International Etchells Class Association
2020 Western AUS Championship
published 03/11/2020
Under Race Officer, Kim Laurence, and his excellent race management team, 16 crews completed all nine races. Predominantly south westerlies of 7 to 16 knots and plenty of moves in wind direction meant the Fremantle track was far from one way and results could not be guaranteed until the finish line was crossed.
For Royal Perth Yacht Club, first place went to the Azure team of Chris Pratt, Ethan McAullay and Harmon McAullay.
Azure had consistent top end results against the opposition that were up and down in the fleet. It was a tense last race which could have gone a number of ways with positions changing significantly throughout the race. The result hinged on only a few boat lengths at the finish.
After the regatta Chris said “I’m really pleased with the performance of my young crew and how we could always move through the fleet if we got back. Unfortunately, a race win alluded us, but we did what we set out to do and it puts us three wins in three regattas this summer. It’s probably time to sell the boat, never sail again and resign to telling stories at the club bar! We won’t be doing that.”
Well done also to Michael Manford and his crew on The Croc for their second place and to Peter Ahern and his crew on Yo!. Yo! edged out former State Champions Rat Pack with Grantham Kitto, Bad Moore and Ethan Prieto-Low on a countback for the ‘rats’ to finish 4th.
Amongst the various veterans of the class, two youth teams were standouts in the fleet. The Monkey Fist team of Alastair Young, Tom Blaaw, Conor Nicholas and Charlie Toyn with a first race bullet and finishing 5th overall edging one place ahead of the Chicken Soup team of Mark Whittington, Shelly White, Mia Lovelady and Richard Maher. Youth were all through the fleet.
It was also great to see a team from Fremantle Sailing Club out racing too.
As the year goes on there will be more Etchells racing down at Fremantle with fleet joining the Huck Scott Series from May, then the Syd Corser and Sail Freo in October and the Pre-Worlds and Worlds in November. Interstate and overseas crews are expected to start racing with us from the Syd Corser.
For those in Perth, if anyone is keen to come and experience outstanding racing on an outstanding racetrack all in your backyard, there are boats and crew places available.