Australian Women’s Match Racing Regatta - 15th September 2008
Australian Women’s Match Racing Regatta
The waters of the Indian Ocean were the setting for the Australian Women’s Match Racing National Championships from the 31st August until the 2nd September 2008. The competition was fierce, the winds were non existent and the sun was shining on Fremantle Sailing Club and its many volunteers who helped make the regatta a success.
The regatta was run using six J24s from both Fremantle Sailing Club and South of Perth Yacht Club. The regatta format consisted of two round robins followed by a finals series for the top four competitors. On the Saturday we had two training sessions on the boats and found that in a steady 18 knot wind on the waters beyond the FSC breakwater the J24s moved pretty quickly. The stronger winds and the swell of the ocean had us Victorians grinning from ear to ear as we felt at home in these conditions. Unfortunately the weather gods had a different idea. After our first day acquainting ourselves with the boats the wind seems to drop out more and more. Day one of the regatta saw a steady 8 knots of breeze and with a few hiccups on some of the less reliable boats we managed to complete one round robin. Despite flying the SYC flag with pride our results left a lot to be desired as we figured out just how good the competition was. After day one we had one win on the board. Despite this we had a taste of the competition and awoke on day two ready to climb our way up the leader board. The sun was blinding and the winds were scarce. We completed a single race that day meaning that on the third and final day of the regatta we intended to complete the second round robin and the finals series.
Again this was wishful thinking. After recommencing the second round robin on day three in light breezes it became clear that we would not fit all of the races in. The race committee decided to abandon the second round robin in favour of completing the finals series and the top four competitors from the first day of racing were selected to sail on. Unfortunately that spelt the end of the regatta for our team from SYC but we made sure we kept a close eye on the competition to learn as much as possible from the event.
Match racing has a well established fleet in New South Wales at a number of yacht clubs and their standard of racing proved this. The top three places were awarded to NSW with Nikki Souter and her team in first position, former SYC squad member Amanda Scrivenor in second place and Katie Spithill in third.
From her small beginnings at Metung Yacht Club on the Gippsland Lakes Amanda was introduced to Match Racing by John Middleton at SYC in 2004 prior to moving to Sydney in 2007. Her sailing has improved out of sight as she dedicates much of her time to Match Racing from CYCA these days.
Sandringham Yacht Club is leading the way for Match Racing in Victoria and as we continue to enter events such as this one we grow as sailors, we form friendships with people all over Australia and we ensure that youth sailing in particular is going strong in Victoria.
On behalf of Kate and Megan Aulich, Caroline Theodore and Melanie Busby we would like to thank our coach John Middleton for his ongoing support, for making the trip to Perth and teaching us the mysterious ways of Match Racing; to our families, Musto for the sailing gear and Sandringham Yacht Club and it’s members who have supported the Youth Development Squad over the years.
Yours in Sailing
Megan, Kate, Caz and Mel.
