What a weekend of sailing! Tasar sailors from all around Victoria with also a boat from Canberra and a boat from Albury, NSW came together at Western Port Yacht Club, Balnarring, for a super Tasar Victorian Championships.
The forecast was for high twenty and low 30 degrees and light winds, but luckily the forecasters got it slightly wrong. The temperatures were correct, but we managed to get a good mix of wind to make sure everyone had "their" conditions.
The first day was sailed in a predominately easterly breeze with the first race in about 8 knots, but heat 2 and 3 in mid teens. The Doppio boys have had a successful year sailing with Peter Hackett skippering and Chris Dance crewing, but decided to swap for this regatta. This new arrangement saw them with two firsts and a third to take the first day of the regatta by the scruff of the neck.
Day 2 was a more variable day with an offshore Northerly blowing from 6-15 knots. Although quite light at times, still saw some great reaches for everyone to stretch their legs. The old "Grand Masters" and current National Champions, Paul and Bronwyn Ridgway came back at the Doppio boys with two firsts and a second to finish the day with a 4 point lead. Newly weds Peter Ellis and Charlotte Birbeck also were on the move with a big win and a second, to sit in equal second.
Day 3 started off interestingly with a variety of wind forecasts, but the fleet were greeted by 25 knots from the North. With some damaged boats, and some boats heading to Tasmania, the PRO sent the fleet in. After waiting on shore the breeze dropped and came around to the South at 15 knots, enabling the PRO to get only one of the two races scheduled. Chris and Peter had a great start and led around the first mark with the Ridgways in close pursuit with Micah Shuwalow/Kate Goss and Mark Tonner Joyce/ Monica Tonner. Chris and Peter tried to slow the Ridgways down to try and get a few more boats between them, but were unable to achieve their aim, allowing the Ridgways to reclaim their state championships (and the Grand Masters trophy).
The top three boats sailed extremely well, and had quite a points advantage on the rest of the fleet, but the Ridgways showed a little more class to always be in the top few and thoroughly deserved the win. The fleet of 39 entries, included a number of newcomers, some of which sailed extremely well in their first Tasar regatta.
A big thank you to Ronstan as the major sponsor, and Felco as a sponsor, and also to Western Port Yacht Club and the PRO, Cameron Cantley Smith, who put in a big effort to make the regatta the huge success it was.
Click here for the 2014 Ronstan Victorian Championship Results
Click here to download the Notice of Race
Click here to download the Sailing Instructions
Click here to get all the photos on flicker