black flag
A star studded fleet took to the seas today for the Zhik Etchells 2012 Australian Championship being held off Pittwater and hosted by Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. With only eight races to the four-day event, for John Bertrand, Vince Brun, Tom King and Mark Langford it was a costly mistake as they all broke the line on a Black Flag start in the first race of the series.
For Bertrand, he is chasing a third national championship title, while Magpie’s Graeme Taylor and Steve Jarvin are keen for a successful four days and are hopeful for another positive result after recently taking out the State National Titles last year.
Unfortunately there was no chance for Bertrand, King, Brun and Langford or the remainder of the international fleet to turn their fortunes around with the second scheduled race cancelled. A fast moving storm cell out of the west with heavy rain and damaging winds, thunder claps and lightening, convinced the race committee to move the fleet inshore behind Barrenjoey to wait it out. By 1515 hours it was clear the storm was likely to stay in long enough to stop a second race getting safely finished, so the fleet was sent home for an early finish to the day. Nicole Scott was offshore to capture the fleet in race one. – Nicole Scott, Sailing Images. title thanks to the greatest American punk band ever.
