All to play for at the AUS Nats as Bundy closes up the gap to Brewin

With one day left, things suddenly look close now for 1st and 2nd, and only a few points in it.  Our embedded reporter, Bob Griffits reports;

The final day of the 2017 Australian A Class Catamaran has arrived, with racing scheduled for midday.

Just three points protects the lead of Stevie Brewin from second placed Darren Bundock, with Brad Collett a further 12 points astern.



Interestingly,the order of the top ten boats has remained virtually unchanged over the course of this regatta, and the current rankings are an accurate reflection of the respective skill levels.



Yesterday, Darren Bundoock was able to cut into Brewin's lead yesterday when he scored two wins over Brewin's OCS (together with Landy - Ed) and a second. Brad Collett continues to consolidate his third overall place, after finishing third in both races. Stephen Brayshaw in forth overall , collected a second and a forth.



Brewin's day was quite remarkable in being able to finish both races. The fastenings holding lower rudder  cassette support had worked loose through the transom. Apparently there had been no apparent impact, but obviously the forces applied to the rudder assembly are very high.



He was able to finish the first race, to mark it to shore, borrow Danial Philpotts AD3 platform , and return in time to start the following race!



Over the past two days the weather has played havoc with the race scheduling. The land has heated up to the more traditional summer temperatures in the 30 degree Celsius, and the winds have been very unstable.



On Day 3 ( Wednesday) racing was delayed until 3:00pm until a light breeze had settled in , and racing commenced. Race 7 was completed in conditions which just allowed downwind foiling, in patchy shifty conditions.



By the start of Race 8, the wind had eased about the Class minimum before dying after racing had commenced. The wind eventually filled from the left hand side of the course with a major shift in direction, before dying, and the racing was abandoned for the day.



The racing on Day 4 had been scheduled for a 3:00pm start, but starting did not happen until 4:45pm due to insufficient wind, but it quickly built to 10 knots.



By the start of the next race, the heating of the continent had sucked in a 20 knot sea breeze, and the racing was on with a gusto. There is so much lift in the foils now, that the bigger gusts will spontaneously lift the boats up onto foils when sailing to windward , and during the tacks, and taming the beasts is a new skill.



With nine races now completed, one race drop is in place.  Current results here 

Photos Dave Howard