Archive for January, 2010

Rod Jones eyes 2010 National SB20 Championships in April

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Mooloolaba Yacht Clubs 2009 Audi Australian Ocean racing champion Rod Jones re-addressed his one-design sailing skills to win the Bronze medal in the Victorian SB3 Dart championship on Australia Day.

Jones who recently sold his title winning Archambault A40 Alegria made an eleventh hour decision to test his proven tactical racing skills in the championship with the option to race in the Audi SB3 Australian championship at Port Stephens from April 12-18.

The National championship already regarded as the feature event in the Sail Port Stephens Race Week promises to attract an International standard fleet including top English skipper Jon Shelly who steered Credo-Group.com to a convincing victory in the William Angliss Victorian championship over the Royal Geelong Yacht Club courses on Corio Bay.

Shelly a specialist one-design racing helmsman presently working in New Zealand had raced on Corio Bay before but was not happy with his result.

He was much happier last Tuesday when he and English husband and wife Chris and Clare Molloy enjoyed their escape from the harsh Northern Hemisphere winter to express their talent with an impressive six point win over Tasmanian Andrew Crisp while Rod Jones helmed Club Marine Blue into third overall 13 points ahead of OceanBuro business partner Kai Timm of Noosa in Club Marine White.

Kai Timm set the pace early winning the opening race by a comfortable 59 seconds from Rod Jones while Jon Shelly claimed the important third place points by a narrow 12 seconds from Andrew Crisp. Both Shelly and Crisp then became embroiled in a boat on boat match race where the Tasmanian Andrew Crisp showed he was no push over with his personal determination allowing him to overcome his maiden SB3 fleet racing challenge to eventually finish with the Silver Medal winning 4-2-2-1-3-4-1 score.

Crisp will certainly be among the pace setters at Port Stephens and is expected to gain further important fleet racing experience when the high standard fleet compete for title honours during the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta next month.

This series raced over the Middle Harbour Yacht Club courses will be the final evaluation trial before the tactical ‘dog fight’ begins at Port Stephens.

Meanwhile Rod Jones presently waiting the delivery of an exciting new blue water IRC class racing yacht from Spain will keep refining his skills with SB3 class racing.

His score of 2-7-4-5-2-2-2 at Geelong suggests he is not far off the pace to become a major medal contender at Port Stephens in April

But every new SB3 championship has a history of presenting different results within the format of high pressure one-design racing and both Rod Jones and Kia Timm are well aware that they need to limit the mistakes in tactics and technique to justify the respect from their rivals when the battle lines for the war on the water are drawn on the ideal courses at Port Stephens.

The ‘Cayman Islands’ City Racing Challenge 2010 Launch Party

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Please join us for the launch of The ‘Cayman Islands’ City Racing Challenge 2010 – a new sailing challenge. (more…)

Belgium’s Laser SB20 Class is Born

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

We live in a small country with a short coast line. Still, there are a few enthusiastic sailors that have chosen to buy an SB3, and they love it. Even if we have only seven boats registered at the moment, we felt it was time to create a proper association. Numbers will grow hopefully, but the very active boat owners that are already sailing, are a great starting point for this, the newest European class member.

The founders of the association are those current SB3 owners in Belgium, and the board will be chosen soon. We nominate Frank Scherrens for President of the class. He was the pioneer, being the first to buy the boat in Belgium and he has the perfect flair to run this in the coming seasons. Commodore of the RNSYC, Luc Maes,  will also be a board-member. The yacht club is supporting the new class, and we can use their facilities and secretary to function smoothly.

Of course we will celebrate this in our own familiar way…a good party…at the Belgian Boat Show, on February 12th in Flanders Expo in Ghent. Save the date!

For 2010, we will run four club races from our base in Ostend that are top fun, both on and off the water. The second Huysman 3-Nations Cup at the end of September promises to be even better than last year, and in June, we launch the Belgian Nationals. An exciting and busy schedule is planned…

We are surrounded by good neighbours that are making the class work all over the continent. 2010 looks like a good year with a solid race circuit on the agenda. To make the SB3 class even more international, everybody is encouraged to participate in a maximum number of events.

Watch out for those Belgians…they’re coming!

SB20 Victorian Championship – Britain’s Shelley and crew triumphant

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Jono Shelley and his crew of Clare and Chris Molloy have won the SB3 William Angliss Victorian Championship at Audi Victoria Week after another strong performance in this morning’s final race.

Two years ago the British team raced this event in the one-design SB3 keelboat class at Royal Geelong Yacht Club and had to be content with third place overall. This time around Shelley and his crew signalled their intentions to win from early in the series and went into today’s final racing with a handy eight point lead.

The Brits Abroad - Chris, Jonno * Clare

The Brits Abroad - Chris, Jonno * Clare

In this morning’s very light and variable conditions, Shelley’s Credo-Group.com placed third in Race 8, enough to clinch the title without having to sail the final scheduled race. In the event, the race committee decided to cancel Race 9, leaving Credo-Group.com six points clear of the Tasmanian entry Wedgewood, skippered by Andrew Crisp.

Crisp is new to SB3s, taking delivery of his boat just in time for the first race of this series, but the former 14ft skiff world champion must be a fast learner as he won two races of this series, including this morning’s tricky light air affair.

Shortly after the start, the breeze swung significantly to the south, turning the first beat into a port-tack fetch and the first run into a close reach. Wedgewood looked buried well back in the fleet, but managed to wriggle through on the second lap to a repositioned windward mark, while the breeze became even trickier with large lulls between new bands of pressure.

Credo-Group.com held third place throughout the race and was only narrowly pipped for second by Club Marine Blue, the third placegetter overall skippered by Rod Jones of Mooloolaba YC.

‘We worked out we only needed to finish in the top five to win the series,’ Jon Shelley said after crossing the line. Referring to the very light and shifty conditions, Shelley continued, ‘It was hard work though; was that a race?’

‘It’s great to win, especially on Australia Day,’ joked for’ardhand Clare Molloy, who like the rest of the crew, is British. She and her husband Chris now live in London, but Jono Shelley is currently living in Wellington, New Zealand for a work contract.

Racing in the 15-boat fleet was extremely close throughout the series. Fifth overall was Club Marine White skippered by Kai Timms of Noosa Yacht & Rowing Club (Qld), who runs the Australian Dart SB3 distributorship Oceanburo in partnership with Rod Jones.

‘The class is growing well now,’ Timms said while packing up the boats for transport to the next regatta on the class circuit, the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta at the start of March.

‘It has taken three years to get up to critical mass; we have 16 boats all going to the next regatta, and whoever steps in likes the boat enough to say they’ll buy a boat or charter one.

‘We’re getting more and more enquiries and we have some permanent charterers; we have a limited number of boats that can be chartered and we look after the transport between regattas.’

Timms said that part of the attraction is the world SB3 championship scheduled to be held in Geelong in early 2012.

The 2012 Worlds are definitely on the radar for this year’s SB3 William Angliss Victorian Championship winners, Jono Shelley and Clare and Chris Molloy. ‘We’re hoping to be back next year to defend the title,’ Clare Molloy said. ‘And we really want to be here in 2012 when the Worlds are in Geelong; that will be a great series.’

Grinning Winners

Grinning Winners

SB20 Victorian Championship – Commanding leader

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Jono Shelley and his crew of Clare and Chris Molloy hold a commanding lead after the third day of racing in the SB3 William Angliss Victorian Championship at Audi Victoria Week.

Shelley’s Credo-Group.com was again the outstanding boat in the 15-strong one-design keelboat fleet, racing from Royal Geelong Yacht Club in a light to moderate south-easterly breeze with many tricky wind shifts.

The first race was the lightest, and a major wind shift right at the start gave an advantage to the boats at the port end of the start line. Credo-Group.com was buried at the other end. ‘We were right down the pan, but we fought back to finish fifth,’ said Clare Molloy, who is sailing in the bow, while her husband Chris is in the middle and Shelley is helming.

Credo-Group.com went on to win the other two races of the day, in slightly stronger and steadier breeze. ‘We concentrated very hard on reading the shifts, which were still 15 or 20 degrees,’ Clare commented.

‘We have sailed together on and off for about four years now and we make a good team,’ said Clare, who was part of the third placed team at the 2008 SB3 world championships in Ireland.

The Credo-Group.com team are a multinational bunch, with skipper Jono Shelley hailing from the United Kingdom, but currently living in Wellington, New Zealand, while Clare and Chris Molloy live in London but British-born Clare lived in Melbourne for ten years and her husband Chris was born in Zambia.

Jono Shelley has returned to Royal Geelong Yacht Club for his second SB3 regatta on Corio Bay, having finished second overall in this regatta 2008. He is an experienced SB3 sailor and has placed in the top five in a number of big events in the UK, where the class regularly attracts fleets of 100-plus boats.

Today’s first race was won by Wedgewood, skippered by Andrew Crisp from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in Hobart.
Unlike Shelley and his crew, Crisp is a newcomer to the SB3 class, taking delivery of his new boat at the start of this series, but his previous sailing accomplishments include winning the 1989 world title in the 14ft skiff class. His crew includes ‘secret weapon’ James Jaffa, an experienced British SB3 sailor currently holidaying in Australia, and David Graney, one of Tasmania’s top sailors in the Dragon keelboat class.

Wedgewood’s 1-3-4 scorecard in today’s racing has allowed her to retain second overall, eight points behind Credo-Group.com and six points clear of Club Marine Blue, skippered by Rod Jones from Mooloolaba (Qld).

The first day’s winning skipper Kai Timms in Club Marine White is now lying fifth overall, a further eight points astern.

Two races are scheduled for the final day of racing tomorrow in the SB3 William Angliss Victorian Championships at Royal Geelong Yacht Club, with the first start from 9.35am.

‘It’s great to have an eight-point lead, but it’s never over until the finish of the final race,’ Clare Molloy said.

SB20 Victorian Championships – Three bullets to Shelley

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Three wins from today’s three races have lifted the New Zealand based British skipper Jono Shelley to the top of the leaderboard in the SB3 William Angliss Victorian Championships at Audi Victoria Week.

Shelley’s Credo-Group.com was the outstanding boat in today’s racing for the 15-strong one-design keelboat fleet, appearing to have a slight speed edge upwind in the puffy, light to moderate south-easterly breeze and confidently dodging the softer pressure zones both upwind and down.

Credo-Group.com had to fight to the finish to win today’s first race from Wedgewood, skippered by Andrew Crisp from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmanian in Hobart. Crisp is a newcomer to the SB3 class, but has had many successes in other classes, including 14ft skiffs and Dragons.

Wedgewood’s 2-5-2 scorecard in today’s racing has lifted her to second overall, seven points behind Credo-Group.com and five points clear of Club Marine Blue, skippered by Rod Jones from Mooloolaba (Qld).

Yesterday’s winning skipper Kai Timms, in Club Marine White, is now lying fifth after placing 6-10-8 in today’s tricky conditions.

Three races are scheduled for the third day of racing tomorrow in the SB3 William Angliss Victorian Championship at Royal Geelong Yacht Club, with the first start from 12.40pm.

Geelong Week: Day 1

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Kai Timm, Owen Muyt and Fred Blenke sailing Club Marine White got off to a great start in the SB3 William Angliss Victorian Championships at Audi Victoria Week, winning the first race by almost a minute in blustery winds on Corio Bay.

Second across the finish line, 59 seconds astern, was fellow Queensland entry Club Marine Blue, skippered by Rod Jones, followed another 59 seconds later by British skipper Jono Shelley at the helm of Credo-Group.com.

There was confusion at times during the race, which took the fleet of one-design keelboats on an 80-minute-plus passage including a lot of reaching legs around a series of fixed marks in Corio Bay. The remainder of the series will be raced on shorter windward/leeward courses.

Kai Timm said, ‘We were third to the first mark but then we took the lead on the second reach, because we were the only ones knowing where to go; while some of the other boats put up spinnakers and went too low.

Geelong Week Day 1 Teri Dodds

Geelong Week Day 1 Teri Dodds

‘We were leading by quite a margin but then we weren’t sure where the next mark was and Rod [Jones] caught up to us. We both got lucky and took first and second.’

Timm and Jones are the principals of Oceanburo, the distributor of the SB3 one-design keelboat class in Australia.

The Tony Castro-designed SB3 originated in the United Kingdom, where fleets of 100-plus boats are common. It is one of the most tightly restricted one keelboat classes in international racing, and is designed for minimal maintenance, easy trailability, and relatively low cost. The international class association’s stated philosophy is ‘to provide inclusive, high intensity, great fun, and easily attainable high quality racing for its members’.

Currently actively raced in nine countries and with fleets being developed in ten more, the SB3 class is growing fast overseas and within Australia, where the fleet of 15 boats racing at Audi Victoria Week demonstrates interest and the prospect of a world championship on home waters is encouraging further momentum. The 2012 SB3 world titles are scheduled to be held at Royal Geelong Yacht Club, following the 2010 world titles in July on Lake Garda, Italy, and the 2011 worlds in Weymouth, England.

Three races are scheduled for the second day of racing in the SB3 William Angliss Victorian Championships at Royal Geelong Yacht Club, with the first start from 12.40pm.

With one win under his belt, Kai Timm does not expect an easy ride for the remainder of the series.

‘The first five places are going to be hotly contested,’ he said. ‘Andrew Crisp has been very successful in other classes like the Dragons and B14s. Jono Shelley has been in the SB3s for the longest of all of us, and Rod Jones and his team are very experienced sailors.’

www.victoriaweek.com

Nathan Outteridge wins Audi car

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Young Australian Sailing Team sailor Nathan Outteridge came ashore at Waterfront City, Docklands tonight with an ear splitting smile – and why not, he had just won the Audi King of the Docklands and in doing so, will drive home to the NSW Central Coast in a brand new Audi A4 Avant, courtesy of Audi.

d_Scot20BabbageNathanOutteridgeandScottBabbagewiththeAudiA4Avant-AndreaFrancoliniAudipiclowres

Andrea Francolini Audi

Outteridge and his crew of gun Moth sailors Scott Babbage and John Harris, who is also an 18ft skiff world champion, helped the 2008 and 2009 49er world champion who finished second at the Worlds in the Bahamas earlier this month.

‘I couldn’t have done it without John and Scott – I couldn’t have picked two better guys; guys who are friends. I’ll be shouting them to dinner tonight,’ said Outteridge, who turns 24 at the end of the month.

‘It’s awesome the support that Audi gives to sailing. As an Australian Sailing Team member, I get to drive an Audi all the time, because they sponsor our team. I feel very fortunate for that,’ said Outteridge from Wangi Wangi on the Central Coast of NSW.

The young sailor, who could not wipe the smile from his face continued: ‘I’ve driven the Audi A4 station wagon; it’s awesome to drive and very fuel efficient. I’ll make the best of my new car.’

‘Congratulations to a great crew, you raced in difficult conditions. We are happy to be supporting such a great event and we thank Rod Jones and Oceanburo and Royal Geelong Yacht Club for their support,’ said Anna Burgdorf, General Manager, Corporate Communications, Audi Australia, as she presented Nathan Outteridge with the keys to his brand new silver Audi A4 Avant valued at $54,800 at Docklands this evening.

As part of his prize, Rod Jones from Oceanburo donated the use of an SB3 to the winner’s home club to use for two years. ‘Wangi Wangi has a lot of young upcoming sailors, they’ll really appreciate this generous prize,’ said Outteridge who let slip, ‘After sailing these boats I’d like to do the SB3 2012 Worlds if I can fit it in my program.’

Outteridge won both his heats to progress to the six boat final, which kept spectators holding their breaths. The two semi-finals were exceptionally aggressive, reminiscent of an America’s Cup action with plenty of pre-race tactics being played out on the course.

ABC’s Ian Cover and around the world sailor Nick Moloney gave blow by blow coverage from Waterfront City in breezes that were up and down, keeping all competitors on their toes until the final race in which the best six crews competed.

By the time the six teams hit the water, the breeze had faded to almost nothing and it was touch and go as to whether to abandon the race or not, but in the little breeze there was, the six moved at snail’s pace on the Victoria Harbour course with a crowd cheering them on.

A young Geelong crew skippered by Brendan Garner finished second, as both his father John and Nathan Outteridge’s father Tony looked on, seemingly relaxed.

Garner made a brilliant recovery after crossing the start ahead of time, forcing him and his crew Jake Newman and Tim Clark, to take a 360 degree penalty turn, leaving him well behind the other five. However, sailing to the second last mark of the course, the 34 year-old skipper caught some breeze and forced a Quest crew, skippered by Julian Plante, out of the podium running and into fourth place.

A crew skippered by legendary 18 and 16 foot skiff sailor, Peter Sorensen, who also sails sports boats, finished third. Sorensen also happens to be the second winner of the Audi IRC Australian Championship, driving home in an Audi in 2008. ‘Oh well,’ said the 60 plus year old, ‘you can’t win them all.’

Two other champion crews skippered by Heath Walters and Jock MacAdie, who is also in his 60’s, gave it their best and positions behind Outteridge changed constantly right to the end, thrilling onlookers.

Andrea Francolini Audi

Andrea Francolini Audi

King of the Docklands: Cruisers clash with grand prix sailors for Audi

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

It was no holds barred as those from cruising yachts to big multihulls to young teenagers from junior classes to grand prix sailors from Olympians to big boat racing winners rubbed hulls at the Audi King of the Docklands on the opening day of Audi Victoria Week this afternoon.

The clever ones waiting their turn watched from Docklands Waterfront City marina and tried to come to grips with the tricky shifty breezes that were anywhere from 5-12 knots, among them father and son combination, Jock and Hamish MacAdie from Melbourne, who like everyone else, are dead keen to win the major prize, an Audi A4 Avant and an SB3 keelboat, the class the knock-out style event is being sailed in.

After Jeff Wolff from Cruising Division 1 steered his crew to a win in Heat 1, the MacAdies had to take on the might of Olympic and Paralympic medal winning coach and champion sailor Adrian Finglas, who called tactics for young gun Sean O’Rourke.

In a thriller, the MacAdies split tacks with O’Rourke and their two other competitors and built what looked like a solid lead. However, the feisty team O’Rourke fought back and it was a nail biting finish with O’Rourke claiming honours and the MacAdies receiving a penalty from the on-water umpires.

However, the Melbourne father and son get another chance. They were among the heat winners last year when the event had to be cancelled due to gale-force winds. ‘We’re glad to have that escape card,’ said Jock this afternoon.

O’Rourke was pleased with his crew’s win: ‘It’s about racing in pressure and staying cool under pressure. We had our work cut out for us, but we came through,’ he said. The 20 year old said the trio would ‘take things as they come, one crew at a time,’ when asked who would be his main competition.

Next up was veteran skiff sailor, Peter ‘Sorro’ Sorensen and his crew including Martin ‘Tacker’ Thompson who said he was rapt when Sorro got off the start well and as they got further into the windward/leeward course, picked up the lead and increased to score a good win.

‘It got more shifty as the race went on and it got lighter, so it got harder and required more concentration. Sorro did a great job,’ said Thompson. ‘The SB3’s are great little boats – perfect for this type of sailing. It was a great crowd atmosphere here at the Docklands, I haven’t sailed here before and I’m looking forward to the final heats tomorrow.’

Thompson said of all the competition, the toughest would be Olympian and two-time world champion in the 49er class, Nathan Outteridge, who has just returned from winning silver at the 2010 49er Worlds in the Bahamas after winning back to back gold in 2008 and 2009.

‘He’s a great sailor and cool under pressure, and he’s got two champions sailors with him in John Harris and Scott Babbage, but we’ll be giving it our best shot.’

As the winner of the Audi IRC Australian Championship in 2008, Sorensen has already driven away in one Audi luxury vehicle. ‘Who says I don’t need another Audi,’ Sorro said this afternoon. ‘I’d love another one for my wife.’

The remaining heats of the Audi King of the Docklands will be sailed tomorrow afternoon, followed by the finals. Ms Anna Burgdorf, Audi’s General Manager, Corporate Communications will present the winner with the keys to the brand new A4 Avant tomorrow evening on the main stage at Waterfront City. The public is encouraged to attend.

Click here to see video clip Audi King of Docklands

SB20 Training Weekend with SailLaser

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

We have come to that time of year again where the season is about to start and for you SB3 sailors, the spring Series is looming and the events calendar in booming!  SailLaser are running their top class SB3 Race Training Clinic at the Hamble River Sailing Club.  (more…)

King of the Docklands – Who will wear the crown in 2010?

Friday, January 15th, 2010

The King of the Docklands starts off an action-packed week of racing at Audi Victoria Week starting January 21, when winners from each of the 19 competing divisions from the previous two years’ events gather at Waterfront City at the Docklands to take their chances.

A huge crowd gathered at Waterfront City last year to take in the fast and thrilling SB3 identical keelboats racing. Some of the world’s best known sailors crossed tacks with every day sailors – from young teenagers to the older generation – some of the latter giving the pros a lesson in sailing, having a better feeling for conditions on their home waters.

One of those was father and son combination, Jock and Hamish MacAdie from Melbourne, who did not let Jock’s recent hip replacement or Hamish’s sprained ankle; three cracked ribs and a perforated ear drum stop them!

The two, who will be back in better shape this year, were a little surprised by their winning performance last year. ‘We were up against the runners-up of the SB3 Nationals and the pre-race favourites to take home the prize, so we’re pretty pleased,’ father Jock said.

‘The SB3 is a fantastic little boat and it’s a great racing format. It’s good the organisers are inviting back those from 2008. We were one of the semi-finalists,’ he said.

In a major disappointment for all concerned, the 2009 King of the Docklands was abandoned due to severe weather conditions, but those crews that missed out get a second chance this year.

Event Coordinator Doug Jarvis commented: ‘We were devastated when the weather gods forced us to cancel. We’re installing a second tier semi final, which will see the winners of 2008 and 2009 race off for the prize.’

Not only is it cool to win the crown in this knockout series, similar to 20/20 cricket, at stake too is the richest prize in Australian sailing, a luxury Audi vehicle and a new SB3 keelboat.

A highlight of the Audi Victoria Week program, the event is sailed in the production SB3 boats with spinnakers, so everyone has an equal chance. Those with the best crew work and decisive minds will win.

In this ‘liquorice allsorts’ of the sailing world, players for this great spectator event include multihull sailor Rob Remilton, whose big Farrier F9r Wilparina II is a regular on the on the podium. All the way from SA, Remilton’s son Philip, a flying doctor pilot based in Alice Springs, will fly in to join his dad.

The ‘youngsters’ are well represented. Lachlan Stephens, currently sailing an International Cadet dinghy his father built, will take the helm for his team, as will Royal Geelong Yacht Club sailor William Kelly, who has competed in eight national titles and two worlds in the Cadet, a popular Youth class.

On the ‘Home Team’ are young RGYC sailors Brendan Garner, Jake Newman and Tim Clarke. These stars of the future were highly fancied last year, but came unstuck, perhaps nerves and a bit of stage fright. One year on, this crew will have matured and learnt from their mistakes of last time.

 
Victorious Alegria crew – 2009 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week -  Andrea Francolini – Audi ©   
Competing against them is the crew of Alegria, winners of the 2007 and 2009 Audi Australian Championship. In the crew is Adrian ‘Aidz’ Finglas. Alegria’s tactician is also an Olympic and Paralympic coach who helped bring home Paralympic Silver from the 2008 Games. He is also owns 11 Australian titles in various classes. Having represented Australia at Sailing and Triathlon world championships gives him an edge.

A third father and son crew with a proposed team name of ‘The Wicked Aliens’ could have what it takes. Mike and son Mark Welsh finished the Rolex Sydney Hobart in second place overall with their new yacht Wicked, but the mast came tumbling down on the way home to Victoria.

Veterans of Audi Victoria Week, where they are regulars on the podium, their former yacht was Alien – hence the team name. Along with crew Alex, the three have sailed together for over 30 years.

The larrikins on the little Thunderbird Larrikin II, skippered by Darren ‘the smiling assassin’ Pickering, could cause an upset. Crewed by his regulars, Stefan Treurniet and Bec Bohling, Pickering always has something up his sleeve and won’t disappoint. Bohling will be sailing on the SB3, Oceanburo Girls during Audi Victoria Week, so could be the guys’ secret weapon.

Mako Melges is the apt name of Heath Walters sports boat. Crewed by, Rob Brewer and Murray Walters, the three have a ‘take no prisoners; attitude in the Melges class at Audi Victoria Week each year and have multiple titles between them.

However, they will all have to deal with the talented multiple world and national champion Nathan Outteridge, who is looking down the barrel of a second Olympic campaign. He has gun sailors John Harris and Scott Babbage with him who own a few titles of their own.

Outteridge, who will turn 24 later this month, is a keen Audi fan, having been privileged enough to drive one as part of Audi’s sponsorship of the Australian Sailing Team. About as cool and calm under pressure as one could possibly be, Outteridge won the 2008 and 2009 49er World Championship titles and a week ago finished with the silver medal in the Bahamas.

The King of the Docklands, one of two Audi Victoria Week events to be held at Melbourne’s Docklands precinct, will be sailed on January 21 and 22, with live commentary from the incorrigible Ian Cover of ABC radio’s ‘Coodabeen Champions’ fame and Nick Moloney, a successful single and double-handed round the world yachtsman and long time Audi Victoria Week supporter from Melbourne.

www.victoriaweek.com

 

by Di Pearson, Audi Victoria Week

SB20 Form Guide Audi Victoria Sailing Week – Part 1

Monday, January 11th, 2010

With the absence of last years Geelong SB3 winner from the 2010 event, picking the 2010 champion is difficult. The fleet has seen significant changes from last year with new sailors joining the class, crew changes and the announcement of the 2012 Worlds coming to Geelong.

SB3's Line Up for Audi Voctoria Race Week

SB3's Line Up for Audi Voctoria Race Week

 
Club Marine White:
Skipper Kai Timm Odds:3-1

If this event and trophy were won simply by good preparation and time in the boat we wouldn’t need to write a form guide as we would have a clear winner; Kai Timm sailing in Club Marine White. He has easily spent the most time in the boat and competed against the best in the world. Unfortunately for him they don’t but he is still regarded as one of the top three sailors to take out the title.

Wedgewood:
Skipper Andrew Crisp Odds 3-1

This might be his first regatta in the boat but given the fact that he is an ex I14 champion and Dragon superstar he is sure to find the transition easy. He has already made his intensions clear stating that he is travelling from Tasmania to win the event, enough said!

Oceanburo UK:
Skipper Jono Shelley Odds 3-1

Appearing for his second time at Geelong Jono Shelley has done it all in the SB3! He is a familiar face at the front of the UK SB3 fleet and he has brought with him a World class crew. He is regarded by the rest of the fleet as the person to beat.

Audi Sunshine Girls A5:
Skipper Lauren Calder Odds 5-1

These girls fly in the light stuff and if the big breezes don’t appear they will certainly be in the mix. They are coming to Geelong with more experience and sharper skills and are dark horses.

Windsurfers on Tour:
Skipper Tom Rosoman Odds 5-1

The Bridesmaid from 2009 is likely to have passed his best. With the arrival of a new son, zero preparation, and no sailing since Geelong 2009 the fleet are expecting him to come in mid fleet. We think this is a safe assumption considering he will be racing with windsurfers onboard.

2010 World Championships Notice of Race – PUBLISHED

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Please download the Notice of Race for the 2010 World Championships. As ever, we would like to encourage you to enter as early as possible, this really will be a spectacular event and we look forward to seeing you all in Garda in July!

2010 SB3 Worlds NOR