Gill - News : Article

Gill at Flying 11 Australian Nationals
17 January 2010
71 boats from NSW and TAS competed in the Flying 11 2010 Australian Championships at gorgeous Beauty Point in Tasmania. Gill Australia supported the event by supplying prizes.

It was a testing week for the young crews with many experiencing tidal conditions for the first time. The wind was fair to all involved with a good mix of everything, shifty light winds and flat water through to a decent chop stirred up by 25 knot winds. The conditions certainly made the sailors think and the event was contested right up to the last race. Close competition between both girls and boys and a good mix of clubs made for a really exciting event.

The 71 boats were keen to get off the line early forcing the starter to bring out his black flag on many occasions. The races were won by different crews every race except for the pair, Chris Fay and Emma Knighton from Belmont managed 2 wins and were hot contenders for the title up to the final race.

It took 3 goes for the fleet to start the last race of the series in a strong current and light wind which was very patchy and shifty. Eventually they got off to a clean start with many teams watching out for each other and keeping scores to see where they could finish overall. Although looking good in most other races Chris and Emma did not get off the start cleanly the last time allowing their rivals Declan Reilly and Ira Dubery from Manly Skiffs in NSW to get away at the pin end.
The Manly pair lead clearly for the entire race, needing to finish 8 points ahead of the event leaders they watched them crawl back from deep in the fleet. Out of runway Chris and Emma caught back up to 28th position, not enough to hold their lead over the new national champions Declan and Ira.

Other titles won during the event went to Sam Nugent and Maddie Clancy (M16ftSSC) for the First All Girl Trophy, Harvey Bates and Ben Bannon (Cronulla SC) picked up the Junior Skipper Trophy, Handicap was won by Emma and Thomas Wilson (Middle Harbour 16ftSSC) and the teams trophy was awarded to Manly 16ftSSC.

The Tamar Yacht Club and all it's volunteers put on a fabulous regatta for this strong youth class and at Gill we are very pleased to be involved with such a positive event.