International Etchells Class Victorian State Championship

by Andrew Palfrey on 13 Mar 2001 International Etchells Class Victorian State Championship

Melbourne’s John Bertrand, sailing with his long-time Etchells crew of Ernie Lawrence
and Bill Browne took out the 2001 Victorian Etchells state titles with a race to spare over
the March long weekend. In a dominant display, Bertrand’s team sailed “Two Saints and
a Magpie” to four heat wins and a second in the six race series sailed from Royal
Brighton Yacht Club.
Thirty-one Etchells class yachts competed in the series, with Glenn Tucker making the
journey from Perth, Gavin Gerrard flying in from Auckland, whilst Andrew Hunn and Jan
Scholten travelled from Hobart and Sydney respectively. The ever-growing fleets from
Mornington and Blairgowrie at the southern end of Port Phillip were also well
represented.

Conditions for the event were varied. Saturday’s first race was sailed in a stiff northerly,
that swung into the west just prior to the finish as a cool change swept through
Melbourne. The remaining two races on Saturday were sailed in a fickle and cloud
affected south westerly. Sunday saw sunny skies and a light and challenging south
easterly, that was eventually pulled around to the southerly seabreeze direction for two of
the days’ three races. Monday’s forecast 30-knot winds eventuated and saw to the
abandonment of Race seven.

Monday’s abandonment was an anti climax for the five teams that were in the running for
second place overall. Andrew Hunn claimed this honour, along with his team of Tim
Hardstaff and Melbourne’s Andrew Palfrey. Campbell Myles, Grant Dow and Brendan
Dow were a solid 3rd overall. A notable achievement, given that they sail around at 45
kilograms under the max crew weight limit. Both Hunn and Myles recovered from
mediocre starts to the event to hit their straps on Sunday. Defending champion, Grant
Wharington sailed very consistently over the series to record a very respectable fourth
overall, with Jan Scholten finding form with a “pick-up” crew to gain fifth.

Since returning to Melbourne from the USA last year, Bertrand, Laurence and Browne
have worked hard on their Etchells sailing. This has been their first regatta win of the
season, after finishing third at the Australian Championship in Hobart and recording a
disappointing eleventh at the NSW titles at Lake Macquarie. Bertrand’s team now heads
off to Auckland for the New Zealand Championship at the end of March, which will
complete preparations for their trip to contest the 2001 Worlds’ at Lymington (UK).

Bertrand commented about the strength of the Etchells class, referring to it as “Olympic
level racing in a non Olympic year” and also made mention of the amount of women
sailing in the Etchells class and the positive elements of this development for the future.

For Hunn, this event continues a run of consistent “bridesmaid” performances that began
with his second placing at the 2000 NSW Championship at Cronulla and includes 2nd
place finishes at the 2000 Australian Midwinters and 2001 Nationals.