy to download.
Contact Sarah Thompson on 0415 761 046 for more information.
Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne dished up a wide variety of conditions for the 2013 Musto J24 Nationals this week. Starting with 25 knots for the invitation race on Sunday, competitors sailed through the complete wind range from zero to postponement conditions.
Handling the conditions the best and proving he is the most well deserving National Champion skipper is Ben Lamb in Kaotic with a winning margin of 8.5pts over fellow NSW skippers, Sean Kirkjian in Sailpac and Steve Girdis in Convicts Revenge. Adam Evans in SDM, the top Victorian skipper in the regatta was 4th and Doug Watson sailing El Fideldo (means ‘two legged Scottish donkey’ !) from SA placed 5th.
Defending champion Dave Suda sailing his new Pacemaker from Victoria crashed in the placings for the regatta with a wild Chinese gybe on the windy Wednesday injuring his sister Rachel and retired for the day to get medical help at the hospital. Even Dave knows the game is up when you have to carry a DNC and your two drops are also a DNF and a DNC. Happily, Rach is ok and sailed again on the Thursday, with the whole crew wearing crash hats to honour her injury and recovery. The local hospital took in 2 wounds from the racing with Tim Briggs also attending. What they and the general populace think we do out there must be interesting as the girl crews generally end up battered and bruised as well, so much so that we had a bruising comp at the presentation dinner – you had to be there !
You had to be there to try and understand Victorian Vice Pres and the presentation MC Doug MacGregor, as like all Scots they have a thick accent and a great sense of humour (well questionable anyway). With President Sarah Thompson away producing her first baby for most of the regatta, her Vic Association committee went into action without her onsite to produce a great regatta that has been a huge success for organisers and competitors alike. Sarah did front on the night and did the thanks to all concerned and presented the trophies to our worthy winners.
Although Ben has been here in Melbourne taking out trophies before (2012 Vic States), this is his first Nationals crown and he and his crew with long time boat owner and class stalwart Arthur Crothers have been planning their campaign since coming second last year. With 5 wins, a 2nd and two 3rds they were always going to be hard to beat. But impressive as it is, the competition meant they had to earn it the hard way.
The first day’s racing in moderate but shifty conditions meant we had a number of newer and less expecting competitors take single digit positions in the first race, pushing some of the guns down the ladder a bit. Sean Kirkjian took out two wins and a 5th for the day with his largely sailing school crew – nice one Sean !
Tuesday morning and the wind was pretty light and a less likely winner (yours truly) was battling Sean for the lead and (I think winning) when the wind and the race committee finally gave up and sent us all in to the club for lunch. With the wind returning, two races were sailed in the afternoon with 20+knots giving great sailing in a building southerly wind and sea. Ben and the Kaotic crew, went out and smashed the fleet with two solid wins in the heavy breeze. A predicted change arrived about 30 min after we got back to the marina and sent an impressive roll cloud and 40+knots over the top as we all packed up – great timing from the race committee ! Many happy minds quietly thanking them for not being out in that. PRO Graeme Watt from Sandy and his team of volunteers once again showing the fleet the sort of high quality race management that has become his trademark and our good fortune to have him in J regattas around the country.
Wednesday and the wind is still blowing hard, (see the chart). The race committee showed their unruffled competence and kept us on the beach till we got a window for 3 races in moderating breezes and great sailing conditions in big seas, making great surfing downhill. Once again Ben sailed impressively to take two wins and a 3rd, with Sean taking the other race out. Steve Girdis quietly sneaking in to take the minor daily placings, that seems to be his trademark too, as he is often next to you on the racetrack but always seems to be on the podium at the end of it – Mr Consistent !
Also out on the water was Chris Furey and camera, taking some great shots, Chris is a long time J sailor (and will be again) and supporter of the class. Check out the great shot of the Hyper Girls above. There will be a pic gallery added shortly.
Further down the finishing list, amongst a myriad of boat on boat battles, another success story is quietly going about her work. Jess Davis, skipper Gatsby, of one of the Sandy J24 youth boats provided by Vice Versa skipper John Neville is sailing her first Nationals in J24s and 80kg under max crew weight with her crew of mostly girls is improving steadily to come off the back end of the fleet to end the competition with a run of 12s and 13s, that’s an improvement of half the fleet. Awesome Jess !
So well has she sailed that she has taken out the PHS title (including three PHS 1st placings) ahead of an Pete Moulang in Sanguine and new class entrant, but very experienced Sam Haines from UK Sails in Melbourne who learnt the boat on the way out to the first start on his first sail in Make My Jay.
Day four and the last day, provided stunning sailing in 10 – 12 knots, sunny skies and flat water, a relief to many crews finding the heavy going of the last few days starting to hurt bodies. Another win to Ben and then to cap off the regatta for Dave, a display of power sailing to come through the fleet and take out the last race.
Gridlock launches – checkout the expression on the fordeckie ! Chris Furey
There is a zillion stories and ‘if onlys’ throughout the fleet, too numerous to mention. However this year we have had a number of new skippers and owners that have filled out the fleet numbers to create an impressive and larger than previous Nationals fleet. Coming the farthest by a big margin was Brian Dowling and crew from Cairns, having bought Kaos from Hobart and doing the regatta on the boat’s way north. (watch out for an FNQ Regatta coming up). The three placings from NSW already mentioned and Peter Stevens, Robin Townsend and Doug Watson all from Adelaide made up the national fleet. From Melbourne we had Sam Haines, Hamish and Jock Macadie, Peter Skillington and Mark Foster all doing their first nationals and all with little or no previous sailing experience in J24s. The class is alive and well! So good was the regatta that several interstate boats have been left in Melbourne for the Vic States in April, so if you want to be part of the next party – start planning it now !
Once again Richard Hewitt and the SYC team did a great job hosting the regatta both on and off the water, a big thank you to our Jury, all our volunteers and to the competitors.
The CN Management South Australian J24 State Championships will be held at the CYCSA over the weekend of the 9th and 10th of March with 7 races scheduled over 2 days.
After the success of last year’s national championships, held over the same weekend, at the same venue, the SA J24 committee are looking to attract as many local and interstate boats as possible.
The bonus of a public holiday on the Monday means that any travel time need not eat into precious holiday entitlement!
There are currently boats available for charter for the weekend giving those further afield the opportunity to come and join in without the transport costs/hassle.
Anyone wishing to secure an boat for charter should contact Doug Watson on 0415 677 886.
For the first time in a long time we can truely say that the 2013 Nationals may well be a 25+ boat regatta, so now is the time to get your plans in place to be part of the biggest J24 regatta in Australia since the Worlds in 2006, also at Sandy.
The NOR is online on the Nationals page and the Sailing Instructions will be online shortly, if you need help with accomodation, getting to Melbourne, using a trailer or anything that helps you be a part of this big event then you need to contact the organising team, details on the poster.
AS AT 11/12/12 A LOT MORE INFORMATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED ON THE 2013 MUSTO NATIONALS PAGE, UNDER THE REGATTAS LINK ABOVE – PLEASE CHECK THIS PAGE REGULARLY AS IT IS CHANGING ALMOST DAILY
Chris Furey is an ex J sailor and a great J friend from Sandy – he shot this pic and info to me this arvo, thought you might like to see it. Taken by Chris off Williamstown in the early 80’s, this is Athol Lidgett’s J24 ‘Jailbreak’ seen here on the burst in classic J style. Chris says, “It was during a JOG regatta out of RYCV when the race officials decided it was far too windy to race so several of us J sailors decided we would go for a blast anyway. The guy on the deck in the blue jacket is John Hooper, the sail maker. The helmsman was Mark Bethwaite (from the famous Bethwaite clan) who went onto win the World J-24’s held in Sydney a few years later. He did this a week after winning the World Soling title in Perth I believe. John and Buster were active J-24 sailors sailing with Kevin Hill I recall. (Additional comment from Rob Hartnett) John and his brother, Olympic Coach Buster, both sailed on the boat.
Jailbreak met an unfortunate end when sailing back from a Mornington race into a strong northerly that built to well over 35 knots. Athol decided they had taken enough punishment in the strong wind and seas and reached off into the lee of Rickets Point where they picked up a mooring just off the old Keefer’s Boatshed near Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron. The crew were picked up and taken ashore but that night the wind suddenly switched to an equally hard south westerly with enormous seas. The boat was torn from its mooring and smashed to unrecognisable pieces on the rocky Beaumaris shore just below the Beauy Pub. Somewhere on the rocks not far offshore there is a J24 lead keel!”
