Sail Melbourne International Regatta 2003 - Another Outteridge shines: This Time In The 29er

Beau Outteridge (AUS), the talented 14 year-old younger brother of World-class sailor Nathan, today with his crew Michael Taylor, took the lead in the opening races of the 29er class at the Sail Melbourne Olympic & Invited Classes Regatta at Sandringham Yacht Club this afternoon.

Sailing on windward return courses in around 8 knots of breeze on fairly flat seas, Outteridge, from NSW’s Central Coast, won both races today on Port Phillip Bay from Helen Caley/George Wills (NZL), who finished second in both races.

Lucian Francis/Wulf Wilkens (AUS) currently hold down third overall, finishing both their races in third place.

Racing continues tomorrow in the ten-race series. All places are provisional.

New Zealand out in front at Laser Radials

Out on the Laser Radial and 4.7 course, Andrew Mowlem (NZL) scored a 2-1 result in the first day of racing to lead that series.

Sailing on outer trapezoid courses today in light airs reaching 8 knots at its height, Mowlem outclassed his nearest rivals, Joshua Chant (AUS) and Matthew Chew (AUS), the latter the winner of Race 1 today.

Chew’s brother David, is on equal points with his brother, but relegated to fourth place on count back, making the series an interesting one for them.

Racing continues on Port Phillip Bay tomorrow. Results are provisional.

Lincoln leads Laser 4.7’s

In an all-Australian fleet, Mark Lincoln (Vic) has taken the early lead in the first two races of the Laser 4.7 class with two wins today on Port Phillip Bay in light airs.

Fellow Victorian, Harry Mighell is in second place with a 2-2 score, from Mark Edmunds (NT) doing a good job with two third placings to hold down third place overall.

The Laser 4.7’s sailed on outer trapezoid courses today on Port Phillip Bay.

Racing continues tomorrow. Results are provisional.

Cunningham/Patterson lead 420’s at Olympic & Invited Classes Regatta

Only one race was sailed in the 420 class today, winds increasing so much that race officials abandoned racing for the day at the end of Race 1. Claire Cunningham/Felix Patterson (AUS) won the first race of the Sail Melbourne series, so therefore lead.

Clair McCartney/Louise Hutton finished second; the rest of the fleet did not compete.

Nicholson/Boyd continue their domination of 49er class

Chris Nicholson/Gary Boyd (AUS) cannot be beaten in the 49er class at the Sail Melbourne Regatta this week – so it seems.

Three more races were held on Port Phillip Bay today for the Olympic class, Nicholson/Boyd from Belmont on the Central Coast of NSW winning all three for an overall score of five, showing all before them just why they will represent Australia at the Athens Olympic Games later this year.

Although this regatta is the final selection series for the Australian crew to represent, the duo cannot be beaten on points.

Kenji Nakamura/Masato Tekaki (JPN) currently hold down third place with nine races to go in the 15 race series. The pair represented at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and look set to do so again in Athens.

Ilya Ermakov/Maxim Logoutenko (RUS) sit nicely in third place, just one point behind the Japanese. This is the first time since the class became an Olympic one that a Russian team has featured in a top five position.

Young brothers, Ben and Marcus Tardrew made a costly mistake today, neglecting to fill in their sign-on sheet, a daily prerequisite of the regatta, dropping them down the leaderboard to fourth overall after their stunning start yesterday.

Gold medal winner in the 470 class from Sydney 2000, Mark Turnbull, with his crew Nick Partridge, suffered damage to their boat today, cutting short their efforts in Race 4 today dropping them to fifth place overall.

Racing continues on Port Phillip Bay tomorrow. Results are provisional.

Great Britain surfaces in first place in Olympic 470 class

World ranked 9th, Nick Rogers/Joe Glanfield (GBR) have stolen the lead in the Combined 470 class after three races on Port Phillip Bay today at the Sail Melbourne Regatta.

Sailing on a two-lap outer trapezoid course in building 15-25 knot sea breezes, the pair finished the only race of the day in second place to take the lead.

Race Officials at Sandringham Yacht Club tried to get a second race in for the 470 fleet today, but having trouble with a moving start buoy in the increasing winds and seas, they were forced to abandon racing for the rest of the day.

With some confusion in regard to sail numbers yesterday, Gustavo Martinez/Dimas Valdivieso (ESP) moved up the leaderboard and finishing Race 3 in second place today, the World ranked 8 duo have equal points to the leaders but are relegated to second place overall on count back.

Gildas Philippe/Nicolas Le Berre (FRA) continue their successful regatta, an eighth today putting them in third place, just one point behind the Spanish pair.

Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page (AUS) had their worst result today, a 13th place, leaving them in fourth overall.

In the Womens fleet, Natalia Via-defresne/Sandra Azon (ESP) have taken the lead with a seventh place today, from Christina Bassadone/Katherine Hopson (GBR), who came home 11th. In close racing, the two pairs are on equal points of 37, the latter filling second place in a count back.

Vlada Ilienko/Natalia Gapanovich (RUS) came back with a vengeance today, the World ranked 2 pair scoring 10th to go into third place overall.

Ingrid Petitjean/Nadege Douroux (FRA) finished 12th, Jenny Armstrong/Belinda Stowell (AUS) 23rd, did not have a good day, their results relegating them to fourth and fifth overall respectively.

Meanwhile, the Europe, Finn and Tornado classes were waiting for the 470 start before they could start their day – officials having to abandon all racing with the increasing winds and seaway – Tornado’s capsizing all over the Bay before heading ashore.

Racing continues on Port Phillip Bay tomorrow. Results are provisional.

Shreeve and Crisp continue their rivalry on Mistral Womens course

Allison Shreeve (AUS) and Jessica Crisp (AUS) are both determined to get the Olympic spot for Athens – but only one can go.

In their continuing battle today, Shreeve came up trumps in Race 3, then Crisp returned the favour, winning Race 4.

It is Shreeve, though, who continues to lead the point score on equal points with Faustine Merret (FRA), but leading the French girl on count back.

Crisp, however, has jumped up into third place, and the fight for the Olympic spot is well and truly on.

Great Britains girls are having a battle of their own too – the younger, newer girl to the class, Bryony Shaw, currently in fourth place, leaving the favoured Natasha Sturges down in 11th place overall, Sturges saying this afternoon ‘I bottomed out badly in Race 4, (a 13th place for the former Olympic rep.), I am not having a particularly good regatta.

Meanwhile, Julian Bontemps (FRA) continues to lead the Mistral Mens, with two wins today from two races.

Max Oberemko (UKR) also continues to show his racing skills, with a 3-2 result for second overall.

Representative from the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Lars Kleppich (AUS) had a more successful day today with a second place in Race 3 and a third in Race 4, showing that age is no barrier at the end of the day. This result has put him in third place overall, his Olympic chances for Athens looking better and better.

Racing resumes in the Sandringham Yacht Club event on Port Phillip Bay tomorrow.

Goodison makes big comeback in Laser today

In the 33-strong truly international Laser fleet, many have a point to prove and a number are looking at Olympic selection, which will make for a stoush or two at this Sail Melbourne Olympic & Invited Classes Regatta.

In particular are the two top ranked Great Britain and Australian sailors – all four went at it hard today in their first race out of Sandringham Yacht Club today in fresh 18-22 knot winds today on Port Phillip Bay.

Round one went to a revitalised Paul Goodison (GBR) who recently took a breather from the class. The World ranked No. 3 came out fighting today to win race one from his British adversary, Ed Wright, whose ranking has dropped to 11 - he finished second.

In the Aussie camp, Round one went to World ranked 12th Brendan Casey – he finished third, Michael Blackburn, ranked No. 1 in the World and all but guaranteed the Australian Olympic spot came home fourth.

Come Race 2, the winds gusting to 25 on choppy seas, Casey led the race from Wright, then came Goodison followed by Blackburn – but readers will have to wait till tomorrow to know the result, because the finish line wouldn’t sit still and all four top players are asking for redress.

Racing continues on Port Phillip Bay tomorrow. Results are provisional.

Shimeld shows the others how it’s done in the 2.4mR

In an all Australian field, Stuart Shimeld has done what he promised yesterday and that is to beat the two favourites in the first race of the 2.4mR class at Sail Melbourne today.

Shimeld, from NSW last night said, ‘while Peter Thompson and Michael McLean thrash it out, I might just sneak past both of them,’ and that is exactly what happened – Shimeld posting two wins from two races for a perfect score of two.

Thompson (NSW) has nailed second place with a 2-4 result, whilst another New South Welshman, Kim Williams has third with a 4-2.

McLean (Vic) is in fourth place with eight races to sail.

The nine boat fleet sailed in pleasant 7-10 knot breezes.

Racing continues on Port Phillip Bay tomorrow. Places are provisional.

For information and full results, go to the official website:

www.sailmelbourne.com.au

Di Pearson