Ok - here's a brief report on the regatta. It was an absolute privilege to sail with so many Olympians past and present, medal winners, World champions, National champions and five of the current Seppo Cup team. This would have to be national event with the deepest talent of all. Even the current World Champion came fourth!
Full results are here
http://www.safetybeachsailingclub.com.au/results/division/classResults/result%20page.htmlMy overall impression was that the best sailors with the best preparation came to the fore. There were five or six ASG3's using Glenn's 1 metre head sails as well as the majority of the fleet using Geltek II's, AHPC Flyer I's and Tools. Masts were generally either Fibrefoam or Saarberg and sails Ashby or Brewin. Glenn appeared to not have been on A's enough this year to be as sharp as in the past and to have fine tuned his new rig that last little bit. Stevie Brewin has been sailing major regattas all year including the Europeans, and all the State Titles in Australia. He was really tuned up and has had a year tuning his 1 metre head sail. A contradiction to this theory was Brad Collett who had little sailing through the year and used a small head Shby sail on a borrowed Geltek II platform! Just a great sailor.
The next big event will be the Worlds in Italy in June and it looks like a strong contingent of Australians will be going - including the top 4 from this event. Hopefully now the GFC is in the past a few Americans will attend to get in the mainstream of world competition.
The gear used by the top 5 as best I can remember was:
Stevie Brewin - Tool platform, Saarberg mast, 1 metre head Brewin sail, straight canted boards
Brad Collett - Geltek II platform, Fibrefoam mast, Ashby small head sail, straight canted boards
Graham Parker - AHPC Flyer I, Ashby small head sail, Saarberg mast, straight boards
Glenn Ashby - ASG 3 platform, Ashby big head sail, Fibrefoam mast, curved boards
Dave Brewer - Geltek II platform, Fibrefoam mast, Ashby small head sail, straight canted boards.
Cheers
John Dowling