Final weekend of jousting

Ian Grant reports from Mooloolaba ahead of the Etchells Worlds

Queensland’s Sunshine Coast was bathed in warm sunshine today as a moderate Southerly wind combined to set the stage for another exciting weekend of Etchells class racing over the 2004 World championship course off Mooloolaba.

The official start to the World championship is still ten days away and as a result the leading title contenders are well into the pre title ‘mind games’.

Winning at these prearranged warm up regattas has no value compared with finishing consistently in the top 20 in the World championship heats.

Sure there is always some personal pride associated with winning any Etchells race and that becomes more important when the fleet includes Americas Cup winning skippers Dennis Conner and John Bertrand.

Former World 18ft skiff champion Rob Brown regarded as a relative ‘rookie’ with just 12 months racing in the class has been among the star performers steering Steam Packet V to a heat win while Queensland champion Mark Bradford proved his tactical skill to also rack up a win at the tiller of Racer X.

Bradford like several top skippers is foxing however he seems well prepared to build on his world title ranking when the 2004 World Championship begins on August 1.

Similar composure surrounds the preparation of John Bertrand and his equally talented crew mates Richie Allanson and Admirals Cup winning helmsman Mark Richards who have welcomed the chance to test their skill in a more reliable breeze.

Bertrand winner of an Olympic Bronze Medal in the Finn Class and the history changing Americas Cup win with Australia 11 in 1983 is yet to fulfill his career ambition to be crowned as a World Etchells title winner.

He holds the respect of several top skippers including Mark Bradford who won the 2002 World title Silver Medal in New Zealand as the boat to beat.

John Bertrand will be very tough to crack; he won the New Zealand championship in spite of snapping the boom in the final heat and knows what it takes to produce his best when the pressure tactics are applied.

His desire to helm Two Saints and A Magpie to victory in the 2004 World Etchells trophy will depend on his ability to control the expected tactical ‘war on the water’ this weekend as the crews complete their final evaluations for the real battle starting on August 1.