Australian Nats 2015: Day 1 Report by Bob Griffits
Great detailed and complete introduction to the event venue and first day report sent by Bob Griffits
Images Julie Hartwig, More pics at her FB page https://www.facebook.com/juliehartwigphotography
Results after 3 Races: http://results.lcsc.org.au/aclass/2015/SGrp2.htm
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RETURN TO BOREEN POINT: THE 2015 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL A CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS.
The Australian A Class National Championship rotation has taken us back to Queensland, and back to Boreen Point, on the shores of Lake Lake Cathareba. The location is idyllic , on a quintessential East Coast Australian coastal lake, on the headwaters on the Noosa River.
With a location not too far away from the Tropic of Capricorn, the climate is typically tropical, with hot temperatures, and high humidity. The water temperature is 29 degrees Celsius.
It is reminiscent of Islanmorada, without the hurricane ( well so far at least). Fortunately these somewhat oppressive conditions are tempered by cooling seabreezes, which have been blowing in daily at about 15 to 18knots. The weatherman has boldly predicted that these winds will continue to blow for the duration of the regattas, so , touch wood, we should have a great week of sailing.
The boats have been steadily arriving, and staking out their respective claims along the sandy beach lakefront. The lake waters are stained are stained a dark brown colour, not by mud, but by the tanins released by the "Paper Bark" forests that line the perimeter of the lake.The tanins will discolour any porous chalky gelcoats that are in need of an overdue polish.
The fleet will this year lack the America's Cup Rock Stars whom will be otherwise engaged at the coincident Australian and World Moth Class Championships that will be held at Sorento in Victoria. As such, Glenn Ashby will not be defending his National Championship crown.
Steve Brewin will also be going to the Moth Worlds, but he has forsaken the Moth Australian Titles so that he may attend the A Class regatta. Brewin is the favourite for the regatta.
Four years ago at Boreen Point, Andrew Landenberger premiered the winglets on his rudder tips, which improved the handling of the boat, reduced the nose diving tendencies, and dampened down longitutinal pitch. Since then, virtually all boats have adopted the innovation.
There have of course been many other technological developments. The adoption of hydrofoils on the AC 72 Catamaran has spurred on experimentation with hydrofoils on smaller catamarans. Whilst the A Class rules had been previously tightened to prevent successful hydrofoiling, recent history has demonstrated that with the refinement of some creative hydodynamic accounting, it has been possible to effectively overcome the restrictions, and produce foiling A Cats.
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The 50 boat fleet of Australian A Class Catamarans started their 2015 National Championships today at Lake Cootharaba , in southern Queensland.
The three races of today were conducted in a timely and compact manner with no General Recalls. The winds were generally of moderate strength apart from a short lived rain and wind squall during the early part of Race 3.
The star performers of the day were Steven Brewin, Brad Collett, and Stephen Brayshaw.
Steve Brewin won the first two races , but he had to withdraw from the final race, to a capsize, and the lack of righting ropes the are necessary to retrieve the situation. That deficiency has since been remedied.
At the end of Day 1, Brad Collett leads with 5 points, Stephen Brayshaw ( 8 points) 2nd , Graeme Parker 3rd( 11 points), Mark Johnson 4th( 18 points), and Andrew Williams in 5th position with 19 points.
These are early days in this proposed 12 race series, but there is a strong consistency developing amongst the top 5 or 6 competitors.
The first two races were sailed in winds of 8 to 10 knots , from the north east, which made for pleasant sailing conditions even with the overcast sky.
Brad Collett finished 2nd to Brewin in Race 1, with Stephen Brayshaw 3rd, Graeme Parker 4th, and Mark Johnson 5th.
Finishing positions on Race 2 were similar, with Brewin , Collett, Bradshaw, and Parker filling the first four positions, and Andrew Williams making an appearance in 5 th position.
Brad Collett won Race 3 from Brayshaw, and Parker, with Hamish Sinclair turning in a fine 4th position, and another top five position to Mark Johnson.
These top sailors sailed on a variety of craft. Brewin sailed on a factory fitted Exploder with Z shaped centreboards. Collett also sailed on an Exploder with factory fitted Z boards . Brayshaw sailed DNA with Exploder appendages. Graeme Parker did very well with a DNA fitted with standard "C" shaped centreboards . Andrew Williams sailed Steve Brewin's Nikita which has been modified to take the Exploder Z boards, whilst Mark Johnson sailed a Paradox with just the old fashion straight centreboards.
Brewin, Collett , and Brayshaw have mastered foiling downwind, and they are all sailing significantly faster than their normal very start speed. Other outstanding sailors are still pitting in very good performances with more tradition equipment.
The learning curve for mastering the hydrofoils is a steep one. Although some of the America's Cup and Olympic sailors make it look easy, it is a significant challenge to master.
