Owner: Andrew Hely/Chris Hely
Helm: Various
Hugo Ottaway\\'s old boat now sailing out of Sandy by the Hely brothers, potentially a hot boat
|
|||||
|
Big J24 event of the Year!! NSW State Championships Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd October 2010 & J24 Legends Regatta Monday 4th October 2010
Go to http://j24australia.com.au/?page_id=15 for more details
FUN2 AUS5304 For Sale
This Italian built J24 is one of the newest boats in Australia and the Keel and rudder have been totally faired for maximum performance. This boat was refitted will all new safety gear and Halyards and blocks in 2008. Fun2 is quick and it can point – gee can it point. Nothing has been spared on this outfit and the boat comes complete with the following: 3 Sets of North sails Tack tick Full boats covers, top, bottom, keel. Rudder Trailer – tandem, galv, sail box, toolbox, contoured hull supports, mast support. Carbon Spinnaker pole. POA contact Alyn Stevenson on 0400227562 AUS 4464 is for sail (previously AUS149 Two Dogs) Bashford built J24 on minimum weight with the mast up graded in Dec ’09 (mast from Vice Versa) Yacht complete and ready to sail with sails, halyards, sheets, outboard etc Always stored on the hard stand, currently at Sandringham Yacht Club Contact Rowan Pollard 0407 044 683 Price $18,000 A somewhat delayed post about the nationals – but better late than never! As mentioned in an earlier post, there were two battles to take place on the final day of racing in the nationals. The race for first between Sean in Wetty Gripper and Doug in Code Violation and the race for third between Hugo in Vice Versa and Dave in Pacemaker – with both boats only separated by a point. As it turns out the race for third turned into very interesting battle on that final day. The goal for Hugo was simple, beat Pacemaker in both races and secure third. As soon as the northerly filled in and the start gun fired, it was game on. Hugo had the pace and the tactics to keep Dave at bay for the first lap. The comments from the crew on Pacemaker were that they had been outclassed by the team on Vice Versa. During the final lap, Vice Versa held a loose cover on Pacemaker taking them close to the starboard layline. A tacking duel just before the layline gave Pacemaker just enough room to breath on the way towards the mark. By the time the to boats reached the top mark for the final time, Vice Versa had extended their lead to almost 10 boat lengths. Spotting traffic and a left hand windshift at the top mark gave Pacemaker the break they were looking for and tacked in on the stern of Vice Versa as they rounded the top mark heading for the finish. From this point, it was game on. Pacemaker had one goal at this point… get in front! What ensued was a shy to shy gybing duel that would have had at least 10 gybes in it (we lost count!) that pushed both crews to the limit of their abilities. At one point down the leg, Pacemaker broke the overlap and moved clear ahead, but failed to gain a starboard advantage. It was during the second half of the leg, that the Pacemaker crew had realised that something interesting was about to happen on the scoreboard. By locking horns with Vice Versa, Pacemaker had moved Vice Versa back down the field to a point where the boats were due to finish 8th and 9th. It was the 8th that was going to make the scoreboard very interesting as this changed the drops for both boats and left them with even points going into the last race. (For a detailed explanation, which includes hand waving and whiteboards – talk to the Pacemaker crew!) Race 9 finished with Vice Versa just beating Pacemaker across the line. The final race was shaping up to be a battle, with both teams going in on even points, but with Hugo ahead on a countback. An unfortunate first beat and top mark rounding saw Vice Versa stuck at the back of the pack, with Pacemaker having an easy time up the front. The final result saw Pacemaker sneak home with a third. Mrs Pickles has been a top performing boat in Hobart, including winning 2008 & 2009 State Titles. This boat has to be one of the best boats on the market at present. Asking $22,000 KAOS has been the most consistent top performing boat in Hobart over the last few years. It holds RYCT and DSS Summer and Winter Pennants, as well as 2nd in State and 2Handed Titles. It has been runner up in State Titles for the last few years. Very reasonably priced at $16,000 Both boats are fully equipped and have lots of extra sails and gear. Call Kaye Roberts on 0408 517 026 One of the huge benefits of sailing a windward leeward course is, it evens out the boats. At the 2006 Melbourne World Championships, many of the top performers were boats with a minimum age of 15 years. None was more noticeable than Mike Ingham who shipped a 20 year old J out from America, whilst not in the top 3, his top 5 finish was excellent. He then went on to come second at the 2007 Worlds in Mexico in the same boat. Since then in Melbourne we have seen older J’s revamped and now competing at the front of the fleet. Ron Thompson’s AUS 1324 “Kicking Bottom” ( 20+ years old) has won several races at the beginning of the season, and Micheal Lewenhagen has just put AUS 1687 “Excite your Senses”, back in the water after a major rebuild. J24’s in Australia, can be brought up to race speed with a minimum of effort and experience. With the racing opportunities now offered, the excuse that your boat is no longer competitive no longer holds water. There are around 200 J24’s in Australia and most can be revamped into a competitive boat. Over the next few months I will be listing hints on how to get old J’s fast, by reducing weight and getting rid of the huge amounts of junk found down stairs. So, to all the owners of J’s not currently being used because of a notion that they’re no longer competitive, get out there and fix them up and see how quick they still can be. Just maybe, your boat may have been one that started a legend…. and …. one that could start another. A revamped active fleet maintains the investment we all have in our boats, increases the enjoyment and interest in the class. So get the spanners out, find the screw driver and start taking off all that old crap. Hugo, Vice Versa.  Sean Wallis and crew lifts the trophy again, flanked by SYC Commodore Phil Burn and Vic State J24 President Michael Lewenhagen Still the name of a very famous western movie, but also the very deserving winners at this year’s nationals. The J24 National Association congratulates our magnificent seven and their crews. Sean Wallis, who took out the championship after being ahead, getting behind and then on the last day fighting it out to take the win. Doug McGain, fought an equally tough and enthralling battle to come second. David Suda, who has been knocking on the door to the top position on the podium took out third. Adam Evans, the young gun winning the handicap prize. Alyn Stevenson, our immediate past president, with his first ever nationals race win was second in the handicap section. Sean Kirjian needs no introduction, sailed with a crew mostly of sailing school trainees and one gorgeous blonde took out third – simply awesome. Kirsty Harris, one of two female skippers takes the female skippers prize with a very creditable 7th overall. As well as the perpetual trophies successfully defended this year by Sean, these seven skippers also each take away impressive half model trophies made by our national measurer Peter Stevens. Each of these models was hand made by Peter from fiberglass and then coated in various colours to indicate the place, with gold, silver and bronze for the first three one design and blue, red and green for the handicap. Fittingly the female skipper’s model is done in pink. The models were then mounted on a backing board with a plaque indicating placing. Peter spent many hours making these and they are a credit to him. He is prepared to make more for future regattas, but you should get your orders in early as Peter is a busy guy. On behalf of the J24 National Association, thank you Peter for your efforts in producing these trophies. The commencement of the final day’s racing in the 2010 J24 Australian Championship saw NSW sailor Doug McGain sailing Code Violation one point ahead of Sean Wallis and his team from WA sailing Wetty Gripper, and with two races scheduled it was to be a battle to the end to decide this years Australian Champion. The forecast was for light winds and what little breeze there was faded as the fleet headed to the starting area resulting in a postponement in racing before a 10 knot Northerly filled in and race 9 commenced. With Wallis needing to beat McGain in both races to win the title neither crew let the other have any breathing space which saw both head off from the start and stay no more than a boat length apart up the first windward leg with McGain ahead of Wallis at the first mark. The downwind leg saw them split with Wallis down the right side of the course and McGain to the left. The right paid and saw Wallis round the leeward mark a boat length ahead but the battle continued and by the time the boats reached the windward mark the second time Wallis was third behind Alyn Stevenson (SA) and Sean Kirkjian (NSW) with McGain less than a boat length behind in fourth position. In the mean time the battle for third position overall was being played out between Hugo Ottway & David Suda both from Victoria. On the downwind leg to the finish Wallis once again headed to the right side of the course with McGain & Kirkjian to the left. At the finish line it was Alyn Stevenson first, winning his first Australian championship heat followed by Wallis, Kirkjian and McGain respectively. Going into the final race the tables had turned, Wallis now lead the championship with a one point lead from McGain while Ottaway had beaten Suda in race 9 to secure a two point buffer in third place. The final race saw McGain start at the boat end with Wallis about five boat lengths further down the line in the company of Suda. McGain tacked immediately after the start and headed to the right side of the course while Wallis and Suda sailed to the middle of the course before also heading to the right. Slightly better pressure saw Wallis and Suda come from the left and lead the fleet to the windward mark. The positions remained unchanged at the front of the fleet with Wallis finishing ahead of Suda with McGain third. With Ottaway back in the fleet David Suda claimed third overall, Doug McGain second and Sean Wallis retaining his title with back to back championship wins. The handicap championship was won by Adam Evans and his youth team from Victoria sailing Two Dogs while the first female skipper was Kirsty Harris and her all female team from Victoria sailing Hyperactive. With a field boasting numerous state champions and four past Australian champions the competition was extremely fierce with any number of sailors in a position to win the championship. The Sandringham Yacht Club has recently built a new state of the art club house and the facilities are excellent. Along with a professional approach to race management by the race committee the club is one of the world’s best venues for yacht racing. J24 Australia wish to thank the members and management of the SYC for their support in hosting this event. Next on the J24 calendar is the 2010 Asia Pacific Championship to be sailed in Adelaide in June 2010 and with the inaugural championship held in 2009, this years event is expected to be bigger and better and is to welcome sailors from Singapore, Korea, Japan, Australia and other countries in the Asia Pacific region. Overall Results:
And I couldn’t let this one past, congrats to Kirj for his 3rd on h/cap – trophy should look nice on your lounge room wall!!! On a day where bad luck stories abound, Sean Wallis and his team on Wetty Gripper came home to win one of the closest and most hard fought titles for many years. Doug McGain on Code Violation was bridesmaid and Dave Suda sailing Pacemaker third. Adam Evans and his youth team won the Handicap Title. All agreed it has been fantastic regatta, great weather, great race management and a great social time. More stories and pictures to come.  Tight racing at the bottom mark - 2010 J24 Nationals in Melbourne In true one design tradition you can always rely on great a competition. With only one days racing to go in the Australian J24 championships, there is only one point between first and second and one point between third and fourth. The current standings have Doug McGain NSW first 14 points, Sean Wallis W.A. second 15 points, Hugo Ottaway Vic third 22 points, Dave Suda Vic fourth 23 points and Sean Kirkjian NSW 32 points. McGain, Wallis, Ottaway and Kirkjian, are all Australian Champions, and Suda a runner up National Champion. Today’s heats, 7 & 8 were sailed in perfect Port Philip Bay sailing conditions, a 10 to 15 knot southeast wind matched with a flat sea and clear 28 degree temperature saw both Suda and Kirkjian win heats putting additional pressure on the front three boats. Doug McGain and Hugo Ottaway consolidated their positions with two seconds for Doug and two thirds for Hugo. Sean Wallis had his worst day so far with an 8th and 4th, however with the one race drop system now achieved after six races completed, Wallis is still able to hold second. Both McGain and Wallis need top eight positions tomorrow to secure their hold on first and second anything worse could see Ottaway and Suda with a win, move into the lead. The game now changes with “Hunting” a practice where the lead boats race only against each other ignoring the rest of the fleet. This practice is risky as a boat in Kirkjian’s position can slip unnoticed into a race winning position and leap frog into third. With a change in weather conditions forecasting lighter winds, the final results in the Australian J24 Championships might be very interesting. Written by Hugo Ottaway |
  |
||||
|
Copyright © 2010 J24 Australia - All Rights Reserved |
|||||
