Glenn Bourke the former Olympian and Laser class World champion has successfully made the transition to the strict art form of SB3 Dart one design racing by winning the Victorian championship on Geelong’s Corio Bay last weekend.

The master tactician took a break from his busy day time job as CEO of the Bob Oatley owned Hamilton Island Resort to team up with his Sunshine Coast crewmates Rod Jones and Greg MacAllansmith in the high performance sports boat Club Marine Blue.

They were in similar dominating form last August winning the Queensland championship on the more familiar courses set for the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

However the Club Marine Blue crew who are currently ranked fourth in the World following the 2011 World championship in England were forced to be selective in their race strategy in the tricky conditions that were presented on Corio Bay.

Their eventual 12 point championship winning margin from the best 10 races to count included 8 wins clearly showed that the Club Marine Blue crew again set another high standard in this demanding class where a minor blemish in the important human related skills of tactics and technique mean the difference between winning and finishing back in the pack.

During a post regatta interview Glenn Bourke said, “It comes down to tactics. This was an odd regatta in that quite often the corners paid, and I’m not a corner type of guy. But eventually the conservative option, taking the shifts in the middle and chipping away, won out”.

“You have to be in phase (with the wind) when it’s shifting that much we were in phase more often”.

“Thousands of races over the course of a career bashes what’s right and wrong into you. Then if you have a little bit of natural ability coupled with that it helps”. He said.

This win was an impressive result achieved by the exceptionally talented Club Marine Blue crew but that regatta is now history as they prepare to contest the open Australian championship on the equally tricky River Derwent on the 18^th to the 20^th of February.

The trio of Club Marine Blue sailors who all play an important individual role in the results will be forced into employing a different set of tactics to master the skill and local knowledge possessed by  Hobart idol and former World Dragon class champion Nick Rogers.

Rogers like Glenn Bourke is a talented tactician and has the logged the ‘hard miles’ in a career spanning a number of strict one design classes which allows his Tasmanian crew to share the top of the pre-championship betting order with the Queensland and Victorian champions in Club Marine Blue.

Interest will also focus on the performance of class ‘rookies’ including former Sydney Hobart Race winning skipper Roger Hickman.

Hickman from Tasmania and Chris Dare from Victoria are the latest high profile sailors who have career plans in place to be on the pace when the battle lines are drawn for 2012 SB3 World Championship at Hamilton Island from December 18-20.

When Australia’s SB3 sports boat crew of skipper Glenn Bourke, Rod Jones and Greg Macallansmith finished a close 4^th in the 2011 World championship in England they made a personal commitment to win a medal at the 2012 series at Hamilton Island later this year.

They have plans to set the benchmark in Australian fleet racing at the 2012 Australian championship on the tricky River Derwent next month before contesting the Queensland championship during the Southport Yacht Club Sail Paradise regatta in March.

In actual fact their sailing wet suits will have little time to dry out with the Club Marine Blue racing team nominated to contest all of the major class regattas in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland with the month of May the only period left vacant in their racing diary.

The trio of talented one-design sports boat sailors were in brilliant form when they recorded a runaway win in the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week series on the windy Dent Passage course last August.

Glenn Bourke a former Australian Olympic Laser class helmsman and CEO of the international standard Hamilton Island resort expressed his skills with his Sunshine Coast crewmates Rod Jones and Greg Macallansmith has set a promising challenge in place to end the high performance English sailors domination at the past four World championships.

This will not be an easy assignment but the Club Marine Blue crew promise to press home a decisive local course advantage when the first World championship to be decided in the Southern Hemisphere is contested in the warm tropical Whitsunday Islands from December 12-20.

Meanwhile the exciting standard of fleet racing in Australia has attracted the attention of the exceptionally talented skippers Nathan Outteridge and Matthew Belcher who have been selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Olympic regatta in London later this year.

Both skippers have shown an interest in being on the starting line at the 2012 World championship with Matthew Belcher and his 470 class Olympic team mate Malcolm Page gaining valuable fresh wind sailing experience during the 2011 Queensland championship at Hamilton Island in August.

The high performance Club Marine crew are excited about the opportunity to race against a number of the World’s high profile sailors including the Olympians Nathan Outteridge and Matthew Belcher and World Dragon class champion Nick Rogers from Tasmania plus the defending champion Geoff Carveth of England.

After winning the State championship in August Glenn Bourke said “We were happy with a strong result from a fresh wind regatta which tested our skill and endurance”.

“However that result is history and our attention will now be focused on being physically and mentally prepared to be on the pace for the World championship”.

That long campaign starts in the cooler latitudes of Tasmania next month where local idol Nick Rogers is expected to be the pacesetter when the strong fleet of SB3 sailors test their tactical reputations to become the 2012 Australian champion.

Teenage Whitsunday Sailing Club 420 class sailors Klaus Lorenz and Ollie Annear overcame the important lack of class experience to finish 10^th in the OAMPS Australian Youth championship on the windy Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron courses earlier this month.

Klaus has always shown exceptional talent with a dedicated training program to climb the ranks in the Australian Optimist Dinghy class and was not out of his depth steering his dinghy Drag Queen to a deserved top ten result.

He had a soul searching decision to make regarding his future career after finishing with the Bronze Medal at the Australian Optimist Championships hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in 2011.

The time had arrived for the talented tropical water sailor to step up to a class which would not only offer a competitive one-design racing environment but also provide the young skipper and his long term school mate Ollie Annear with the opportunity to race against the best 420 crews.

Because of their age they had that Optimist dinghy racing with the Whitsunday Sailing Club fleet was over and accepted the challenge of combining and improving their individual skills in making sure they were on the pace in the Olympic trainer 420 class.

Both Klaus and Ollie were excited after announcing the decision in August and just five months later they gave notice that Drag Queen was on the pace in spite of training alone on Pioneer Bay.

“Racing in the 420 class was an easy decision to make, however both of us understand the challenges that are ahead but we are young and prepared to do the hard yards”. Klaus Lorenz said last August.

Klaus and Ollie are not only school friends but great mates with a personal dedication to help each other to become recognized as North Queensland’s best young sailors.

Judging by the results of finishing 8^th in the Open Australian championship and 10^th in the OAMPS Youth championship the Drag Queen crew are destined to achieve their goals in 2012.

They have learnt that boat preparation and endless hours of training to improve their boat skills have overcome the lack of racing regularly in big fleets.

Meanwhile the testing waters of Pioneer Bay will become the important test bench for the promising 420 class racing team who will be focusing their careers on becoming selected to represent Australia at a future World Youth championship.

Leo Rodriguez and his dedicated crew onboard Merit sailed a physically tough 628 nautical miles to Hobart on a special mission of loyalty for a lost mate.

They dedicated the race to well known Sydney Hobart race sailor Nick Wells who passed away in November.

Nick Wells besides being a respected friend of Merit’s skipper and numerous other Sydney Hobart race sailors was a line honours winning crew member on the yacht Tasmania in the 50^th anniversary blue water classic.

“We made the decision to dedicate our race to Nick, a gesture that was appreciated by his son and Merit crew mate Ben”. Leo Rodriguez said.

Unfortunately their bid to win a second Hobart Race Performance handicap class title suffered a major setback when the fleet faced the fury of the ‘Southerly Buster’.

Merit a former Volvo Globe race sloop built to handle the rough stuff including the fresh and frightening winds and growling seas suffered a critical tear to her main and while the headsail was also damaged during the blow.

Apart from the damaged sails the race for the Merit crew was not without incident with Leo Rodriguez bearing a facial scar after being struck by a food container during the hobby-horse type slog towards Hobart.

However while Merit was slowed due to the sail damage her crew remained focused on finishing the race and completing their personal tribute to Nick Wells.

The crew were further tormented when Merit became motionless for almost six hours in the normally windy Storm Bay before they finally completed the race with a relatively slow 6.6knot average and an elapsed time of 3 days 22 hours 55 minutes 28 seconds.

“Usually rounding Tasman Island is a highlight but unfortunately we became ‘parked’.

“Merit is a boat that sails best in heavy weather and we just didn’t have that”. He said.

There was the expected jubilant celebration on the deck of the Anthony Bell owned Sydney maxi Investec Loyal when she claimed a narrow 3 minute 8 second line honours win over Wild Oats X1.

Both crews had little rest during their 628 nautical mile match race where the lead changed on several occasions before the Loyal Foundation team claimed the closest line honours result in 29 years with the faster .299 seconds per nautical mile elapsed time.

A quick email to let you all know that LEG 5 will commence, departing Brisbane 4am 28th December 2011.  Both the KA-5 Australia and KA-14 Steak n Kidney will be making way for Sydney, in preparation for the New Years Eve fireworks celebration 31st Dec.

There are still several places available for delivery crew.  if you’re looking to participate NOW is the time.  Both yachts will be departing 4am 28th Dec.  Contact Benjamin Morgan on 0415 577 724 to discuss crewing.

DELIVERY INFORMATION**

LEG 5:  Brisbane to Sydney Harbour

475 Nautical Miles – Average Speed 7kts – 67.85 Hours Sailing

DEPARTING 4AM 28th DECEMBER 2011

*** CREW POSITIONS STILL AVAILABLE – CALL 0415 577 724 ***

Brisbane Rivergate Marina to Brisbane River Channel Entrance
Brisbane River Channel Entrance to East Channel
East Channel to Cowan Point
Cowan Point to East Channel
East Channel to North Point (Moreton Island)
North Point to Flat Rock
Flat Rock to Cudgen Head
Cudgen Head to Cape Byron
Cape Byron to Abeam Ballina
Abeam Ballina to Abeam Coffs Harbour
Abeam Coffs Harbour to Abeam Port Macquarie
Abeam Port Macquarie to Seal Rocks
Seal Rocks to Nelsons Bay
Nelsons Bay to Abeam Newcastle
Abeam Newcastle to Sydney Heads
Sydney Heads to Darling Harbour

Best regards,

BENJAMIN MORGAN

President – Australian 12m Historic Trust

australian12m.com

Mobile: 0415 577 724

Email:  benmorgan@australian12m.com

PRESERVING AUSTRALIA’S 12M AMERICA’S CUP HERITAGE

Easter in Sydney top a strengthened event schedule for 2012

The Australian Access Class Association is working with yacht clubs and State Sailability Associations to stage six class championships in 2012. The regatta season kicks off on the

15^th January with the inaugural Tasmanian Access Class Championship, to be hosted by

Derwent Sailing Squadron in cooperation with Sailability Tasmania.

The climax of the Access regatta season will be the Access Class World & International Championships, to be hosted by Middle Harbor Yacht Club, with the support of Sailability Middle Harbor, Sailability NSW, Macquarie Group Foundation and the NSW Government. This is the first time that the Access Worlds have been staged in Australia.

The waterways around MHYC will be busy this summer with the NSW championships, an AACA National Coaching Clinic, culminating in the Worlds. IACA Executive Officer David Staley is expecting around 120 sailors to be competing in Access 2.3, 303, Liberty and SKUD 18.

Internationally, 2012 is a big year with the London Paralympic Sailing Competition being staged from 1–6 September at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, UK. Australian teams in each of the classes – SKUD, Sonar and 2.4mR – will be competing for medals.

In accordance with the Paralympic selection timetable, Yachting Australia will nominate team members to the Australian Paralympic Committee during the month of February unless the window is specifically extended for a particular class. A number of elite sailors who have come through the Sailability system are vying for selection.

Major sailing events 2012

15-16 January

Tasmanian Access Class Championship

Derwent Sailing Squadron

www.dssinc.org.au

26th January

Australia Day Regatta

Manly Yacht Club/Sailability Manly – Access 303s

www.sailability.org/au/manly

27th January.

Coaching Clinic for State Championships competitors

Middle Harbour Yacht Club

January 28 & 29

New South Wales Access Class Championships

Middle Harbour Yacht Club with Sailability Manly

www.accessclass.org/?Page=30801

3-4 March

South Australian Sailability Championships

Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club

www.gryc.com.au

11 March

‘Be Active’ West Australian Access Class Championship

Royal Perth Yacht Club

www.rpyc.com.au/index.php?id=69

17-18 March

Victorian Access Class Championships

Lysterfield Sailing Club,

david@accessclass.org

24/25 March 2012

Special Olympics ACT Games Regatta,

Sponsor Bendigo Bank, hosted by Sailability ACT

Lake Tuggeranong

terrypeek@bigpond.com

4-5 April

AACA National Coaching Clinic

Middle Harbour Yacht Club

(Supported by bequest from the late Jim Brown)

david@accessclass.org

7-13 April

Access Class World & International Championships

Middle Harbour Yacht Club

www.2012accessworlds.mhyc.com.au

1–6 September

2012 Paralympic Sailing Competition

WPNSA, Portland, UK

http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-sailing

September tba

IFDS Blind Match Racing (Homerus) Worlds GBR, RNCYC,

Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland

http://www.ifds.org

27-28 October

Special Olympics ACT Multi Sports Mini-Games

Sponsor Bendigo Bank, hosted by Sailability ACT. Lake Tuggeranong.

terrypeek@bigpond.com

17/18 November

Special Olympics ACT Race and competition training hosted by

Sailability ACT, Lake Tuggeranong

terrypeek@bigpond.com

Issued by Graeme Adam, Public Relations, National Sailability Committee of Yachting Australia. Email: graemeadam@sailability.org  Phone: 02 9959 3323

Sailability Australia is the Australian arm of the international Sailability movement, with eight state or territory Sailability associations and some 65 branches/programs nationally. Australian sailors with disabilities are represented nationally by delegates on Yachting Australia’s Sailability Committee (nominated by State Yachting Associations) and internationally through Yachting Australia’s membership of Sailability World, the International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) and the Australian Paralympic Committee.

Departing Brisbane RIver we intend on sailing direct to Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, then onward to Sydney Harbour boxing day!

For more information regarding the voyage, please contact;

BENJAMIN MORGAN

President – Australian 12m Historic Trust

australian12m.com

Mobile: 0415 577 724

Email:  benmorgan@australian12m.com

PRESERVING AUSTRALIA’S 12M AMERICA’S CUP HERITAGE

The two yachts are warhorses of Australia’s many challenges in the famed America’s Cup.  Constructed to meet the design rule of the 12 metre class the two yachts represent an era of America’s Cup racing when the competing yachts were designed to be both elegant and fast.

Both yachts have been acquired by the Australian 12m Historic Trust which was formed for the purpose of acquiring, restoring and preserving Australia’s former America’s Cup 12 metre rule racing yachts.  The trust is an all volunteer organisation, based in Sydney and is led by trust president Benjamin Morgan.  ”It’s quite a privilege to be in a position to participate on such a historic venture and is also very challenging. You cant help but feel we are custodians to some very important pieces of history and I know I speak on behalf of our volunteer members in saying we are all very proud to be helping save these yachts”, he said.

Both yachts had been previously in port at Mooloolaba on the sunshine coast, sponsored by the Mooloolaba Yacht Club (MYC) at the wharf.  During the three day stay, both yachts took part in an America’s Cup experience giving locals and the media an opportunity to see the two icons in action.   The days activities were featured on both Channel 7 and Channel 9 news.

MYC members also took part in the delivery sail between Mooloolaba and Brisbane with the KA-5 Australia taking line-honours on arrival to the Brisbane River.  With the 1983 America’s Cup battle song “I come from a land downunder” in full song, the crew of the KA-5 Australia were greeted by passengers aboard the departing cruise ship, Rhapsody of the Seas, chanting “Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie” and giving a big thumbs up to all aboard!

The two yachts are on display at the Brisbane Rivergate Marina and the public are welcome to come down to inspect across this weekend.

“Our crews will be on hand to give visitors the opportunity to inspect the two yachts and we welcome anyone who has an interest in the America’s Cup and in yacht racing to come see them.”, he said.

The two yachts have been sponsored by Tourism Wollongong and feature bold forestay flags carrying the “We Love the Gong” campaign messaging.

Membership to the Australian 12m Historic Trust is open to all persons.  Should you have an interest in sailing, yacht restoration or history, you are invited to make contact.

Website:  http://www.australian12m.com

For media contact:

Mr Benjamin Morgan

President – Australian 12m Historic Trust

Mobile: 0415 577 724

Email:  bmorgan@australian12m.com

Website:  http://www.australian12m.com

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOS ATTACHED:

All images supplied are credited to:  Tracey Johnstone – Mooloolaba Yacht Club at the wharf

IMG_8346.jpg KA-14 Steak n Kidney & KA-5 Australia engaged in a tacking dual

IMG_0513.jpg – KA-5 Australia Crew Crossing the Brisbane River Finish Line

DSC_0167.jpg – KA-14 Steak n Kidney Crew Sailing toward the Brisbane River Finish Line

Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats X1 winner of the 2011 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week IRC class line honours trophy heads an impressive Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet preparing to do battle with the storm tormented Tasman Sea.

No owner, skipper or individual crew are prepared to predict what will unfold in the important tactical terms of wind and sea conditions yet another impressive fleet will sail out of Sydney Heads on Boxing Day for what is considered to be among international ocean racings more physically demanding challenges of seamanship.

Barring accident, gear failure and crew injury the Mark Richards Hamilton Island Yacht Club registered Wild Oats X1 is expected to prevail in the maxi boat match race against the Anthony Bell owned Investic Loyal, the Peter Millard skippered Lahana and the Matt Allen helmed Ichi Ban.

All of the four front runners have been recently modified with either hull shape changes or new additions to their sail lockers for what is expected to become a seriously contested 628 nautical mile match race for the prestigious line honours trophy.

Previous form suggests Wild Oats X1 will remain as the yachting punter’s favourite to claim her sixth line honours title from the past seven races.

But her experienced crew including Americas Cup winning sailors will need to again show their respect for the weather particularly if a squally ‘southerly buster’ roars in from The Great Southern Ocean.

Interest will also focus on the Volvo 60 class match race involving the New South Wales Andrew Wenham skippered Southern Excellence and the Whitsunday Sailing Clubs Leo Rodriguez steered Merit.

Southern Excellence launched in 2001 has had a recent ‘face lift’ which promises to lift her speed potential for her boat on boat match race against the 1997 launched Merit.

This clash between the two former Volvo Globe ‘war horses’ will be determined by which crew produces the smartest tactical strategy associated with the wind angle and velocity that blows over the deck.

Race experience favours the team of Tropical Sailors who have the distinction of winning the 2008 Performance Handicap class trophy under the redress rule following their rescue of the Victorian crew from the sinking yacht Georgia.

Merit now racing in her 14^th year has the proven record of surviving a physically demanding Sydney Hobart however skipper Leo Rodriguez understands he will need to apply a tactical smart strategy over the 628n/ml race to win his State of Origin war on the water over his New South Wales rival Andrew Wenham in Southern Excellence.

Internationally respected Mooloolaba Ocean racing yachtsman Andrew Turton will take a welcome break from the cold European winter to be home for Christmas.

However his visit will only be a short meet and greet with family and friends before packing his sea bag to race in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race as a key crew member with the Bob Robertson skippered Sunshine Coast yacht Lunchtime Legend.

The two sailors have been friends for several years and Andrew Turton did not hesitate when the veteran skipper issued his Hobart Race invitation.

Bob Robertson said “It took some time to track him down in Europe but his answer was short and sweet yes I would love to do the Hobart”.

“Having the experience of Andy (Turton) on board has bolstered our chances” The experienced Hobart race veteran Bob Robertson said.

He already has the career distinction of finishing third with one of his previous yachts Queensland Maid.

But the burning desire remains to perhaps win a new Rolex watch as the fastest handicap rated performer in the 2011 blue water classic starting on Boxing Day.

His new challenger a standard European built Beneteau launched earlier this year to compete in the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week series performed strongly although still relatively well short of racing to her handicap rated potential.

However since August Lunch Time legend has progressively been programmed towards recording a strong performance in the physically demanding 628 nautical mile race to Hobart.

Naturally her veteran owner skipper who has never been known to take a backward step believes his Sunshine Coast challenger which has recently won short course races on Moreton Bay is in with a chance and her prospects have improved with the experienced Andrew Turton in the crew.

Meanwhile the World Etchells champion Bucky Smith brother of Volvo Globe racing sailor Casey who is presently struggling to remain positive after Puma was dis-masted in the South Atlantic Ocean last week has been monitoring the modifications to the former high performance racing sloop Heaven Can Wait.

Heaven Can Wait a former Brisbane to Gladstone Race line honours winner has been recently purchased by the dual Audi Australian Ocean racing champion Rod Jones and has spent several weeks in a Mooloolah River boat shed undergoing and extensive refit.

As expected skipper Rod Jones has named an impressive core crew of talented sailors including Bucky Smith and Australian Olympic coach Adrian Finglas has announced Saturday December 10 for the relaunch.

The transformation of the sloop which is programmed to contest a Rolex Sydney Hobart Race under the name of AUDI Centre Sunshine Coast is expected to fly her new ‘Battle flag’ in the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club hosted Surf to City (Southport to Sandgate) race in mid-January.