Fleet ready to sail at the 2012 Sydney 38 National Championship on Australia Day
The upcoming Australia Day is set to feature the 2012 Sydney 38 National Championship where 15 Sydney 38 boats will commence sailing at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. The fleet will face challenging racing conditions which will test the sailing and tactic skills of the crews during this one-design class championship that is commencing from January 26 on Sydney waters.
The role of the tacticians and trimmers will be vital because they have to maximise the speed of their Sydney 38 boat under difficult circumstances in order to gain an advantageous control over the fleet during the competition.
List of regatta participants:
1. Old School, Mark Griffith, RPAYC
2. The Next Challenge, Lou Abrahams
3. Conspiracy, Hudson/ Byford RPAYC
4. Whisper, Bruce Ferguson, RPAYC
5. Outlaw, Alan & Thomas Quick, CYCA
6. Risk, Martin & Anna Cross, RPAYC
7. Audacious, Clinnick/Holden, RBYC
8. The Goat, Bruce Foye & Tony Clift, CYCA
9. Rush, Neil Sutton, DSC
10. Eleni, Tony Levett, MHYC
11. Thirlmere, Sally Warneford
12. The Bolter, Rick Welch, RPAYC
13. Eye Candy, Ward/Dawson, RPAYC
14. Zen, Gordon Ketelbey, MHYC
15. Calibre, Geoff Bonus, CYCA
Local favourites and class president, Mark Griffith’s Old School team is currently on top of their form as they have performed impressively in the last four regattas which include the NSW state titles and IRC in the just-finished Pittwater & Coffs Harbour regatta. They will have an edge over the rest of the fleet in terms of sailing experience and knowledge of the conditions as they had been on waters lately.
Griffith said, “It’s great to see a Nationals fleet of over 15 boats. The margin between rooster and feather duster in One Design racing is very small, so we can’t be complacent, we have done a lot of preparation and I have a strong crew right across the boat which hopefully will give us the edge we need to come out on top.”
The 2012 Sydney 38 National Championship will feature some of Australia’s best sailing teams on waters. Bruce Foye’s The Goat will have to face tough competition as the defending champions in the regatta. To cope with that, they need to come up with a strong strategy regarding tactics and navigation.
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