Finale
On the Farm we went out pretty relaxed, had a few laughs and got the result. We knew the wind was going to disappear and were quite surprised they started the race, so we were very focused on being in front at every mark as we expected the shorten course. Not a bad regatta all told for the effort we put in. A big thanks to the guys at Zhik for the gear. Next time its up to Hamilton Island for the World Champs.
The final race of the Ronstan 505 Australian Championships unfolded exactly as expected on the weather front. A northerly in the morning that faded to zero, 40 minutes after the 10.30 start. There was 1 point between three boats, (Carter Jackson/Jordan Spencer , Kev Cameron and Ken Webber, plus the Peoplebank boys Dan Keyes and Daryl Roos) fighting for second with another, 5 points further back to Nick Deussen and Jonno Bannister.
Kev and Ken were first out of the gate with Jackson and Spencer above. These two rolled to cross the fleet, though Earle Alexander and Ian Gregg came from wide right to round second from Jackson/Spencer. These two got caught by a 30 degree shift and were late on the gybe. Kev and Ken took the lead and rolled onto starboard in a very light wind straight into the tide, Jackson and Spencer rolled a few further boat lengths along, with the rest of the fleet hitting the right corner to get out of the tide. Then the wind died completely. Jackson and Spencer managed to keep their boat moving whilst all others were stationary. Two bangs signalled a shortened course. Jackson and Spencer kept it rolling and managed to coast over the line, before new breeze filled from the left, bringing Hamish Jarrett and Chris Pearson in to claim second with Kev and Ken getting third.
So overall Michael Quirk won his third Australian Championships in the 505 with Simon Reffold gaining his first, Carter Jackson and Jordan Spencer second and Kev Cameron and Ken Webber third. Results http://www.int505.org.au/
Cheers
Jfunk
