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The inaugural
Squaddy Brass Monkey Regatta held on Sydney Harbour
over 20-21 August attracted over 70 skiffs, dinghies
and catamarans representing 18 classes from 24
sailing clubs in New South Wales, the Australian
Capital Territory and Victoria. Classes ranged
from Flying Elevens up to Foiler Moths, 18 Foot
Skiffs, Historical Skiffs and A Class Catamarans.
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A large
fleet made for hectic racing
Photo by Glen Stanaway
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Sponsored by Dinghy Solutions
Sailing School, Southcorp Wines and Harken, the
event was conceived to be a late winter warm up
for sailors before the onset of the summer sailing
season and a fun way for different classes to
mingle, promote themselves and race against each
other.
Sydney Flying Squadron, Australia’s
oldest open boat sailing club, is thrilled with
the success of the regatta and is already planning
next years event. It won’t be long before
it becomes a tradition that will compliment the
clubs already rich history.
On the water conditions were
difficult on Day 1, a fresh and gusty westerly
breeze tested competitors and their boats around
the gated windward/leeward course. Nearby Fort
Denison weather station recorded 15-25 knots with
a maximum gust of 28 knots during race time. This
caused a high level of retirement and plenty of
exciting viewing for the packed spectator ferry.
The Cherub class shone on
the day providing some blistering rides down the
course while some of the bigger skiffs struggled
to keep hold of their larger sail area in the
gusts. The F16, F18 and A Class catamarans were
fast, but also provided some spectacular nosedives.
The two winners in Division
1 were Dave Elwers in an A Class Catamaran in
race 1 and Nigel Littlewood, 49er “Rivkin
Report”, in race 2, both were runners up
in the race they did not win. In Division 2, current
Interdominion 12 foot skiff champion Nick Press
steered “Yabba Dabba” to a win in
Race 1, with Victorian Alan Vickery taking out
race 2 in his International 14 “WAM”.
Dominating Division 3, James Birdsall’s
cherub “In Gods Hands” won both races.
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Victorian
Alan Vickery enjoying conditions on Sydney
Harbour
Photo by Glen Stanaway
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On Sunday the westerly breeze
moderated and varied from 10 knots down to a millpond
at times. The 49ers took out Division 1, Olympic
coach and former world Moth champion Emmett Lazich
won race 3 in “Morpheus”, Olympian
Clynton Wade-Lehman beat him by a narrow margin
in Race 4.
Richie Reynolds sailed his
B14 “The Nude”, to a double win in
Division 2. Division 3 saw Hugh Tait sail “Ram
Raider” an NS14, to a win in race 3 and
“In Gods Hands” got another bullet
in Race 4.
The overall winner was awarded
a mounted brass monkey. True to the spirit of
the event, this was awarded to the best on-water
effort as spotted by the race committee. The Cherub
“Camel Toe”, sailed by Adam Forbes
took the ugly monkey home after being clocked
at 20 knots whilst passing the capsized 12 foot
skiff interdominion champion.
The Dinghy Solutions skiff
training course prizes were awarded to Manning
River Flying Eleven sailors Andrew Diessel and
Mischka Luzius, Cherub crew Kurtis Warner &
NS14 crew Tess Bartels.
Overall Results:
Division 1
1st "Red", A Cat, 26.75; 2nd "Bling
Bling", A Cat, 41; 3rd "Morpheus",
49er, 50.75
Division 2
1st "The Nude", B14, 8.5; 2nd "WAM",
I14, 11.75; 3rd "Yabba Dabba", 12, 45.75
Division 3
1st "In Gods Hands", Cherub, 4.25; 2nd
"Camel Toe", Cherub, 14; 3rd "Max
Power", Cherub, 24
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