International Etchells Class Association
No wind required for the first race at the Etchells Victorian Championship
published 03/08/2014
Truthfully, we’re not actually talking about Race One of the regatta. Rather, you could probably refer to it as Race Zero, if you like, for it has no direct bearing on the outcome of the 2014 Etchells Victorian Championship. Earlier on in the week, it became very apparent that many of the crews were going to take the opportunity after a hefty drive to Metung in Gippsland, to then get out on the water of the great lakes and have some practice.
Like so many of the bushfires that have swept through a lot of districts in South Eastern Australia over Summer, the word got out and spread as if fanned by those very winds that wreaked their havoc on people, places and livestock. Soon, plans were being modified, departures moved forward and very much like the tickets to a must-see rock band, the hardstand was the place to be. Being first there meant first in the water and it became the competition to observe. It was orderly and civilised for sure, but well and truly filled with the kind of dogged determination the One Design class has become so famous for. Of course, it did spill out on to Lake King as well, for soon two-boat drag racing was clearly evident.
Off to the top mark with Tango. Pic © David Jeffreys
Someone even got the right memo off to Huey, the God of Wind, as well. He turned on a sensational day with just the sort of conditions needed to get all the crews set for a grand event. Yes, the hot competition that was so palpable amongst the fleet, which was met with exactly the kind of weather befitting such a turnout of sailing’s best and keenest.
29 boats, comprising 25 three-person and four, four-person crews are part of the championship. Four of these crews have made the journey from New South Wales to repay the favour if you will for those Victorian crews that lined up for their State Championship last month.
Paul Pascoe is in Metung as the Chief of the Jury. He was on board the Committee Vessel for the day and said, “It was an excellent day’s racing in perfect Etchells type conditions. It was an all-clean affair, which included some aggressive, but totally fair starting tactics.”
As an keen yachting observer Paul also commented, “It really is wonderful to see three young, local girls who got right in there for the second race. Terrific stuff”, referring to Sarah Clough, Jacqui Loft and Jade Ebison-Rose, who are on board Lethal Weapon. “Given that the International Cadets’ Victorian Championship are also being held out of Metung, the club are doing a great job with stretched resources.”
Sarah Clough said, “Loving being out there and more young people and women should embrace these great craft. Where else can you hang out and learn from some truly spectacular people. Thanks to Tim Hall for giving us Lethal Weapon to use. Jade and I are in our first season sailing together and today was the first race we’ve had with Jacqui. Many thanks to the Metung Etchells Fleet for getting us all out there and then creating the pathway for us to compete in these championships.”
“The fleet is being so friendly, welcoming and helpful as we go about learning these finicky craft. How good is it to be out on the water with all these super-sailors”, said Clough.
New team on the water – Lethal Weapon. Pic © David Jeffreys
Today’s racing, headed by Race Officer Deborah Lloyd, did get the scheduled two races away. The first was a two-lap affair, with the second a two and half circuit race, which meant the boats finished at the windward mark. Pascoe said, “It blew from 100˚ all day and hardly wavered. We saw 14 to 15 knots, with flattish water, albeit that it did pick up a little at the end of the second race. Deborah moved the top mark out to 1.4nm for that second race and we had two clear starts on the very first go, both times, across the 400m long start line. On board the Committee Vessel it was shorts and T-shirts in the warmish conditions, so that’s always good!”
Out on the water, it was somewhat of a Bertrand Master Class, with the legend racking up two wins from the two starts. John said, “Newport, Rhode Island (Etchells World Championship in June) is the focus. The reason I’m doing this regatta is that I have a bit on with Swimming Australia and could not get to Gosford, but with this lovely weather, it has all turned out perfectly. I must say it is a distinct pleasure and honour to be involved with the six million people and two thousand coaches that Swimming Australia work with.”
The 2010 Etchells World Champion also commented, “This regatta is a build up and I’ve just finished sending Grant Simmer and Andrew Palfrey an update (John will sail with these two Doyens of the sport in Newport). Triad will be shipped over to the USA almost immediately after racing is completed here at Metung.”
Hard at work with the leaders on Triad. Pic © David Jeffreys
Of conditions experienced on the day, Bertrand said, “The left side was favoured and we had 16-19knots, in the end. There was a huge fetch of around 8km that caused the 0.5m chop, which was short due to the Lake King being shallow. It did not slow the Etchells down too much thankfully, if you had it balanced correctly. These boats love a mainsail/jib combo that allows them to track naturally, with not too much helm required get them to where you want to go.”
“There are 29 boats and lots of good sailors, like Graeme Taylor’s Magpie, which had two seconds today. There are also people like Noel Drennan, Michael Coxon and Mark Bulka about. The standard of racing, boat handling and overall boat speed were very good today. There is a lot of racing to come, but we are happy with this start to proceedings and certainly can’t do more than this, in terms of the scoreboard.”
Bertrand is renowned for having a very quiet boat when out on the water. Sailing with him at Metung are Jake Newman (mainsail) and Billy Browne (for’ard hand). Both are well known to him and regulars on board Triad, too. “Billy Browne (ex AFL player) and Ernie Lawrence and I sailed for many a year together on Etchells. Billy has been great at helping me get match fit for Rhode Island.”
“Jake is a great tactical sailor, a bit like the Tom Slingsby (whom Bertrand won the Etchells World Championship with). Jake is really good with wind on water and has an awesome feel for boat speed, the sound of the wake and spray from the bow. It requires a keen and defined sensitivity get that final 1%, where the boat sort of hisses along magically”, Bertrand finished by saying.
Bertrand, Newman and Browne lead the fleet back down to the leeward mark. Pic © David Jeffreys
As mentioned, Graeme Taylor, Steve Jarvin and James Mayo on Magpie had two second places today to sit in second place overall, behind Bertrand, Newman and Browne. In third overall are Etchells Governor, Jake Gunther, with John Collingwood and Stuart Skeggs on, The Boat, courtesy of two very consistent fourth placings for their day’s work.
Gunther, who is also the Etchells Australia President said, “Just great sailing in lovely conditions and we’ll take a podium place anytime. You have to be really focused on boat speed, as it is extremely close, so lay lines and race tactics are crucial. Look out for the number of tacks you do, as they can really hurt.”
Three points further astern of, The Boat, are two crews. The first is newly installed Contender World Champion, Mark Bulka, who is sailing with Steve Young and Stewart Nichols on, Balance. They are proving that time away from the class is no impediment to results. Indeed, Bulka had sold off a lot of his Etchells equipment and had to secure some new items before being able to attend the regatta. Looks like the new gear works well!
Also on 11 points are Lake Macquarie’s Paul Geraty, Dean Blanchford and Gary Boyd on, Critical Balance. The boat names are of a similar vein and Lake Macquarie is where Bulka won his world title, so look for these two crews to continue their tussle to get on to the podium.
Heading downhill on Tango. Pic © David Jeffreys
As is the case with Etchells, consistency really helps. Crews that today were in the top ten for one race but could not repeat it in the other include, Tango, which is Christopher Hampton, Matt Johns and Ian Walker. Others were The Jukes of Hazzard, which comprises of Brendon and Brian Jukes, with Matthias Houvenagel and Nigel Jones. Yandoo XX is another and is crewed by Jeanne-Claude Strong, Nev Wittey and Marcus Burke. All of these people know how to sail and it shows just how on your game you have to be to make an impact. All the best to them and all crews looking to get the Etchells holy grail of a top ten finish every time as they head out for tomorrow’s racing.
The 2014 Etchells Victorian Championship is providing for close racing, with a plethora of sailing talent on display 8-10 March, inclusive. To see how hot Metung can get, you’ll have to follow it closely. See http://www.etchells.org.au for all the details.