Emphatic Win To Lea In Arrow Championship at Belmont, NSW (2010-11)
Queenslander Robbie Lea won in commanding style at the Australian Arrow Championship sailed on Lake Macquarie from 28 December 2010 to 3 January 2011.
After first winning the Championship at Rosebud, Victoria in 2009, Lea was surprisingly beaten by multi-championship winner Steve Short (Victoria) in a lighter regatta at Victor Harbor, SA in 2010.
The invitation race, sailed in an 8 to 12 knot breeze, provided no indication of the one-sidedness of the racing to come as New South Welshman and 15-times champion Frank O’Rourke celebrated his first National heat in a new boat with a win from Short. Winds for the remaining races were fresher at 15 to 20 knots or more and Lea dominated with comfortable victories in the first six heats. His chance of winning all seven heats was thwarted by a broken rudder gudgeon.
Apart from Lea, the surprise performer of the event was Will Richards (SA). A former Arafura Cadet Australian Champion and naturally talented sailor, Richards was sailing in only his second Arrow championship. He was more than a match for O’Rourke and Short who had dominated the Championship over a 25 year period until the arrival of Lea.
Significantly, both Lea and Richards used “Stealth” mainsails from Central Queensland Sailmakers. The majority of the fleet using Chris Cairns sails could not match the upwind speed and higher pointing achieved by those using the Stealth sails.
The Handicap winner was Tony Kuhn (NSW) and South Australia scored its first ever Teams Shield victory.
Unfortunately, only one Arafura Cadet attended and a championship could not be awarded. Boats are being sailed regularly in New South Wales and South Australia but the current skippers are apparently unwilling to travel and compete nationally.
The venue was radically different from those normally experienced at our National Championships. This was no glorified shed on a beach but rather a vast two storey building with large lounge/dining room, an outdoor deck over the water, an auditorium seating hundreds, meeting rooms and of course large rooms for poker machines and bingo. The air conditioning provided a welcome respite from the outdoor humidity, although temperatures were very moderate for the time of year. Good meals were available at reasonable prices.
The lake is an excellent venue for small boat sailing as the breezes are generally from the north-east or south-east and blow across a narrow strip of coastline so they are not too disturbed or gusty. Even with a 20 knot breeze, the chop that builds up is easily sailed through and a pleasure compared to ocean conditions in a similar wind strength.
The venue was shared with the 29er class which had approximately 55 boats sailed two up by teenagers. This looked like it would be problematical but in practice worked quite well apart from the cats being relegated to the worst areas of lake edge. Starting times were varied and courses were kept as far apart as possible.
As you would expect with a $20,000 boat, the parents of the 29er sailors are well off and pushy and it was illuminating to watch situations of the children socialising whilst their parents set up their boats. A number of parents also brought their own power boats to view the racing close up and there was more than a little one-upmanship in the size, motor power and features of the favoured inflatables.
Apart from the Arrow racing, the highlight of the week was the foiling Moths preparing for their Australian and World championships. Overseas sailors were already set up with their containers of equipment when Arrow skippers arrived. For the average skipper your Mach II moth arrives from China in a large box and you spend ½ a day or so putting it together. The speed these boats attain in 12 knots is sensational and it was a surreal sight watching groups of these tiny boats racing across the lake at 1 metre above the water at speeds that probably could not be matched even by the fastest cats and skiffs.
The NSW Association is to be congratulated for securing such an interesting and excellent venue and hosting a well run championship.
Results 43rd National Championships 2009-10 Victor Harbour SA Results 44th National Championships 2010-11 Belmont NSW
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