Musto Skiff West Australian State Championships at Freemantle
by Chris Sutherland 13 May 2015 11:51 BST
9-10 May 2015
Dennis Jones wins the Musto Skiff West Australian State Championships © R Stuert
The 2015 Western Australian Musto State Championships was the best ever. Held over the weekend of 9 & 10th May at Fremantle Sailing club. For the 2nd year Denis Jones won on 12 points overtaking Thor Shoenhoff in the last race. Thor on 14 points was 2nd and Arthur Brett on 15 points 3rd, Marcus Hamilton was 4th on 17 points from 5th Chris Sutherland also on 17 points.
13 Boats entered which is 100% of the Fleet, in WA, 2 Sailors came from Victoria, Marcus Hamilton (2nd in the Worlds) and Tim Hill (9th) added to the Fleet, in addition Steve Thomas and Fang Warren from the 49er/ Moth Fleet. Add to these were Denis Jones and Arthur Brett, this was probably the greatest concentration of sailing talent in Perth this year.
The weather pattern was essentially light, sea breeze on Saturday up to 12kts and Sunday race 1 an light dying easterly followed by westerly sea breeze getting up to 12 knots. Off Fremantle in moderate breeze is ideal sailing for Mustos.
All the races were close on. On day 1 Races 1 & 2 were Denis Jones's he won easily from Thor setting the tone for the regatta, The first race was in a light 7kt westerly that gradually built and shifted left, Race 3 Marcus Hamilton won with Thor 2nd again, Denis 3rd. At the end of Day 1 Denis led on 5 points from Thor on 6. Then bunched together were Marcus 14, Paul Green 14, Chris Sutherland 15.
Day 2 was a light dying easterly, PRO Keith Charlwood got the fleet away and clearly Arthur was on for a big day leading around the first mark, the breeze died down the run and Thor, James Lewis and Chris drifted over the finish of a shortened course Denis had his worst race an 8th. The sea breeze arrived shortly after and race 5 got away in a light building westerly everyone had a weed excuse at some point and to risk clearing the foils or not changed a few positions. Arthur started his late challenge for the title with a clear win Marcus 2nd Sutho 3rd again.
In the last race a 10kt Westerly, Arthur again made a break and was not headed. At the bottom mark Marcus and Thor rounded 2,3 and headed left, Sutho 4th went right and got a shift rounding the top mark 2nd. Denis was 5th at the bottom. Thor made a hash of clearing his foils and fell back while Marcus rounded the top mark 3rd Denis rounded 4th. On the run to the finish Denis sailed through a weeded up Marcus and Chris, and nearly caught Arthur, The 2 places Denis gained down the run gave him the regatta by 2 points from Thor.
Overall a great regatta, sailed at the very end of summer in Perth hence the lighter breezes, Steve Thomas showed what a great sailor he is although his first regatta coming 4th in race 1, before more breeze made crew work an issue. Denis again showed his talent and improved his light weather sailing a little, Thor also proved he is a good sailor apart from 2 bad races, and Arthur proved he still has it.
Full results [PDF]