Flying Dutchman Australian Championship 2026 - Day 1

Lupicus 60 AUS33 and PPK NZL7 sending their spinnakers up after rounding the windward mark during day one racing of the 2026 Flying Dutchman Australian Championship © Jeanette Severs

Peter Bevis and Ian McCrossin, four-time- world champions in the Flying Dutchman class, are among the leaders on the series board after day one racing in the 2026 Australian championship. But the outcome is still wide open, after two races were completed on day one.

The FDs championship includes 13 boats, racing a triangular course on Lake King at Metung, a rural village in Victoria, Australia.

Race one was on a windward/leeward axis of 110 degrees, 0.8 nautical mile length between the gates, with wind averaging 7.2 knots. The race officer, Dean Robson, set the course for two returns. A clean start saw current Australian and New Zealand champions, Mark Henger and Matt Bismark on board PPK NZL7 first to achieve the windward gates.

They were followed closely by McCrossin and Bevis in Lupicus 60 AUS33, then New Zealand competitors David Gibb and John Bailey with their own sails NZL112 on board Lupicus. Lupicus has been loaned by McCrossin for this regatta.

By the second windward rounding, Gary Cameron and Darren Hocking on board Blutak AUS338, were leading the fleet, with NZ7, AUS33 and AUS112 applying pressure.

Crossing the finish line, Blutak AUS338 led the way, followed by PPK NZL in second place, then Lupicus 60 AUS33.

Race two required a course change to axis 100 degrees, extended to 1.0nm between the windward and leeward marks, with wind speed averaging nine knots. It was another clean start.

Matt Draper and Thomas Stuchbery on board Freight Train AUS001 led the fleet around the windward mark, followed by Lupicus 60 AUS33, then Rafe Heale and Tom Watson on board Power AUS7. The crews on board NZL7 and NZL112 were both dealing with gear damage, but NZL7 was maintaining a fourth position in the fleet.

By the second windward mark, Freight Train AUS001 were maintaining their lead, followed by AUS33, AUS338 then NZL7.

Freight Train AUS001 held on to the lead across the finish line in race two of the 2026 Flying Dutchman Australian Championship - photo © Jeanette Severs

Freight Train AUS001 held on to the lead across the finish line, followed by Lupicus 60 AUS33 then Blutak AUS338.

After two races, the series board was led by Blutak AUS338, with Lupicus 60 AUS33 2nd, followed by PPK NZL7, then Freight Train AUS001.

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