Sail Melbourne 2018 was held at RBYC and it is fair to say, we had varying conditions with a severe weather system moving down the eastern coast, which provided such lovely weather last weekend! SSCBC, as always, held their own in regards to exceptional race management, ably led by Peter Osbourne on the Charlie Course (9ers and Nacra). Peter led a strong team of volunteers who maximised the possible racing time when it was available.
On the Charlie course, in the 49ers, Jack Lloyd and Oliver Manton finished 6th, James Grogan and Charlie Dixon finished an impressive 4th, which shows the boys are within touching distance of the top, especially after an impressive 4th at Sail Sydney last week. In the 49erFX, Lockie Dare and Ella Clarke were leading the fleet for awhile and finished 4th. Tess Lloyd and Jamie Ryan have gone back to back with a win at Sail Sydney and a win at Sail Melbourne.
In our other Olympic class boats, Oli Tweddell in the Finn finished 10th, (RBYC will be home of the Finn Gold Cup in 2019). In the Laser Radial, Casey Imeneo finished 8th, George Aulich 23rd and Camilla Graves was 28th.
In the Waszp class, the sailors were testing out a new bigger foil which allows for a more controlled foil tack and gybe. Tom Trotman finished 3rd, Tom Klemens 7th and Jack Abbot 8th. But Jack won the last race and you’re only as good as your last race.
In the 420s, William Pratt (who is a member of the VST) and Henry Johnston finished 15th.
In the Open Optimist class, Henry Stringer finished 50th, Sam Stringer 56th, Natalie Gleeson 67th and Angelique Gleeson 68th. In the Intermediate fleet, India Sinclair just missed the podium, finishing 4th and Jack Beresford (Pizza) finished 7th. It should be noted India won a race sailing with no tiller extension.
Well done to all who volunteered, and sailed at the regatta.
David White
