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Sailingfast 2018 728x90

RS Aero Victoria State Championship at the Ronstan McCrae Yacht Club Australia Day Regatta

by Michael O'Brien 30 Jan 2021 06:27 GMT 23-26 January 2021
2021 RS Aero Victoria State Championship © Beau Outteridge

The Victorian RS Aero class held its state championships at McCrae Yacht Club on the Victorian Mornington Peninsula. The RS Aero Class was strongly represented and as the largest class with 29 RS Aeros competing for their Victorian State Champs over the 4 day Ronstan Australian Day Regatta at McCrae Yacht Club.

Entries came from 11 different clubs on the eastern shoreline of Port Phillip Bay, plus out of state entries from Whitsunday YC in Queensland and Largs SC in South Australia, the hosts to the RS Aero Australian Championships, 5-8th March.

More boats would have attended but due to Covid restrictions, entries were capped.

Over 4 challenging days, the RS Aero 5, 7 & 9 rigs contested six races in medium and shifting breeze. On the first day, one race was staged in 14-16 knots and then the wind died. We lost another full day with the wind failing to materialize the next. The following day looked promising with big waves left over from strong breeze all night. However, the wind died completely leaving a few sailors sea-sick. After a break for lunch, the breeze arrived for three great races in 15-18 knots. The last day was a bit windier and two final races in 18-20 knots.

The five fleet was won convincingly by Philippa Danks of Blairgowrie YS. The seven fleet was won by Rhett Gowans, the current world champ with a similar string of bullets, as was the nine fleet by Luke Mairs from Whitsunday SC.

What was really heartening, was the fleet has improved considerably over the past year. Mark Conry from the newer fleet in South Australia was especially quick on the final day and led both races until Rhett caught and passed him downwind. We now have fleets in most states and everyone is looking forward to the RS Aero Australian Championships at Largs SC in Adelaide, South Australia, 5-8th March. Full details are on the RS Aero Australian Events List; www.rsaerosailing.org/index.asp?p=events&rg=Australia

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
RS Aero 5
11680Philippa DanksBlairgowrie YS(DNC)111115
23091Ingrid VinotHampton SC1‑222229
33088Damian HardyBlack Rock YC‑33333315
42694Tash KurzemeMount Martha YC24444(DNF)18
RS Aero 7
11Rhett GowansMornington YC1‑211115
23414Michael O'BrienRoyal Brighton YC‑31223311
33094Mark ConryLargs Bay SC SA833(DNF)2218
42585Michael PaynterMcCrae YC2‑7444418
53006Megan RidgwaySandringham YC410‑1235527
61696Alister DanksBlairgowrie YS(DNC)5656729
72049Sean CarlsonMount Martha YC‑94578630
83467David ParryMount Martha YC687610‑1237
93058Paul RogersBlairgowrie YS‑1111989946
101697Fred DavisMount Martha YC‑19128911848
112495Stuart FaceyMount Martha YC10‑17131071050
122824Nicholas WallisBlack Rock YC1291011‑151153
133080Paul JenkinsMcCrae YC1313‑1612131364
143411Graham RileyMcCrae YC7611(DNF)DNCDNC70
152492Dennis HammonMcCrae YC171514(DNF)121573
162819Jack WilsonHampton SC151615(DNF)161476
172048Aaron FlavellBlack Rock YC‑18141814171679
183106Kelvin BoyleMcCrae YC2018171318(DNF)86
192680Fleur ScrivensMount Martha YC16(DNC)DNCDNC141793
201189Ron FergussonAlbert SC5(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC97
213415David AndrewMount Martha YC14(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC106
222914Christian HerrBlack Rock YC(DNF)1919DNFDNCDNC107
RS Aero 9
11195Luke MairsWhitsunday SC QLD‑1111115
23103Sam O'ConnorDavey's Bay YC222(DNF)2210
32820Jason WilsonRoyal Melbourne YS‑33323314

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