By Ian Grant.
A critical gust of wind at the wrong time proved to be a deciding factor in deciding the Audi King of Docklands SB3 ‘Skins’ match racing championship in Melbourne last weekend.
There are always some hard luck stories in this type of intense one design match racing and the Sunshine Coast crew of Sean O’Rourke and Greg MacAllansmith who were racing with multiple World champion and Olympic Laser representative Glenn Bourke of Hamilton Island have one to tell.
As the story unfolded they were engaged in a tactical arm-wrestle with the eventual winning crew helmed by Nathan Outteridge when the flapping spinnaker hit the rounding mark forcing skipper Bourke and his Club Marine Blue crew to execute a penalty turn.
“We went for a late drop (of the spinnaker) thinking we might get Nathan on an overlap at the mark but a big gust hit us and the kite (spinnaker) got away”. Bourke conceded.
Experienced observers unanimously agreed the error and time consuming penalty executed in the 20 knot South West breeze proved the difference between Nathan Outteridge and Glenn Bourke winning the highly competitive series and the prize of driving an A 1 courtesy of regatta sponsor Audi for the next 12 months.
Although they suffered a narrow defeat the Queensland crew who were racing together for the first time had good reason to be happy with their result.
The regatta also proved to be an important tactical exercise for Sean O’Rourke and Greg MacAllansmith as they prepare for the upcoming Audi SB3 Australian fleet racing championship at Port Stephens before heading to England to compete in the 2011 World championship with their normal skipper Rod Jones.
Jones who introduced this exciting class to promote One-design sports boat racing in Australia again gained significant awareness with nip and tuck racing providing a high degree of action for the spectators who lined the Docklands waterfront to witness the aquatic style Grand Prix.
He has now successfully laid the foundation for the exciting SB3 sports boat to gain increased fleet numbers with a strong line up racing regularly off Mooloolaba and this number is expected to increase with the 2012 World championship to be hoisted at Hamilton Island in late December.
As expected the opportunity to contest a World championship in the Whitsunday Island trade winds has attracted a number of interesting entries including the all female Sunshine Coast crew skippered by Lauren Calder.
Calder has raced at the World championships before and showed that her young Mooloolaba Yacht Club crew have developed an aggressive tactical attitude to counter their male rivals.
“We know the rules and are happy to shout and protect our space”. She said.
This tactical maturity was revealed when the Audi Sunshine Girls finished a creditable 6th in the Wild Oats trophy series at Hamilton Island.