Sunday 15 January 2012

Australien

I survived the January sales by digitally watching the Australian Nationals and the Miami Moth event. The Australian Nationals especially seemed from another planet, (Australien geddit?) where rain, cold and massive waves sorted the hommes from the garçons. Most of the time we sail in flatish waters, with only the UK Nationals, and now the Australian ones being an exception, and the results of last week prove that these days preparation must be event specific if you are to do any good. Anyway well done Rob Gough for taking the event.

In Miami it was different, with a relaxez -vous race style sailed in light winds and blue skies. Anthony Kouton using the new Mach2 front foil seemed to be first up, closely followed by Brad Funk.

I write this at 0800 this Sunday morning. It's cold outside at about 4 degrees, and the harbour weather station is saying 20 knots. It's an easterly wind so just getting off the beach could be a problem, especially at my height. Still, its a good time to sail in Chichester harbour, made more bearable by the heated floor in the changing rooms!

This week I was at the Fiat dealer Conference with Abarth. The new cars look fabulous! Anyway better go, if I hang around here too long, I'll find a reason to stay inside..


Tuesday 10 January 2012

Australian Moth National championships - Halfway stage

Another cruncher today as two more races were completed. Tasmanian Rob Gough's excellent boat handling means he's on top as the competitors go into the lay day. Although the wind wasnt strong apparently the waves made even windward work exceptionally difficult. Scott Babbage in "7" won the first race today and now sits 3 points off the lead. Nathan Outteridge is still third but expect a big comeback as the winds are forecast to drop on Thursday and Friday.

Here's a video from day 1. Highlights? Scott exceptional "save" at the windward mark and Nathan's dodgy hat...


Detailed results here..

Monday 9 January 2012

Australian Moth National Championships


images courtesy of Lochy Byrne

The Australian Moth Championships are currently underway at Morningtown Bay Yacht Club on Victoria's spectacular Morningtown Peninsula, situated on Port Phillip Bay.

Early reports are of massive waves running 70 degrees to the wind. Yesterday was windy and today was lighter, but the waves still remain and after 4 races Rob Gough is leading from Scott Babbage and current World Champion Nathan Outteridge. Andrew McDougall is in a hugely impressive 4th place with Peter Burling 5th.

Nathan said "Been pretty windy here here and massive waves, Amac is fast and we are all trying to to get his secrets as always.."

Sound the Klaxon! Peter Burling takes a dive

Here are the results after today.

16AUS8AltitudeRob GoughRYCTasmania1.0S10.01.03.01.05.0
27AUS37Scott BabbageWoollahra SC 10.02.04.03.01.0
342AUS1WMDNathan OutteridgeRSIS, WSC 12.03.02.04.03.0
42AUS3900NoNaAndrew McDougallBlack Rock YC 21.05.06.02.08.0
541NZL41Peter BurlingTarranga 22.07.01.05.09.0
61AUS2Zhik MothJoe TurnerWoollahra SC 25.04.05.010.06.0
724AUS3719The BoxPhillip KurtsWoollahra SC 26.06.08.08.04.0
836AUS3776Flying HellfishJoshusa McKnightWoollahra SC 27.09.09.07.02.0
99GRB3769Flying BananaAndrew BudgenEngland 38.011.07.09.011.0
1015AUS3685Racer X MarineLeigh DunstanMornington YC7.0S49.019.012.011.07.0
1118AUS3903XTCJames Owen-SmithDaveys Bay YC 49.08.015.014.012.0
125AUS363620 Good ReasonsSteven SherringSouthport YC 53.012.010.013.018.0
1314AUS3832StonecutterLes ThorpeBYRA 58.010.011.016.021.0
1422AUS3631RAG RacingJulian SalterTasmania6.0S60.027.013.06.014.0
1511AUS3775Big Night Last NightSamatha EnglandMornington YC 60.013.022.012.013.0
1610AUS3717Dripping CarbonJack SherringSouthport YC 63.020.018.015.010.0
174AUS3783Peanuts DreamWarren SareWoollahra SC 70.015.017.018.020.0
18337NHS Plaster & TimberMatt CrockettLMYC 74.017.014.021.022.0
1938AUS3641BismarkPeter ValpianiWoollahra SC 76.016.019.017.024.0
2021SWE3786Sweeden RacingNils AkervallSweeden 86.023.024.024.015.0
2125AUS3878Stray ReturnsAndrew CuddihyWoollahra SC 94.021.021.022.030.0
223233AceJames DorronManly 16ft SC 100.014.043.0C20.023.0
2319AUS3823MK Building GroupRichard JacksonMt.Martha YC 104.018.027.043.0C16.0
2413AUS3781ImpactWill LoganRYCTasmania 115.028.025.019.043.0C
25359336Leeroy JenkinsMark HughesSouthport YC 120.032.030.025.033.0
2617IRL3771Balin DubhMicheal O'SeaWoollahra SC 122.025.026.043.0C28.0
2716AUS3655OurborosAlan GoddardBalmoral SC 124.026.023.043.0C32.0
2828AUS3865Sea SteezeKyle RossMcCrae YC 125.029.028.043.0C25.0
2939AUS3676Mark 6 MiniEelco BoersWSVONS 128.022.020.043.0C43.0C
3029AUS3574KarmaPhil StevensonSt George SC 136.043.0C43.0C23.027.0
3140AUS3807K-SanRyan KellyWallaroo SC 139.024.029.043.0C43.0C
3231AUS3359ChatterboxStuart OrmondBlack Rock YC 143.043.0C43.0C26.031.0
3330AUS3780NatsuKohei KajimotoBlack Rock YC 145.043.0C16.043.0C43.0C
3412AUS3731Mach 2Lochlin ByrneBlack Rock YC17.0S146.043.0C43.0C43.0C17.0
3520AUS3770LadybirdEmma SpiersWoollahra SC 146.031.043.0C43.0C29.0
3637AUS3904East Coast MarineScott BeebyNCYC 148.043.0C43.0C43.0C19.0
3727AUS3767Midnight FoilerSimon LiddingtonWoollahra SC 155.043.0C43.0C43.0C26.0
38339364Silver ShadowNick BillettRQueenslandYS 159.030.043.0C43.0C43.0C
39349256SmithIan SimSC2 172.043.0C43.0C43.0C43.0C
3926AUS3638CrumpetDavid MartinWoollahra SC 172.043.0C43.0C43.0C43.0C
398AUS3634Sailing Bits.comDavid RobinsonWoollahra SC 172.043.0C43.0C43.0C43.0C
3923NONUM3NoNfJame MackenzieSC1 172.043.0C43.0C43.0C43.0C