Metropolitan Championships HHSC Wrap
Sylvie Stannage in control in ILCA 6s
The Metropolitan Championships were held at Hunters Hill Sailing Club over 8-9 March weekend. the weather gods were with us providing 10-13 knot ESE on Saturday and more squirrely and a knot or two more from ENE on Sunday.
The 70+ sailors enjoyed the conditions and avoided close encounters with the ferries and maritime party people and rev-heads. Commodore Ben Howell and the folks at HHSC did a great job on the water, on the launching ramp and in the canteen. Our stalwart RO Andrew McLachlan as always made the best use of the waterway and had the nine races running like clockwork. The incoming tide running against the start meant less airing of the black flag and only a few OCSs.
The event was sailed in three class fleets 25 in each of ILCA 4 and ILCA 6 and 22 ILCA 7s. It was difficult to avoid the tide except on the sides of the Parramatta River and there the wind was less kind so the fleets wisely chose their course to stay on the lifted tack as far as possible.
In the ILCA 6 top local sailor Sylvie Stannage dominated taking four bullets and a second. GM Bruce Savage from MHASC posted a 2,1,1 for a leading position on day one and finished second overall. Bruce was first GM in the Australian Masters at Westernport last month. Third was up and coming RPAYC/DBSC sailor Charlie Byford. Charlie was first Under 19 as well. Another Master GGM Lyndall Patterson RPAYC was 4th overall. First Under 17 was Raphael McLachlan DBSC.
The ILCA 4s went down to the wire. In the last race either of local sailors Harper Spacey HHSC/DBSC or Zac Howell HHSC could have won. In the end they finished even on points with Harper taking the win on a countback. Harper was first Under 18 and Zac was first Under 16. RQYS sailor Blair Dobson was third.
Daniel Costandi GRSC/BDSC was the clear winner in the ILCA 7s counting three bullets and two second places to finish ahead of Thailand Olympic representative Arthit Romanyk and Campbell Patton DBSC/RBYC/RSYS. First Under 21 was new graduate to ILCA 7 Healy Ryan who finished a creditable 5th. 4th and first Master was GM Brett Beyer WSC. Brett won the Oceania & Australian Masters GM in February and is the current World ILCA GM Champion.
Lots of photos of the event thanks to HHSC volunteers are Here.
Gusty and tricky winds at the top end of the course
