Two bullets for Outteridge

But Babbage leads as the Zhik Moth Australian Championship sets sail

Wednesday January 5th 2011, Author: Lizzi Rountree, Location: Australia

Day one of the Zhik Moth Australian Championship had a record-breaking 101 foiling Moths on the start line. Scary thought? “100 boats? It wasn’t too bad - just those port-tackers! The stunt-drivers!” said local Aussie Warren Sare.

The fight to foil was the name of the game. Getting to that first puff and flying up and out of the pack meant everything – and with a pin favoured start line, the fleet was chock-full of kamikaze port-tackers risking all to foil first.

“Once you’re [at the pin], you’re committed to doing something crazy,” admitted Sydney sailor Phil Kurts, adding with a smile, “if you’re going fast enough, a gap will appear.”

Local hot shot Joe Turner took race 1, who, 4th at the first windward mark, made impressive gains and by lap two lead into the finish. Iain Jensen landed second a whole six places in front of his 49er skipper Nathan Outteridge, who suffered a bad start and worked back to 8th. Rob Gough, Scott Babbage and Tom Slingsby rounded out the top 5.

After two generals, racers finally got out the gates for race 2, with Nathan Outteridge pulling a kamikaze manoeuvre. He nailed a port tack start, terrifying more than a few starboard tackers with a few close ducks, and launched into clear air. Outteridge cleaned up with minutes over second place Scott Babbage.

Race 3 started in a puff that cut out when the top guys hit the first mark – further separating those that foiled and those that did not. ISAF Sailor of the Year Tom Slingsby lead the first first beat, but the lighter and faster Outteridge and Babbage quickly overtook him on the run.
Outteridge took the win, after Babbage went for a quick swim putting him back to second.

The mixed fleet of international sailors suffered more than a few general recalls and black flags dragging out the three races to a staggering 6.5 hours. Lake Macquarie’s light and shifty southeasterly clocking north challenged the visitors, favoured the locals (top 4 in race 1
were all Lake Macquarie boys), and was universally frustrating.

Forecast promises 10-15 knots tomorrow and sailors hope to have a full day on the foils.

Day One Results (top 50 - NB - very provisional as we did the calcs)

 

Pos Sailor R1 R2 R3 Tot
1 Scott Babbage 4 2 2 8
2 Nathan Outteridge 8 1 1 10
3 Rob Gough 3 3 5 11
4 Tom  Slingsby 5 9 3 17
5 Dalton Bergan 10 11 6 27
6 Andrew McDougall 15 5 8 28
7 Bora Gulari 11 7 13 31
8 Matt Day 13 15 4 32
9 John Harris 7 17 12 36
10 Phil Kurts 9 21 9 39
11 Simon Payne 23 14 7 44
12 Matt Crockett 12 13 22 47
13 Arnaud Psarofaghis 6 12 30 48
14 Peter Burling 17 16 15 48
15 Mikis Psarofaghis 16 23 11 50
16 Steven Sherring 28 10 17 55
17 Hiromitsu Kunimi 14 22 20 56
18 George  Peet 25 18 14 57
19 Brent Frankcombe 18 19 23 60
20 Michael Lennon 20 26 19 65
21 Jack Sherring 2 29 43 74
22 Iain Jensen 26 37 20 83
23 Luka Damic 31 27 26 84
24 Adam Beashel 39 28 21 88
25 Emma Aspington 30 34 24 88
26 Matt Vincent 34 35 25 94
27 Ben Newling 38 31 27 96
28 Martin Gravare 21 30 49 100
29 Julian Salter 33 36 32 101
30 Andrew Budgen 22 46 36 104
31 Scott  Beeby 27 44 39 110
32 Joshua Mcknight 32 32 47 111
33 Andrew Stevenson 37 38 37 112
34 Lindsay Bergan 45 40 29 114
35 Benjamin  Rankine 40 41 38 119
36 Tatsuya Wakinaga 56 24 42 122
37 Samantha  England 46 43 33 122
38 Fabien Froesch 42 57 31 130
39 Philip Käsermann 66 42 28 136
40 Haylee Outteridge 44 80 16 140
41 Warren Sare 48 51 44 143
42 Chris Dixon 51 47 46 144
43 Charlie McKee 47 63 34 144
44 Jason Russell 52 45 48 145
45 Clive Watts 53 52 41 146
46 Magnus Gravare 43 68 40 151
47 Stuart Pollard 41 54 57 152
48 Brent  PEARSON 59 59 35 153
49 Leigh Dunstan 58 40 56 154
50 Les Thorpe 61 53 51 165

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