Please select your home edition
Edition
P&B

Tasar 47th Australian National Championship at Port Lincoln Yacht Club, SA

by Jenny Sorensen 17 Jan 2022 05:54 GMT 30 December 2021 - 7 January 2022
Day 1, Heat 1 start during the Tasar 47th Australian Nationals at Port Lincoln, SA © Richard Davidson

Former Tasar World Champions & VIC Sailors of the Year, Chris Dance & Peter Hackett win this year's Tasar Nationals hosted by Port Lincoln Yacht Club. Although only 23 boats from 4 States & the ACT competed, the competition was strong as were the breezes which could generally be described as 'fresh, variable & gusty'!

Chris & Peter from VIC's Mordialloc Sailing Club, won the Title but it was touch & go up until the last 2 days. 3pts behind them was current NSW STATES Tasar, MG14 & NS14 Champion from Sydney's Northbridge Sailing Club Hugh Tait sailing with his wife Anna. The Taits were early leaders during the week thriving in the wild, windy & shifty conditions which saw quite a few capsizes, as well as a couple of broken masts & booms. Anna at one stage needed to become a 'human whisker pole' upon losing their pole during a capsizing gybe. Needless to say, racing was fast, furious & demanding, not quite the lovely balmy breezes experienced in bygone Tasar Regattas at Port Lincoln.

To their credit Chris & Peter performed consistently, showcasing powerful hiking prowess to finish each heat within the Top 3. They commented however that it was no plain sailing. They were pressured to keep within the top leadership bunch by rival competitors, which included multi World Contender Champion, Mark Bulka & 12yo son Oliver from McCrae Yacht Club who came in 3rd overall, just 3 pts behind Hugh & Anna in 2nd.

Raising the level of competition for remaining crews were also the Event's closely contended 4th to 6th place getters. They were respectively multi NAT female helms & Fireballs NAT/ International Champion plus former VIC Female Sailor of the Year, Heather Macfarlane sailing with Chris Payne; followed on equal points by current Sail Sydney's DIV Champions Ralph & teenage daughter Imogen Stanford AND 1986's Tasar World Champion & NAVY's Rick Longbottom & Darryl Bentley.

For all sailors competing, this was seriously one Event to remember - hard physical & tactical racing over 5 days, under both sunny & wet skies with 'cold wind chill' conditions. The prevailing 20kt+ SSW to SSE breezes however made for exhilarating planing on runs & reaches, with Tasars reaching radical speeds on the flat protected waters of Boston Bay, located at the southernmost point on the Eyre Peninsula.

Swapping 'boat set up' techniques amongst crews weren't uncommon in the boat park, as were the sharing stories about the conditions & battles on the water which took place at daily post race presentations. MC'd by Australian Tasar Council's Adrian Nicholson & Blaise Vinot, these fun evenings took place outside the Club overlooking the Bay complete with sausage sizzle, beers & champagne. Gifts & prizes were overflowing to all, courtesy of Regatta sponsors including Priceline Pharmacy & Felco. With such a relatively small fleet of boats, it was also possible to enjoy the Regatta's Welcome & Presentation Nights at the Club, as well as a spectacular New Year's Eve evening on the upstairs balcony viewing the Bay's fireworks.

Our Class proudly thanks the work done by the PLYC's Commodore, Race Committee & volunteers in looking after crews, and for laying (& relaying) our courses to run all 10 scheduled Heats & the Invitation Race on some very arduous & lengthy afternoons. They not only welcomed us but became part of our 'family' both on & offshore. Congratulations too to all our competitors who juggled with Covid tests & border requirements and whom, after 2 years of postponement, finally made our 47th Australian NAT Championship happen.

Divisional Winners:

  • Female Helm - Heather Macfarlane (Black Rock YC,VIC)
  • Apprentice Masters (60-79) - Hugh & Anna Tait (Northbridge SC, NSW)
  • Masters (80-99) - Chris Dance & Peter Hackett (Mordialloc SC, VIC)
  • G'Masters (100-119) - Rick Longbottom & Darryl Bentley (RANSA, Canberra YC & Georges River SC - ACT,NSW)
  • Super G'Masters (120+) - Heather Macfarlane & Chris Payne (Black Rock YC, VIC)

Overall Results:

PosSail NoBoat NameSkipperCrewDivR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10Pts
12980MagicChris DancePeter HackettM[3]12221[3]11212
22925SerendipityHugh TaitAnna TaitAM121[4]321[8]2315
32971BalanceMark BulkaOliver BulkaAM[4]33113[4]24118
42969WACHeather MacFarlaChris PayneSGM25455525[7][6]33
52906Sea Major and MinRalph StanfordImogen StanfordAM7[8]73[8]6833542
62813Timely ElementRick LongbottomDarryl BentleyGM[8]48[14]48545442
72830Oogy WawaStuart TempletonNicole KidmanM965[18]711766[15]57
82588Two Fat LadiesHarry CooperShevaun BrulandAM[11]7611[14]7679962
92617WaimukaboutAndrew MartinAurelia MartinAM511[19][17]11491111769
102950ZanzibarClaire MeddSimon MeddGM691366[25C][25C]9825O82
112777ValiantTim O'SheaPhillippa ArevaloM1010118[16]9[13]12131184
122883SMACPeter DavisKaren DavisSGM12[20]10129101214[25F]1291
132956The WeekendNeil LongWendy LongGM[18]15121015121010[25F]892
142863StrategyJack RamseyRachael StoneAM20[25F][22]9121317131010104
152137MagicMatt YoungVictoria YoungM[17]1491510[17]15151516109
162946Summer LoveRichard MackinnonAmelia CoeAM1917[20][21]171411161213119
172793Rattle and HumMelissa CrawfordDavid RoseGM1312157132016[25C][25C]25C121
181938River RatWayne BarnettMako WestdorpAM14131819[20]19[20]171417131
192965IndefensibleBernie StreaterJennifer SorensenSGM15181420181614[25F][25C]18133
202963Sail A VieBlaise VinotKate VinotGM21161713211518[25C][25C]14135
212927Bang a Gong Get itAdrian NicholsonRebecca NicholsonGM16191616191819[25C][25C]25C148
222779Krap KarateBrett WisemanMurray CordellGM23[25F]212222222118[25F]19168
231885ElusiveNeil TemperleyDavid TemperleyAM2221[23]2323212219[25F]20171
242964Ratz 3Gary RatcliffeRobyn RatcliffeGM[25C][25C]25C25C25C25C25C25C25C25C200

Related Articles

June Cup at Porthpean
A lovely 18kt WSW breeze from the wind gods who were tucking into their popcorn Mention the words "Cup Race" at Porthpean and the wind gods turn up the speed controller, sit back on to their cloud and ready themselves for some first class entertainment. Posted on 23 Jun
HolidayCottages Tasar Nationals overall
Moderate breezes and sunshine for the final day After yesterday's three windy races, the evening followed up with a delicious buffet and more live music at WYC. The final day dawned with moderate breezes to give the whole fleet a great final day of sailing in the sunshine. Posted on 15 Jun
HolidayCottages Tasar Nationals day 2
A fresh westerly breeze and warm sunshine after a night of thunderstorms After a noisy night of thunderstorms and torrential rain, the Tasar fleet woke to the anticipated fresh to strong westerly breeze and warm sunshine. Posted on 14 Jun
HolidayCottages Tasar Nationals day 1
Many had not read the script, and ended up on the naughty list The Tasar bandwagon rolled up to Whitstable (Putney by Sea) for a three day championship. A mixture of the current in form runners and riders and some old well-known faces returning to the party to enjoy the atmosphere for the weekend. Posted on 14 Jun
40th All Japan Tasar Championship
A thrilling finish in Okinawa From 6-8 June 2025, the 40th All Japan Tasar Championship and 2026 Tasar Worlds Preregatta took place at the scenic Okuma Private Beach & Resort in Kunigami Village, Okinawa. After 3 days of fierce competition the event came to a successful close. Posted on 11 Jun
May Cup at Porthpean
Event style racing, downwind finishes, and using different parts of the bay Sat in the club looking out of the window a westerly breeze can be deceptive as it blows over the top of the clubhouse. The monthly cup races have become a feature, event style racing, downwind finishes, using different parts of the bay. Posted on 26 May
Tasar Training Made Easy
Hybrid in-person and webinar events in the Victorian Tasar fleet In 2024, the Victorian Tasar fleet expressed strong interest in ongoing training opportunities, ranging from on-the-water sessions to classroom and online formats. Posted on 24 May
Tasar Australian Nationals preview
51st edition will be held at Wallaroo in January 2026 It won't be long before Tasar sailors around Australia embark on their next Nationals regatta at Wallaroo Sailing club in South Australia. Located on the west coast of SA's stunning Yorke Peninsula, the venue boasts azure blue waters. Posted on 23 May
Tasar SW Championship at Porthpean
Grateful for a well drilled team of volunteers to assist Saturday competitors arrived to glorious sunshine and a 8 knot breeze from the SE. After enjoying bacon baps and coffee it was time to head out for a 1300 start for the three scheduled races. Posted on 12 May
2025 Victorian Tasar State Championships
Hosted by the Indented Head Yacht Club during Sail Bellarine 2025 Tasar sailors from across Victoria converged on the Bellarine Peninsula last weekend to compete in the 2025 Victorian Tasar State Championships. Posted on 6 May