Brisbane Monday January 4th 2010.
The World’s leading International Contender Class skippers were forced to mend some wounded pride when a gusty Southerly and the notorious Waterloo Slop turned the opening day of the Australian and Pre-World championship into a demolition derby today.
Only 28 from the nominated fleet of 55 managed to complete the heat which featured a close tactical contest between Queensland Champion Matt Mulder and Italian Andrea Bonezzi before Matt Mulder gained a vital break late in the race to score a 30 second win over Bonezzi while Victorian Jono Neate finished third another 1 minute 55 seconds off the pace.
There was an unusually high rate of pre-start capsizes when the first of several 25knot gusts blew over the course leaving five skippers the reluctant choice to retire early while the rate of retirements continued after several more experienced wild wipe outs and uncontrolled broaches.
Matt Mulder has experienced similar conditions on his home club course over the exposed Waterloo Bay before and clearly showed his respect when his dinghy speared into and through the confused sea state in what proved to be a supreme test of fresh wind sailing in the flighty trapeze dinghy.
He too experienced sailing on the edge when his dinghy Chewbacca plunged awkwardly into several waves on the demanding reaching legs of the course.
However he managed to survive winning the heat from Italy’s Andrea Bonezzi and Jono Neate while the remainder continued to struggle to complete the course and keep their respective title prospects alive.
“It was tough and became tougher with the messy ‘slop’ playing a big role in the result, I’m happy but there is still a long way to go”. Matt Mulder said.
The marginal sailing conditions which peaked above 25 knots in several gusts ultimately forced race officials to abandon the second heat after several skippers ‘hit the ditch’ spearing their masts into the muddy sea-bed and reluctantly sailing off the course with a conspicuous ‘Choc Top’.