Another lead change

Rob Brown now leads John Bertrand at the Audi Etchells Australian Nationals

Sydney sailor Rob Brown and his crew of Bruce Wookey and Garry Gudmunson on Steam Packet VI have taken the lead from John Bertrand, Ian Johnson and Tim Ede ( Triad), at the Audi Etchells Nationals today

“Browny”, a former skiff world champion, has posted some excellent results in the Etchells, winning the 2005 Winter Championship and the Milsons Goblet. His crew also finished a credible 12th at the 2005 Worlds - second best of the Aussies and Brown says they are looking to improve on that result at the 2006 Worlds in Perth later this year.

He and his Steam Packet VI crew were sixth coming into today’s two races, but managed two excellent results, third and second placings to lift them up into the lead in front of Bertrand (Vic), who scored 17th and sixth places to drop him just two points behind the Sydney crew.

“John and I are having a good friendly rivalry here – it’s like Master and Apprentice, except the Apprentice is leading the Master today. We are playing off to see which of us wins the Masters division of these Nationals.”

The two have known each other a long time. Bertrand steered Australia to its historical win of the America’s Cup and Brown was with him as reserve trimmer.

Commenting on today’s race, Brown said, “it was one of those really tricky ones – massive shifts, but we are very happy with the way we are travelling. There is a lot of talent here – a lot of depth. We are taking each day as it comes, and if we win, well that’s great, but I won’t be cut up if we don’t.”

Unlike a number of others sailing the Royal Brighton Yacht Club event, Brown and crew do not have a new boat or new sails.

“We have the boat we took to the last Worlds and the same sails. We are looking forward to the Worlds and will get a new boat and gear for that.”

Today’s winners though, were Rob Bird, Graeme Johnson and Nic Gray ( Rhapsody in Blue, WA), winners of heat five and the lone GBR entry, Nils Razmilovic, Brian Hammersley and Adam Turk sailing Boat X, winners of heat six.

Razmilovic, who sails Etchells from Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, is here visiting family and enjoying some summer sailing. “Me and my crew are thoroughly enjoying being here, but it was tough out there today. We had the remnants of the northerly fighting the sea breeze that was coming – it started dying and we got big 30 to 40 degree shifts. It was kind of hard work,” he said.

The Brits went for a pin end start, despite the boat end being favoured. “There were too many at the boat end – we went for clear air and got away well. We were up front for the whole race. When we went downwind, a few would haul us in, then going back up, we got away again.”

Coming up the last leg to the finish, Mark Bradford’s crew from Brisbane got a great lift on the left side and passed the Brits to cross the line first. However, Bradford was scored OCS and is believed to be protesting.

“Nils deserved that win,” said Brown. “He got away well and worked hard to lead the entire race.”

So far, six of the seven races of the series have been sailed. Results could change dramatically tomorrow when the final race of the series is sailed and the race drop comes into play.

The final race of the Audi Etchells Nationals, a Sail Melbourne event, starts from 11.00hours off host venue, Royal Brighton Yacht Club.

Results:

Pos	Sail Number	Helm	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Tot
1	AUS1326	Robert Brown	2	13	6	20	3	2	46
2	AUS1321	John Bertrand	14	7	2	2	17	6	48
3	AUS1320	Rob Bird	11	5	15	19	1	10	61
4	AUS1244	Jake Gunther	10	18	5	4	9	17	63
5	AUS1011	Chris Jackson	1	30	4	3	6	22	66
6	AUS865	Bruce McBriar	7	6	19	7	23	15	77
7	AUS1277	Mark Bulka	17	20	1	6	26	8	78
8	AUS1079	Craig Cobbin	13	23	23	5	12	3	79
9	AUS1273	Michael Coxon	8	10	21	14	5	30	88
10	GBR1340	Nils Razmilovic	21	21	13	21	14	1	91
11	AUS1131	David Clark	6	4	38	13	4	27	92
12	AUS1335	Cameron Miles	61	17	3	1	10	4	96
13	AUS924	S. Cunnington/D. King	18	3	10	30	8	41	110
14	AUS1312	Robert Davis	16	24	17	16	22	16	111
15	AUS1254	Julian Plant	4	14	7	15	13	61	114
16	AUS1124	Mark Johnson	5	1	11	27	45	32	121
17	AUS867	David Rose	27	9	18	29	19	24	126
18	AUS925	Rod Jones	45	11	16	35	2	18	127
19	AUS1134	Matt Whitnall	35	19	26	33	21	5	139
19	AUS1143	Chris Pratt	9	16	8	34	30	42	139
21	AUS1290	Rob Weir	20	47	9	17	35	14	142
21	AUS1317	Mark Bradford	24	8	12	26	11	61	142
23	AUS1274	Ross Lloyd	19	48	31	9	15	37	159
24	NZ1295	Barry Thom	30	29	27	24	32	21	163
24	AUS1136	David Royal	33	25	25	12	42	26	163
26	AUS1192	Mathew Chew	36	15	14	11	31	60	167
27	AUS1025	Greg Mellody	12	39	29	61	18	9	168
28	AUS1026	Barry Fairley	34	52	32	18	28	7	171
29	AUS1121	Jason Farnell	23	2	24	43	53	29	174
30	AUS415	Noel Paterson	25	22	20	25	44	44	180
31	AUS831	Mathew Mitchell	31	45	36	31	27	12	182
32	AUS1293	Ian Crisp	26	34	35	42	20	38	195
32	NZ1314	Lindsay Kennedy	32	35	49	8	36	35	195
32	AUS1288	Steve Gunther	46	12	61	23	7	46	195
35	AUS949	Garrath James	41	26	37	10	61	23	198
36	AUS1319	Stephen O'Rourke	29	36	28	38	49	19	199
37	AUS1311	Paul Henshall	15	42	42	61	34	13	207
38	AUS994	Brendan Garner	28	28	46	54	41	20	217
39	AUS1250	Jervis Tilly	33	33	30	37	51	40	224
40	AUS1189	Clark Swan	51	27	50	45	25	36	234
41	AUS1213	Mark Griffith	3	31	51	28	61	61	235
42	AUS1144	David Bull	43	37	54	22	39	47	242
43	AUS1030	Peter Ahern	40	55	22	61	37	33	248
44	AUS872	Nick Knezic	61	43	33	50	40	25	252
45	AUS1024	Guyon Wilson	53	49	45	52	47	11	257
46	AUS913	Steve Moore	38	40	55	32	56	39	260
47	AUS1291	Don Wilson	49	58	53	53	24	34	271
48	AUS1257	David Lawrence	37	54	41	47	33	61	273
49	AUS826	David Healey	42	41	43	46	55	51	278
49	AUS1048	David Atkinson	47	32	40	41	57	61	278