2006 Australian National Championships
Lake Macquarie, NSW
1-7th January, 2006

The invitation race was run with only 50% of the fleet starting due the extremely hot weather we encountered (44 degrees). With a new racing format proposed where the foilers do four laps, skiffs do three laps and only scows two laps, it made interesting racing to win the handicap trophy. However the gusty winds made it difficult for the foilers and skiffs to catch the scows. Nevertheless, we were close in the end, but I chose not to do my last lap in the fading winds, and hence went in for a cold drink. Iam Sim was first over the line, with Les the first skiff only 150m behind. Mark Robinson (Robo) was a leg or so behind as the first foiler and line honours winner as being the first boat to do four laps.

Heat 1 started in extremely light winds, but somehow I got enough wind to foil and pulled away for a comfortable lead from Les, Scott Babbage, Mic Boode then Robo.

The wind picked up a bit for the afternoon race of heat 2, but still very shifty and gusty. Scott, Robo and I changed the lead numerous times around the three lap race. Scott and Robo were quick uphill but I got them both downwind each time and won by a minute or so. Robo just got Scott on the line for second place. Other boats were a long way back, but they did have some very close racing and finishes. Luka Damic sailed extremely well to get fourth.

Heat 3 was very light winds again to the point you could not foil upwind at all, but all the foilers proved to be still quick. I think that I only foiled for two of the eight legs in total, but it was just enough to hold off Les on his low-rider for the win. Most of the other foilers finished not far behind the top low riders with the help of some wind on the last legs to the finish.

The second race of the day (heat 4) started in about 12 knots but a general recall sent us back for another start. Scott and Robo sailed well, but it was Scott that pushed me the most so far in this regatta to claim a close second, just behind me. During the race Andrew McDougall had a nasty crash smashing his rudder gantry into pieces. Luckily I had a spare for him!

The final race of the day (heat 5) was getting up to 15 knots which I lead basically lead to finish. Scott and Robo fought it out for second and third. This was the first race where I felt as tho I had finally resolved my rudder angle issues so the boat finally felt very fast upwind and downwind.

Another light wind day but this time Scott won heat 6 in the morning who sailed extremely well with a good run to the finish line just in front of me. I then decided to put up the big sail (MSL9) in the afternoon for another light air race which proved to be much faster around the course than the MSL11 (especially downwind in the light to moderate airs), resulting in a very comfortable race win from Scott and Robo. Chris Dey using a Hungry Tiger hull, Truflow sail and home made foils, is also proving to be very quick upwind to the first mark (was actaully first to the top mark on a few occasions), but the Fastacraft foilers and KA rigs pull away off the breeze.

In heat 8, I broke my spreaders before the start and went in to replace them with some borrowed aluminium ones, however I broke them too, so I borrowed a carbon Fastcraft set for the heat 9 in what was now 20-25 knots. I ended winning heat 9 by over two downwind legs from Scott. Robo won heat 8 from Scott also by a comfortable margin using his flatter MSL10 which was ideally suited to the conditions. There was also a lot of broken gear during the day which meant that some could not race the next day.

As a result of winning heat 9, I did not need to sail in heat 10 as this became my second drop for the regatta and consequently won my third Australian national title. Scott was comfortable for second place overall, Robo in third, Chris Dey in fourth, Les Thorpe in fifth and Luka Damic in sixth.

Results - www.moth.asn.au
Photos - www.flickr.com/photos/scott-b/