2009 “World Match Racing” champions, Black Match Racing from New Zealand, were unavailable to attend but six local teams contested the Cairns Yacht Club inaugural “J24 Match Racing Championships” held over two days of the Easter weekend.

The Briefing at 9am on Saturday was held between light showers of rain. The sun did make a brief appearance.

A windward / leeward course was set on Trinity Bay adjacent to the southern end of the main shipping channel, in light southeast breeze on flat water. Although the tides were neap, fresh water run off from a week of rain, produced a swift out going current. To avoid this current, the port side of the course looked to be the fastest way to the top mark.

As this was the first time match racing for most of the sailors, these first few races presented a huge learning curve. Some crews preferred to stay clear of their opponent and try to sail in clear air, others taking a more aggressive philosophy to dominate and control their opponent and the contest.

After a barbeque lunch the combatants returned to the course area to find the wind had increased to 12-15 knots with more persistent rain. The enthusiasm of the sailors was not dampened, as witnessed by some close quarters boat handling and race tactics improving. By the completion of the first day racing Gordo’s CROCS team sailing a newly refurbished “Passions of Paradise” dominated, with 5 wins from 5 contests. The other teams finished with varied results, but all happy with this concept of one on one racing in identical boats: GRUMBLES skippered by Troy, had 3 wins, OLD FELLAS skippered by Glen Busby, 3 wins.

Sunday morning dawned through light constant rain. Revitalized crews mustered for the pre race briefing which included advice on correct pre start positions. Each team drew for a different boat for the second day of sailing.

Out on the race course in 12-15 knot S.E. wind and light rain, a huge improvement in skills and tactics was witnessed from the first pre starting signal. Two sets of races were held prior to lunch. Bendigo Bank suffered a breakage in the first race to put a end to their morning but were able to line up for the final session of races after lunch.

With a steady 12-15knot S.E. breeze greeted the sailors after lunch but eased off as the afternoon progressed. Each boat contested 5races on Sunday with some extremely close boat manoeuvres and some skippers excelling in their grasp of match racing tactics from pre start  to dominating windward works to buoy rounding’s.

Only a couple of crews flew kites on the short down wind legs but those who were able to perfect their spinnaker handling received good rewards in boat speed over their opponents. The great advantage of short course racing is that it doesn’t mater how you performed in one race you are quickly back at the start line to face another contestant. The format was very lively and well received by the participants. Each Flite, involving three match races and three staggered starts, took approximately an hour and a half before the next flite of three races was commenced

After 10 races over two days CROCS (8wins) skippered by Godon Reliegh  held on to win the Championship from a fast finishing GRUMBLES (7wins) skippered by Troy Walker.
A tie was declared for third place with OLD FELLAS skippered by Glen Busby and BRADBURYS skippered by Ian Balchin Equal on 6 wins.

Although this series was organized at short notice all the participants agreed it was a valuable way to learn crew team work, improve sailing skills and close quarters boat handling. It is hoped this event will become a regular feature of the North Queensland Sailing Calender.

To run a successful event like this one takes a huge amount of effort.

Thank you to the  Cairns Yacht Club,

Race Organisers, Starters, Umpires, Officials & Volunteers.

NQ Sailing, J 24 sponsors – Passions of  Paradise
Norship
Bendigo Bank
Cairns Ports
Asian Foods
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