2006 Australian Nationals
Sandy Bay Sailing Club, Hobart: 27 December 2006 - 4 January 2007
86 boats contested the Australian Championships on the Derwent Estuary over the Christmas/New Year period.
12 races were successfully completed in a variety of breeze strengths with occasional tidal and current influence.
New National Champions, with a very polished and consistent performance, are Tom Kelly (16) and Tristan Witty (8) sailing the Mark 3 Sure Thing from Royal Geelong Yacht Club in Victoria.
Tom and Tristan were only twice out of the top 5, saving their best till last with a down-to-the-wire victory in Race 12.
In second place by 10 points were Henry and Isabella Say from Sandringham Yacht Club in Victoria in Insayne, followed by locals Tom and Georgina Kennedy in Pour Quoi.
The prevailing breezes were unexpectedly from the east, which tended to discount any local advantage, although a range of wind strengths from 3 up to 23 knots provided opportunity for most crews to demonstrate their abilities.
The remaining members of the 2006 Australian Team (Sure Thing, Insayne, Drop Bears, Pelorus and Capricious) all placed in the top 10 with Lauren Thredgold also figuring as helm of her own boat See Ya to capture the Mermaid Trophy for top girl helm.
Victoria won the Tillet Teams Trophy from Tasmania, followed by South Australia and New South Wales.
At the end of the regatta the 2007 Australian Team to compete in the 60th Anniversary World Championships in Wales was announced:
- 5751 Sure Thing - Tom Kelly, Tristan Witty (Royal Geelong YC, Victoria)
- 9529 Insayne - Henry and Isabella Say (Sandringham YC, Victoria)
- 9012 Pour Quoi - Tom and Georgina Kennedy (Sandy Bay SC, Tasmania)
- 9520 Drop Bears - Elliott Noye and Ellie Chesterman (Sandy Bay SC, Tasmania)
- 9523 Brothers in Arms - Sam and Lewis Duncan (Sandringham YC, Victoria)
- 5712 Pelorus - Tom Ransley and Katie Hudson (Sandy Bay SC, Tasmania)
- 9528 Odyssey - Joel Aulich and Jarad Cavanagh (Sandringham YC, Victoria)
- 9551 See Ya - Lauren Thredgold and Sarah Mackinnon (Adelaide SC, South Australia)
- 6005 Capricious - Lucy Shephard and Lydia Newton (Sandy Bay SC, Tasmania)
- 4118 Skeeta - Callum Wilkinson and Jessica Sage (Royal Geelong YC, Victoria)
Tom Kelly is the Team Captain.
The 46th Australian Championship is to be hosted on 27th December 2007 by Tom’s home club, Royal Geelong on Corio Bay, south-west of Melbourne.
Full results can be found on Sandy Bay SC site