Past champions clashed for the honours to be named the J24 Sandringham Yacht Club Centenary Regatta winner. Adam Evans who has represented Australia in the 2005 International Cadet and 2009 J24 World Championships, won the title after battling against the 2010 J24 World Championship representatives Hugo Ottaway and Kirsty Harris. Evans and his crew of past Cadet sailors have only been sailing J’s for 6 months yet mastered the testing 5 to 10 knot breezes to score a 1,3,2,2.
Adams boat was the quickest under spinnaker and this was the key to his win. Second was Hugo Ottaway and 2011 Laser Victorian Champion Sean Bly doing tactics with a 2,1,1,6. Kirsty Harris and her mainly female crew scored a 3,4,3,1. The J 24’s have enjoyed a huge growth this year with 15 boats actively sailing at Sandringham Yacht Club. The J’s flew Red and White Class flags in honour of the Clubs 2011 Centenary on the hardstand area creating colour and impact behind the main stage where the competitors gathered for the presentation of trophies.
On Saturday 2nd of April the Derwent Sailing Squadron held the Tasmanian J24 Championships. With a lot of work behind the scenes, Peter Bingham (Streetcar) managed to secure five boats to compete in the championships.
Racing was tight in the first two races, with Drumbeat (J. Cooper) taking the honours from Another Toy (G. Rowlings) and Divine Madness (C. Squires). After the first race the wind died and the DSS racing committee flew the AP flag. The wind must have had a numbing effect, as a number of boats miscounted the numbers of laps on the subsequent race!!
Race three was a tightly contested affair, with numerous lead changes over the course of the day. Newcomer to the class, Greg Rowlings (Another Toy) secured his first win for the series followed closely by Streetcar and Divine Madness.
After a short break, racing in the afternoon saw the wind pick up to 20 knots with numerous white caps in the Derwent. Another Toy (Greg Rowlings) showed a clean pair of heels taking out these two races and subsequently the series. Drumbeat and Streetcar fought it out until the end with Drumbeat finishing runner-up on a countback. What is more remarkable is that the owner of Drumbeat, John Lewis, donated his boat to the Cooper boys (Johnny and Tom) and fellow students from St. Virgil’s College, who displayed excellent boat handling skills in their first up regatta in a J24. Watch out for these boys in years to come!
A special mention must go out to the Derwent Sailing Squadron who continue to help support the Tasmanian J24 Association. They put on a magnificent series and backed it up with a great BBQ at the club afterwards.
Final Results
Another Toy- Greg Rowlings AUS4431 – 5
Drumbeat- Johnny Cooper AUS137 – 10 2nd on countback
The Victorian J24 State Championships sponsored by Lend Lease are done and won.
In the biggest state fleet seen in Melbourne for many years, 18 boats and around 100 yachties and race officials enjoyed great weather and sailing over the two day regatta.
Although Pacemaker sailed by Dave Suda had to settle for a 4th on the much lighter Sunday race, his clean sweep on Saturday’s four races meant the result was effectively all wrapped up on the first day.
Pacemaker was sailing without owner Herschel Landes this year after a health scare, but it didn’t matter and with a 15 – 18knot South Easterly blowing on Saturday, Pacemaker showed pure dominance in what must now be called Super Sudaday. With a marginal edge in speed and height and a clear edge in tactics and crew work, Dave and his crew put the work in to earn the 2011 State Title.
This year the fleet was like a pack of hungry wolves, tight and very competitive and plenty of hard racing with close and hard fought mark roundings, a fair amount of ‘one design’ banging together (no major damage) and quite a few protests. Exciting and fierce competition as the standard of the whole fleet was up considerably on past years.
With 14 boats from the Vic fleet and 4 interstate boats sailing, the fleet is one of many changes. Hugo Ottaway bought Bruschetta VI a week before the champs and was coming to grips with his new boat, Andrew Stefano has recently bought Gridlock back from Hobart, John Neville bought Vice Versa from Hugo and surprise package Brendan Lee bought ‘Hi’ (now called ‘By the Lee’) from Pete Stevens in Adelaide.
From interstate we welcomed Arthur Crothers with Dave West steering, brought Kaotic from Sydney, Terry Wise brought two boats from Sydney, Sailpac (Sean Wallis’ old ‘Wetty Gripper’) steered by current National Champ Sean Kirkjian and Starpac steered by Hank Beyer. Admiral Stevens brought his ‘newest’ boat, Code Violation over from Adelaide. For those who knew the boat when Doug McGain had it you just wouldn’t recognise it, Pete is a master of cleaning up boats.
If Dave blasted into first, Kirj quietly made his way into second place with an impressive and consistent score, reminding us all that you don’t need a win to be up there in the placings.
Third and fourth were the two surprise packages of the championship. Brendan Lee sailing in his first J regatta, put in a solid series to show us all that the new guys need to be well respected and with placings between 4th and 8th took out fourth place.
Some of you may know Adam Evans as occasionally part of the old Pacemaker crew. Most won’t have seen his 3rd place coming in quite the way Adam showed us how to sail this weekend. Like a breath of fresh air reminding the old guard of our pasts, Adam, crew, ghetto blaster, black cans and life turned up to loud, in my opinion stole the rest of the show. A very consistent and dedicated youth program trained sailor, Adam is now sure to follow Dave Suda as one of our most important role models for the attraction of a new generation of young J sailors. Only a tangle with yours truly at the top mark and an arbitration experience kept him out of 2nd place. I would confidently expect him to be a future Nationals winner.
Cam Dale and Adam Evans
David Suda and the Pacemaker crew
Rounding out the top 5 was Hugo Ottaway, who could have been 2nd or 3rd if you factored out a loss in ‘the room’ from the last race.
Another interesting battle with results in the middle of the fleet, was two of our newest owners stepping into the middle of their boats and having the two top Victorian S80 skippers and some of their crew come aboard to contest the series. Andrew Stefano had Gary Mackinven, twice a state S80 winner from Blairgowie, steer for him and between the two, won with a solid 9th, current S80 State Champion Luke Reinehr from Sandy jumped on John Neville’s Vice Versa for the first time on Saturday and although only finishing 12th overall sailed to an impressive win the Sunday’s race in balmy lighter airs.
I could go on, the results as usual are full of ‘if onlys’. However the fleet is now full of guys and girls at all levels doing their thing and getting amazingly better at it, Doug MacGregor on Crackerjack found himself at the pointy end of the fleet, scary stuff Doug ! Ron Thomson had a few tangles and left green in places and Make My Jay has a bit of stainless pipe bending to do as well. There were the usual didn’t see you last minute tacks, 720s, plenty of mark rounding shouting and heart stopping moments.
The Hyper Girls (and Rob) six up, finished in a tie for 5th with Dave West getting 6th, about a metre ahead and therefore one point ahead of Make My Jay 8th in the last race – could have been the other way around so easily!
Out the back this time, but just as important to the fleet were Chris Hely (a good 14th overall), Peter Moulang (Jack’s just married and Pete is probably thinking about golf), Michael Lewenhagen (best place a good 12th) and Warren Campbell (best place an excellent 9th). These guys are also improving and spending on their boats, which shows that the interest is there right to the end.
Once again (and thanks) Lisa Simonov gave us her house for another great party on the Saturday night, the class association buying a liberal amount of food that was not only enjoyed on the Saturday but enough for leftovers to be enjoyed again at the club BBQ on the Sunday presentation. Thanks also to the hard work put in by the Victorian J committee, the club and the race team headed by Graeme Watt for running a faultless regatta. We again appreciate the effort made by the interstate guys bringing their boats.
The ‘Hard Luck Wheel’ award must surely go to its’ originator Pete Stevens for burning out the clutch on his car less that 50 clicks out of Adelaide in the middle of the night. Alan Stevenson didn’t make the regatta, but in a late night show of support for Pete, his Jeep did.
For those of you that didn’t come – and you know who you are (Wal) – don’t make the same mistake at Gosford in October, because it just keeps getting better. You can bet the NSW guys don’t want the best regatta of the year to be the Vic States.
Doesn’t the J future look bright !
See Herschel Landes top mark on sunday video here:
[youtube]Tr7zeL4Q7QE[/youtube]
On water photos courtesy of Steb Fisher, people shots Simon Grain
To Contact Steb Fisher for photography of your boat, please email or call: photo@steb.com.au Mobile: 0438 16 07 53
Four races have been completed in the Victorian State Championship sponsored by Lend Lease being sailed at Sandringham Yacht Club this weekend.
David Suda sailing Pacemaker has started well and holds a commanding lead in the series after winning all four races sailed today. With only two races remaining Dave and his team look like adding another title to the collection.
Adam Evans sailing SDM is currently in second place after finishing the day with two thirds, a second and sixth and is just one point ahead of current Australian Champion Sean Kirkjian from NSW.
Eighteen boats are competing in the event with fourteen from the host club, 3 from NSW and one from SA. The huge local contingent reflects the strength of the class in Victoria where continued growth is predicted over the winter months.
With 14 boats now on the hardstand at Sandringham Yacht Club, the home fleet is posed to enjoy the biggest State fleet in Victoria for over a decade.
Up to 5 boats are expected come from interstate for the regatta, known locally as the Balmy Regatta due to Melbourne’s often experienced long Indian summer giving warm sunny, hazy days and lighter winds.
The Sandy fleet’s newest boat, bought by Brendan Lee, a Laser and Flying Fifteen sailor, is “Hi” from Peter Stevens in Adelaide. With the fleet now at modern record numbers, space on the hardstand is becoming tight, racing is tight and with another 3-4 people currently interested in becoming J boat owners, competition is expected to be even more fierce over the next few years as the fleet grows even more.
Pacemaker (David Suda) is still the boat to beat, but they are not having it all their own way recently. Make My Jay (Simon Grain), who have come second in the last two Vic States (one on a countback, last race result) and are currently second by 1 point in the J24 Summer aggregate at Sandy are just one boat breathing down Pacemaker’s neck. Ron Thomson in Kicking Bottom who just seems to prove green is fast and getting faster, the girls in Hyperactive and Adam Evans in Get Smart are all currently capable of winning races in this fleet.
‘Mr J24’ Hugo Ottaway has become the dark horse in Melbourne with only irregular appearances this season, but make no mistake, when it comes to the states and if Hugo has even a half decent crew together he will be at the pointy end without doubt.
STOP PRESS:Hugo is truly our “dark horse” and at the last minute has sold Vice Versa and bought Bruschetta and plans to raid the trophy cabinet at the Vic States this year !!!
There is plenty of competition further down the fleet as well, with an emerging group of boats keen to shift up a gear and plenty of new guys looking to make their own name in the class too. Interest is also being shown by people outside the class looking for either a boat to beg, borrow or charter as they see the level of competition increase.
Need to know more about coming to the Vic States?
Now is the time to set up a crew slot if you want to come from interstate, we will billet any crews so don’t waste money on accommodation.
The dates are the 16 & 17 April 2011, NOR is not available yet (will be shortly) but normal program is 4 races on Saturday and 2 races on Sunday. Racing is run by SYC in conjunction with the SYC One Design Regatta and this will include other one design classes on separate starts.
Boats will be expected to have a current measurement certificate and crew weight is the normal 400kg.
Contact the Doug McGregor of the Victorian State Association on 0400 584 067.
The other row of J24s, including 'Hi' - recently arrived
Editor Doug McGregor comes up with some beauties, but this time in addtition to his own quick wit, he has the dulcet tongue of Ron Thomson on the Thommo Cup to aid his story telling. Hugo tells it like it was at Geelong this year, J24 Victoria launches a new Facebook page and a very Sanguine Jack Crawford is about to tie a not very nautical knot. Five pages of great reading !
After checking with the international committee, and referral to our local international judge, the following decision has been made:
There is no breach of any rule – including 42, 47.2, 49.1, 49.2, and the definition of finishing – as follows:
§ There is no breach of rule 42 unless, of course, the person in the water is kicking his legs to propel the boat.
§ There is no breach of rule 47.2 when the person who fell overboard is making a reasonable attempt to get back on board – as opposed to swimming away or making no attempt to get on board. There is also no definition of what constitutes ‘back on board’ and a person hanging on to the boat is, arguably, back on board within the meaning of the rule. The rule is intended to prevent someone (a crew member) from leaving the boat and swimming away / going ashore / getting on to another boat / etc. In those circumstances, the rule is breached if leaving was deliberate and, if not, the crew member must be back on board before the boat continues in the race.
§ There is no breach of rule 49.1 as the pulpit is not a device designed to position a competitor’s body outboard.
§ Rule 49.2 does not apply to someone who has fallen overboard. In this situation, the person overboard is not ‘positioning’ himself outside the lifelines in the context of the rule. For what it’s worth, there is no difference between a wire lifeline and a stainless steel tube pushpit as far as the restriction on positioning a crew member outside them is concerned.
§ The definition of finishing reference to ‘in normal position’ refers to equipment and not the crew.
Therefore NO rules were broken – just a crew member!
The Port Adelaide Sailing Club has been hosting this premier sailing event since 1958.
The Port Line Cup to be contested on Sunday 8th August presents a unique challenge for S.A.’s keelboat’s that have to compete in close quarters in the river. The race tests the skills of the crew with lots of tacking and changing of sails.
This creates exciting competition, a few bumps the odd boat going aground but fantastic viewing for the spectators.
In excess of 50 yachts are expected to race coming from clubs all over the Adelaide area including the Cruising Yacht Club and Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron. There will be boats form 20 to 50ft sailing for the Cup but also in 5 different divisions.
Up to ten J24’s are expected to compete in the event as the Port Line Cup race will be the final race of the Ice Breaker series to be held over the two days of the weekend.
This year the start and finish will be at Snowdon’s Beach allowing a large viewing area for spectators. Good viewing spots will be at Snowdons beach and Keitch road south of the Sub Corp.
The Port Adelaide Sailing club fleet will be bolstered with some new boats to the club, having attracted a group of Fast sports boats including Touch & Go- G Price and some newer 30 to 40 footers including Blue Max – Peter Montgomery.
The big surprise is they have a new fleet of J24’s including 3 times Australian Champion Sean Wallis , 4 times State Champion Alyn Stevenson and Peter Stevens complete with a new boat.
The Port Adelaide club is enjoying a major membership growth with and extensive Sunday programme planned for the summer plus junior keel boat training on Sundays.
Port Princess has been hired by the club to take out spectators and will be at the club wharf prior to the start. Spectators for a modest fee can watch the entire race on the water.
The J24 class in South Australia is looking forward to further growth over the coming season with the formation of a second fleet in SA, based at the Port Adelaide Sailing Club.
J24 SA President Sean Wallis said “Along with our well established fleet at the Cruising Yacht Club of SA it is fantastic to see the class establish the second fleet at the Port and this will certainly benefit us in achieving our goal of increasing the number of J24’s sailed in this state.”
Wallis, who is also the current Australian Champion will be basing himself at the PASC and went on to say “The Port Adelaide Sailing Club has been as enthusiastic as we have as far as the establishment of the fleet. They are an excellent club with world class facilities and offer very competitive membership and hard stand fees.”
The sailing program for the PASC is in the final stages of preparation and will include dedicated fleet racing for the J24’s both in the Port River and in the Gulf. The sailing program has been designed to compliment that offered by the Cruising Yacht Club of SA providing sailing at either club on most Saturdays or Sundays throughout the season.
“This is our second fleet in South Australia and is the first step of our plans to establish additional fleets in this state. Ideally we would like to have a third fleet in the Adelaide metro area in the next 12-24 months but right now our focus is ensuring that we see further growth with our existing two fleets” said Wallis.
The next event on the J24 SA calendar is the Port Line Cup, hosted by the Port Adelaide Sailing Club on the 7th & 8th August. A good sized fleet of J24’s is expected to compete in the event which has short course racing scheduled on the Saturday and the Port Line Cup on the Sunday.
For further information contact J24 SA President – Sean Wallis 0417 180 928 or email sean.wallis@iinet.net.au
Doug MacGregor (Crackerjack) has been promoted to the Victorian Publicity Officer position – first job get a regular newsletter going. It’s called ‘Hit the Mark’ and I’m sure you’ll agree it certainly does that well.
As irreverent as a dour Scot can be, Doug’s editorial style is already flourishing in Issue One, emailed to the great unwashed of the Victoria J24 community today. His hard hitting, ‘pull no punches’ style will engage you from the start and you will be waiting for the next one to hit. Make sure you’re not the subject of the editors pen ! Move over Mad magazine.
