505s in WA

Western Australian State Championships

Yesterday was the final days yacht racing in the exciting International 505 Class Western Australian State Championships, sponsored by Grolsch and held by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.

The fresh southerly winds provided plenty of action, with high speed racing, 15+ capsizes, a broken boom, and a near sinking of Blondes in Space sailed by Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson-recent world 420 champions. Tessa was trapezing off the transom to keep the bow out of the water- and they just managed to make it to shore.

19 boats competed in a new format of semi-sprint series, windward-leeward courses, with the top 6 boats closely spaced. race winners included Peter Chappell, Scott Olsen, and Mike Navarro. The theory that new boats are faster was dispelled somewhat by Mike Navarro in an 18 year old boat, winning the last two heats.

The WA State 505 Champion for 2005 was Peter Chappell and Sam Gill in The Fish.Runners-up were Mark Stowell and Scott Bailey in Blue Lightning, 3rd Mike Navarro and Simon Wilder in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

The hotly contested under 25’s division –for prize money, was won by Julie Meehan, second Matt Totterdell, and third Elise Rechichi.

Winner of the newcomer to the class in the last 12months were schoolboys Luke Payne and Ben Davis in Valkyrie, and the Ladies Division was won by Renee de Voogd.