Light winds and shifty conditions made for tough racing today on Moreton Bay. With a delayed start due to a lack of breeze, the fickle wind build and shifted to the North east and racing finally started.
The large 29er fleet was hotly contested today as Joel Turner and Tom Siganto were knocked out of prime position by New South Wales sailors Harry Price and Nathan Edwards, who sailed extremely well today with two straight bullets in the light air. Sitting in second is Lochie Robba and Alex Ker who have been consistent throughout the regatta staying within the top three. Sisters Phillipa and Eliza Solly enjoyed their favourable conditions and held their solid position in third overall.
On the Optimist course and Chris Charwood proved why he is the raining Australian Champion with a fourth and a first today, bumping him into pole position coming into the final day. Narrowly behind Charwood is Victorian James Mclennan who leads third placed Jim Colley from New South Wales.
On the Laser course there were major changes to the leader board as the shifty conditions demanded physical and mental strength, from all competitors. Pushed down into second place today was Queenslander Mitchell Kennedy who struggled to find his groove in the trying conditions. In top position is Natasha Van Rennes from Victoria, who respectfully now leads the female and open division’s. Into third place is Queensland Sailing Team member Daniel Smith who had a win in the first race of the day.
Tomorrow is a brand new day, and the prediction is for Brisbane’s strong westerly winds that are renowned for their shifty nature, to test sailors. The final races of this year’s Queensland Youth Week will be ferociously contested, as the top youth sailors from Australia battle it out for a position on the podium at the end of tomorrows racing.
Andrew Gough
Yachting Queensland