Australian Nationals
Saturday, June 11th, 2011Flying Fifteen 50th Anniversary Australian Championships
Nominations closing 7 December. Please complete your nomination online at the event website.
The Gemmill Homes 50th Anniversary Australian Championships for the Flying Fifteen class to be held at the Club from 6 January to 13 January 2012 looks like being a reunion for former world champions with Dean McAullay (crew) (2009), Mike Hart (2007), Steve Goacher (1995,1997 and 1999) Alan Bax (1990), Graham Lillingston (1982) and John Cassidy (1979) all planning to compete. Messrs Goacher, Bax and Hart are coming out from England for the event as are several other top sailors from the United Kingdom.
Overall we are expecting somewhere between 60 and 80 yachts to be competing including the yachts that came first and second at this year’s World Championship in England that have now been purchased by Australians. The current World Champion boat is being delivered to Perth for Queensland State Champions Ashley Smith and Adam Kingston who will compete and then tow their new yacht to Queensland. Peter Emby from host club, South of Perth Yacht Club bought the boat that came second at the Worlds when sailed by Olympic Gold Medalist, Mike McIntyre.
2005 World Champion Nick Jerwood is putting a new Fifteen together and will also be sailing from South of Perth. Nick will miss the Australian Championship as he will be in New Zealand with his daughter Mia who will be competing in the World Optimist Championship. Hopefully the yacht will nevertheless be competing, perhaps sailed by another Jerwood? Other brand new boats also joining the fleet at South of Perth this season include “Story Teller” which is being skippered by Chris Paterson and crewed by Rupert Leslie. Former Classic World Champion John Midolo has upgraded and also purchased a brand new Ovington that will be here in time for the Nationals.
Looks like being a terrific fleet. All at South of Perth Yacht Club look forward to welcoming you in January 2012. More details and newsletters can be viewed at the website.