Samuel Treharne won every heat in the Sailboards
After four days of intense and highly competitive racing, the 2011 OAMPS Youth Week in conjunction with the Australian Mid –Winter Championships has come to close here in Brisbane.
The final day’s race was another challenge for athletes, as they battled the harsh and cold Westerly winds that built to around 20 knots today. However after two races on the Optimist and Double Handers course and three heats on the Laser course the winners for 2011 were crowned.
In the 29er class New South Wales sailors Harry Price and Nathan Edwards held their lead into the final races of the day to secure themselves the overall victory. “It was fun out there today punching into the chop, we had the boat going fast and flat it was lots of fun”. Edwards said. Coming in for second place was Tom Siganto and Joel Turner from Queensland who battled until the final race of the day for their position on the podium. Behind the Queenslanders was Victorian sisters Phillipa and Eliza Solly who came out with a race win in the final head of the day, to end a very consistent regatta.
On the laser course the strong 20-25knot Westerly winds separated the contenders as Queenslander Mitchell Kennedy punched back into the lead with a first, second and a third to round of his successful regatta. “It was awesome to final win this regatta, I’ve been second two years running and I’m just happy to finally win it”. Kennedy said. In second was fellow Queenslander Daniel Smith who sailed consistently within the top five throughout the regatta. Coming in for third and taking out the women’s division was Natasha Van Rennes from Victoria who led until the final days racing. The Laser 4.7 class was won by Ben Walkemeyer who dominated in the windy conditions today. In second was Nicholas Connor followed closely by Milly Bennet in third.
The large Optimist fleet today punched off the line in the shifty and gusty conditions to get through two heats to finish their regatta. The record fleet was highly competitive and racing was some of the best competition this year. Coming out on top was Australian Champion Chris Charwood who had a near perfect last two days. In second was James McLennan from Victoria narrowly defeating Jim Colley for third place.
On the double handers course the 420 class was taken out by experienced sailors James Brewer and Dylan Passmore who won every race in the series. Samuel Treharne from NSW also took out every heat in his racing on the Bic Techno sailboard and dominated his competitors. The Sabot class was won by Mathew Lang who won five out of eight races to secure his victory on the final day.
With a record number of entrants, challenging but mixed conditions, this years OAMPS Queensland Youth Week was one of the most competitive weeks of racing on the youth calendar this year.
Andrew Gough
Yachting Queensland