After a closely fought last day, Angus Galloway and Alex Gough took out the Queensland 420 Championships for 2010. With a 15 – 20 knot gradient South Easter on the first day, Gough and Galloway won all three races, with consistent speed and tactical decisions.
pre race speed test
Helm Angus remarked on the day’s racing “…it was good to get out there to set up the new rig and test out some gear, and by the end of the day the boat and gear felt sorted…” Volunteering on the course for his first time was current 470 world champion Mathew Belcher, who found time to overlook racing and share his experience with the athletes after the first of two days sailing.
Coming into the second day the Queenslanders dominated interstate competitors from Victoria and New South Wales. With a similar day predicted the teams were greeted by a shifty North East gradient at 5 -10 knots. The 10 boat fleet headed out onto Waterloo Bay and prepared for a second day of tight and competitive racing. All competitors agreed that it was great to see so many women’s teams in this years event. The Qld women’s team of Eloise Brake and Jamie Ryan took two wins straight up to be chasing training partners and regatta leaders Galloway and Gough.
With one point separating first and second, the two Queensland teams headed into the last race. Galloway and Gough secured the win taking home for the third year in a row, the Queensland State Championships. This regatta proved to be a good warm up for teams, as athletes prepare for a tough national circuit for 2010.
With the championships ending, the Queensland team now moves into the internationally renowned SailDownUnder series with Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron the hosts of Sail Brisbane 2010 from the 28th – 3rd of December.
Andrew Gough
