NB Sailsports State Championships Belmont

Matt Wearn on his way to winning the Standards – Photo by Jon West

The NB Sailsports NSW & ACT Laser State Championships were held over the weekend of 5-6 December at Belmont 16s Sailing Club.

Entries were COVID Safe limited to 120 with strong fleets of Standard (55) and Radial (57) and a small 4.7 (8). Olympic representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Belgium ensured some very competitive racing in the Standard and Radial fleets.

The weather on Saturday was forecast to be good and was anything but. 180 degree changes and mostly light and variable winds only allowed R.O. Andrew McLachlan to run two of the three scheduled races. Sunday had a terrible forecast but a good north westerly at 20 plus knots saw the three scheduled races completed – a pretty good breeze for a westerly.

In the Standards Australia’s and New Zealand’s Olympic representatives Matt Wearn and Sam Meech went head to head. Sam and fellow countryman George Gautrey had the upper hand on day one while Matt scored three bullets in the breeze on day two to take a one point win. Australian Sailing Team and Double Bay SC member Finn Alexander was a very consistent fourth.

In the Radials RSYS/DBSC’s Brook Wilson led after day one with a first and second. In the breeze on day two however Belgian Emma Plasschaert the 2018 World Laser Radial Champion scored two wins. Both however were eclipsed by Zoe Thomson from Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club WA. Zoe had a consistent series counting 1,2,2,2 to win by one point from Emma.  Australia’s Olympic Radial sailor Mara Stransky was just one point behind Emma in third counting a win and three 3rd places. Local Under 19 RSYS/GRSC/DBSC sailor Daniel Costandi was the sole male in the top seven places. He had a consistent series in the hot fleet.

Grand Master Pru Bennett RPAYC had a good win in the small 4.7 fleet. Pru sailed consistently for three bullets to second placed Under 16 Nathan Deng RSYS who won two races.

Thanks to the fabulous Belmont 16s club, to Sailing Manager Nadine Steenson and the volunteers, several of whom would normally sail in the event. Thanks also to the our R.O. Andrew McLachlan and to the club for allowing the event to proceed with COVID Safe rules in place.

The full results for the event are HERE.

Photographer Jon West has a huge number of photos which you can browse HERE and buy.

Mara Stransky with chasing Radial Fleet – Photo by Jon West