Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic: Champions crowned at Australia's biggest fresh water race

by Harry Fisher 29 Jan 2018 05:47 GMT 20-27 January 2018
Division 3 off the start line in Milang © Chris Caffin

Following what was a challenging Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic in conditions that saw blistering heat and a lack of win, the champions were crowned at the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club on Saturday night.

After a slight delay at the start while the race committee were waiting for the breeze to fill in, racing eventually got underway 30 minutes after the scheduled start time of 9am, with 10-minute intervals between the starts for each division.

The historical boats kicked off the day as division one, which was followed by four separate trailable racing divisions from division two through five.

Making up division six was the exciting sports boat division, while division seven was made up of a number of trailable multihulls.

Division eight was for the off-the-beach monohull classes, which saw a fleet of five Tasars as the bulk of the sailors, as well as a handful of other dinghies.

The off-the-beach catamarans made up division nine, which was the largest fleet in the event and provided one of the most exciting starts seen in recent memory.

Division 10 was the final division in the regatta and was specifically in place for the one-design fleet of five Restricted 21s, however rather than starting last they started on the division one start line with the historical fleet.

Although there were some boats that stayed in consistent breeze for most of the race and finished in good time, there were some boats that finished extremely late, while a handful were unable to finish before the cut off time of 6.30pm, which equates to nine hours of racing.

The presentation evening, hosted by the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, saw a large turnout and was a chance for sailors to celebrate another successful year with great food and live music.

Results

In division one, Fraser Buchan's Iole was the overall winner, followed by Randal Cooper's Wylo XI in second and Paul Simmons' Beth in third with on one minute and 14 seconds separating first and second on corrected time.

In division two, Mike O'Reilly's Oh Really was the overall winner, taking out the win in a close three-horse battle with Brian Doser's High C in second and Simon Bath's Kylie's Carbon Race Bike in third.

Oh Really was also the first boat to reach the Point Sturt checkpoint, which has become an impressive milestone for sailors in the event.

Division three saw Phil Kelly's Sand Castle take out a dominant victory both as the fastest boat, as well as on corrected time, ahead of David Barnes' Windrunner in second and Derek Morrison's Neopthyte in third.

Kelly sailed with wife Sue and son Joe and made the trip over from Port Lincoln to compete in yet another Freshwater Classic.

Don Richardson's Encore was the best performer in division four, taking out a close victory ahead of Carolyn Butcher's Sea Eagle in third and Adrian Schilling's Serendipity in third.

In division five, the final racing division, Nicholas Steyn's Blewbiu took out the win with a slender lead over Justin Stanbridge's Mackie in second and Geoff Perry's Anoqua in third.

The sports boat division was one of the faster divisions in the event and saw Todd Barlett's Boatspeed 23 named Bohica achieve a solid win against a start-studded fleet.

Daniel Fidock's Mainiac finished second, while Grant Smith's The Spruce Moose was third.

In the trailable multihull division, Iain Macdougall's Dux Nutts was the overall winner, finishing ahead of Rod Walter's Shockwave in second and Robert Remilton's Wilparina III in third.

The off-the-beach monohulls had a great tussle as most of the fleet was made up of a strong fleet of Tasars, however the eventual winner was Jonathan and Emily Ward in Tallulah, finishing ahead of Kym Widdows' Fabulous Hornet in second and Adrian Nicholson's Bang A Gong in third.

The off-the-beach catamarans definitely put on a show with Marcus Towell's Raketvapen finishing first ahead of Charlie Coombs' The Green Machine in second and Paul Short's Sunset Strip in third.

Towell was also dubbed Cock O' the Lake with the fastest time from Milang to Goolwa out of all divisions.

The final division, the Restricted 21s, had a very competitive race and it was Chris Reiffel's Dolphin continuing its stellar form from regatta week to take out the overall win, finishing ahead of Lyndon Bartlett's Endeavour in second and Graham Roberts' Altair in third.

Excitement is already building for next year's event with an even bigger fleet expected for the big race in 2019.

www.goolwaregattaweek.com.au

Related Articles

Cowes Classics Regatta countdown is on
A week away, and late entries are coming in thick and fast across all divisions We are just one week away now from the start of the Royal London Yacht Club's flagship event - the Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 - and as ever, late entries are coming thick and fast across all the divisions. Posted today at 7:22 pm
DMS Formula Wing Europeans day 4
Golden opportunities await all in medal series. Leaders stumbled in wildly shifting winds as Friday's racing determined the first medal series competitors in the Dogus Marine Services Formula Wing European Championships. Posted today at 7:00 pm
Royal Thames YC 250th Anniversary Regatta preview
Over 180 entries already received and expected to surpass 200 boats The countdown is on for the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th Anniversary Regatta, taking place this June. With less than a month to go, anticipation is building fast with over 180 entries already received. Posted today at 6:04 pm
DF95 Spring Series event 8 at Barton's Point
Mainly a shifty drifter, but the form boats still mostly got to the front In 0 - 5 knots of wind from the North going East the event was mainly a shifty drifter, but the form boats still mostly got to the front. Peter Jackson won race 1, Mike Brand race 2 and Dave Adams race 3, those three hogging the podium spots. Posted today at 4:51 pm
Rickmansworth Classic International 14 Open
At 89 Tiercel proved that old boats can still compete and win Vintage and Classic Int 14's came to Rickmansworth Sailing Club over the weekend of 17th/18th May to race for two trophies. The Rickmansworth Open and Transom series Trophies. Boats travelled from as far as Cornwall to compete in this long standing event. Posted today at 3:47 pm
Copa del Rey MAPFRE surpasses 100 entries
Still almost two months to go until the start The Copa del Rey MAPFRE continues to exceed expectations — and this year, it's doing so well in advance. Posted today at 2:41 pm
Jersey Clipper Bursary award
£1000 goes to teenage dinghy instructor to enter Tall Ships Race A dinghy instructor at the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club has been awarded this year's Jersey Clipper Bursary, worth £1,000. Posted today at 2:28 pm
Entries open for Parkstone Youth Week
Different from most sailing regattas - and now with a Roman Empire theme There will a Gladitorial display of sailing and fun off the water activities, encompassing the spirit of Ancient Rome, starting in just 12 weeks' time. So, as Caesar raises his thumb it is time for you to sign up to the highlight of the Roman calendar. Posted today at 1:15 pm
Folkboat Racing in the Solent
Looking at the 2025 calendar and build-up to 60th Folkboat Week Since its introduction to British waters, the Nordic Folkboat has become a staple of Solent sailing. With the Folkboat Association nurturing this tradition, the fleet continues to grow, offering a packed calendar of racing. Posted today at 12:08 pm
Royal Hospital School Achieves Pathway Club Status
RYA awards British Youth and Junior Sailing Pathway status The Royal Hospital School (RHS) in Holbrook, Suffolk, is pleased to announce its recent recognition as a British Sailing Pathway Club, a testament to its commitment to supporting young sailors and their racing endeavours. Posted today at 11:17 am