Though the Race Committee's readings indicated slightly more breeze than yesterday, and more frequent - though smaller - shifts than yesterday some competitors described a race with big holes, and up and down breeze, and some big shifts. One competitor described an interesting effect on the far right of the beat, where you seemed to gain, without noticing a shift on the compass... current?
Australians G .Searant/K. Sinclair lead most of the race, with two time World Champions Chris and Darren Nicholson also of Australia behind them, and Krister Bergstrom/Martin Westerdahl from Sweden in third. Searant/Sinclair lead by a minute half way through the race, and eventually won by 89 seconds. Bergstrom/Westerdahl closed on the Nicholsons on the last two reaches. The first two boats round the last leeward mark and tacked to go left, allowing Bergstrom/Westerdahl to go right. A major right shift put them into second. They finished 34 seconds ahead of the Nicholsons.
A race long battle for 4th was won by Great Britain's Paul Towers/D. Jonnson, over Australians H. Stodart/A. Baker.
Australian boats filled most of the top 20 positions, with 1 Swedish boat and 2 British boats the only International competitors in the top 20.
Only Australian competitors are actually scored in the Australian Championship. International competitors are ignored for Australian Championships purposes, and basically use the event as a tuning and practice exercise. Their finishes do not show on the official results.
The last four races of the Australian Championship, are also the pre-world championship. International competitors will be scored for the pre-worlds, and of course for the world championship.
The heat and sunshine here in the tropics takes some getting used to; several competitors are already suffering from sun burns. Despite the heat, you do not want to sail in a short sleeved T-shirt! Both water and air are so hot, that most sailors prefer not to wear their wetsuits.
Organization has been incredible, due to the efforts of the local organizing committee. Townsville sailing has been one of the better kept secrets until now!
In discussions with Australian 505 sailors, I learned that the 505 is one of the strongest dinghy classes in Australia, larger than any of the skiff classes Australia is famous for. The 505 and the Australian Sharpie are the two largest high performance classes in Australia, and probably only the NS14 and Taser exceed the 505 in overall numbers. Many of the Australian boats are quite new, and their is a new 505 builder in Australia, so there are two 505 builders in Australia!
Ali Meller