Metropolitan Championships Hunters Hill SC
Mina Ferguson Metro Champion – Photo Jon West
The Metro Championships were held at Hunters Hill Sailing Club over the weekend 6-7 March with over 80 boats competing.
The club is very strong especially in youth sailing. It has great facilities, enthusiastic volunteers, massive grassed rigging area, easy parking and great close to the action spectator viewing.
Winds for the series when averaged were from the south east at around 10 knots but were very variable in direction and strength providing some testing conditions. Sunday’s opening race was delayed for 90 minutes to allow the breeze to settle and only two races were able to be completed. Over the two days five races were run with one drop.
The racing at the head of the 4.7s was close with the first three separated by just two points. The winner was Hamish Gilsenan from Avalon SC just a point clear of Matthew Power from Canberra YC and another point to third placed local HHSC sailor Harry Ashton.
Racing was hot and close through the 40 boat Radial fleet with the top Australian women competitors filling seven of the top nine places. There were some strongly contested starts resulting in several black flags. The Radial winner was Australian Sailing Youth Team member
Mina Ferguson who sails at RSYS, Woollahra and Double Bay clubs. Mina also won the Under 17 youth category. She counted three wins and a second place to be one point ahead of Australian Sailing Squad’s Zoe Thompson from Royal Freshwater Bay YC in WA. Daniel Costandi from GRSC and DBSC was third just ahead of Australia’s selected Tokyo Olympic representative Mara Stransky from Royal Queensland YC. Daniel was also the first in the Under 19 youth category.
First in the Masters categories and 12th overall was Bruce Paine who is a Great Grand Master 55+. Bruce sails from Canberra YC so the variable winds were familiar to him. Bruce’s boat’s name is Boat of Pain which at times in this series must have seemed quite apt.
There was some very close racing in the 30 boat Standard rig fleet. The standout winner was Brett Bayer from WSC. Brett, in an incredibly consistent performance in the conditions, counted four wins with a third place drop for a big win. He was also first in the Masters’s category.
Second and the only one to win a heat from Brett was Belmont 16ft SC and Newcastle CYC sailor Tom Farley. Tom had a great series also winning the Under 21 category. Tom’s dad, Masters sailor Scott was also well placed at 12th so well done the Farley team. Third was Zac Skulander MHASC by a tie break from fellow Apprentice Master David Newman DBSC.
Thanks to Hunters Hill Sailing Club and its many volunteers for hosting this great series for us and to our Race Officer Andrew McLachlan for his orchestration of event on the water.
The full series results are HERE.
There are lots of photos by Jon West which you can view and buy on his web site at the links below.
Tom Farley Metros Runner Up & Did Someone Call Mark Room – Photo John West
