What better subject to get this forum up and going!

I received this from Jon Guymer:

Gary's account of the week is over on the F16 forum here.

And the results are on the NMCC website here.

Hi all,

To save you going to F16 Forum, I have copied it to this forum, please allow for it being written for non Mozzie people on F16 Forum.

have just returned from the Mossie Nat's. After weeks of searching to find a competitive Mossie I could borrow and coming up empty handed, I had decided to go along anyway with Altered and Sailboard to enjoy the company and have a holiday without racing for a change. After all Peter a Mossie friend, had offered for my family to stay with them at thier holiday house.

Monday the Mossies started racing with about 30 boats mixing it on the course. The breeze increased as the day went on, I enjoyed blasting around on Altered reminding the Mossies what they where missing, as they sail without spinnakers for Nat. titles at present.

Tuesday dawned very windy, Peter Nikitin with whom I was staying told me he had injured his knee and would be unable to continue racing and asked if I would like to sail his less than 2 year old cat rigged Mossie. IS THE POPE CATHOLIC!!!!!!!!!!! I jumped at the chance. Luckily racing was cancelled for the day due to high winds, so I spent the day getting my entry organised and setting up Peter's boat the way I like it. This didn't take to much as Peter and I have shared set up ideas for years and many things where already the way I like them.

Wednesday dawned with a light flukey wind, the Mossie felt quite strange to sail after Altered, so light and narrow such a long boom, it took me all day to come to grips with it. I had 2 lucky breaks, the first race in which I had done as well as second but finished 5th. went over the time limit so was abandoned. The second race, 10 time Nat's winner Bob Wilson who I had previously finished second to, while leading had a gear failure which caused his retirement from that race. This meant we both could not afford a bad race, as there was only one drop for the series of 8 races. I finished the day with a 1st. and a 2nd. Bob with 2 1st's.

Thursday the wind was stronger more to my liking,incredibly fast flat out reaches in flat water with 25kt. bullets in the 3rd. race of the day where the highlight for me, I added another 2 1st's and a 2nd. This put me one point ahead of Bob.

Friday we had two races to complete the series, Bob won the first with me second, putting us equal on points. It was down to the final race, I took the lead early enjoying the slightly fresher winds, allowing me to trapeze most of the windwards to use my 90 kg. to advantage. Finishing 1st. over the line to win the series by one point. Four 1st's, three 2nd's to Bob's Four 1st's, two 2nd's and one 3rd.

Trying to keep it brief, this report may sound like it was a two horse race, but many others mixed it with us at times particuraly Tim and Neil, but rarely got in at the finish. Full results, pictures and story will no doubt be on the Mossie site soon and a write up in Australian Sailing Mag.

The sloop rigs where won by Mick Floyd and son Tom breaking the run of 4 Nat. titles for Wawick Kemp of South Aust. Great to see family crews winning titles.

I must thank Peter Nikitin for giving me this opportunity to win my first Nat. title. Lending a almost new boat is not something that just anybody would do. He certainly deserved the spirit of the Nationals Award, as he worked to make this title happen at his home club, as well as being so generous in lending his boat to me.

Regards Gary.

Hi all,

this write up courtesy of Sail Melbourne site thanks to Mick Floyd.



Australian Mosquito Championships

The Sail Melbourne Australian Mosquito Championships came to a successful conclusion last Friday. The event was held over 5 days at Loch Sport on Lake Victoria, part of the Gippsland Lakes 200km East of Melbourne. Hosted by the Loch Sport Boat Club the 42 competitors on 29 boats enjoyed a range of wind conditions. The invitation race and first heat were sailed on Monday. Scheduled races were postponed Tuesday as strong winds swept the area. Racing recommenced on Wednesday morning in light and variable winds which disappeared altogether resulting in race 2 being abandoned. From then on another 7 races were held in excellent conditions ranging from 10 to 20+ knots.

In the MkI division (cat rigged - single handed) there were 16 entries. In a historic win the title was taken by Gary Maskiell (Gippsland Lakes YC) with a margin of 1 point from Bob Wilson (Port Melbourne YC), who has been the reigning champion for the past 10 years. Gary had not even entered the event until Peter Nikitin had to retire from the series after race 1 due to a pre existing knee injury. Peter then loaned his boat to Gary who entered with a DNC for race 1 so he could not drop another result. The racing was intense for the whole series with both competitors scoring four wins each. The result was only decided in the last race when Gary was able to shake Bob off on the last leg to take the race and the series. Third place was fought out between Neil Joiner and Tim Shepperd (both from Gippsland Lakes YC) with Neil prevailing by 1 point.

The MkII division (sloop rigged - double handed) also saw the reigning champion relegated to second place. Father and son team, Mick and Tom Floyd (Bendigo YC) took out the series with one race to spare from Warwick Kent and Kieran Latter (Adelaide SC). Again the racing was extremely tight throughout the series with many position changes and some very tight action on the finish line. Another father and son team from Bendigo, Peter and Tom Cobden (Cairn Curran SC) took out third place.

Other awards made were: Junior Skipper - Henry Shepperd, Best placed female (Skipper or crew) - Sarah Martin, Spirit of the Nationals - Peter Nikitin, Australian Sailing Magazine Encouragement Award - Matt Kirby and the State Teams Award was taken by Victoria.

Sponsors of the event were Ocean Wetsuits, Goodall Yacht Sails, Australian Sailing Magazine and Sail Melbourne. Sail Melbourne is made possible by the support of event sponsors: Sport & Recreation Victoria, Collex, Parks Victoria; associate sponsors Bayside City Council and Menere's BMW Brighton and support sponsors Ronstan International, Schenker Australia, City of Kingston and the City of Port Philip.

How is Peter doing? Must be pretty happy that his boat is so competive.

Hi Bill,

Pete is getting around OK just can't kneel or give knee hard time. Still doesn't know what Doctors want to do with it, tests show cartlidge damage.

I think Pete already knew boat was competitive, he has had good results in titles on it and placed third in first heat this year. You just can't go to wrong with the package of Cobden/Warren-Smith platform and Irwin sails.

I certainly enjoyed sailing his boat the harder the wind blew the faster it went. You could push the boat much harder than other Mossies I have sailed. Also the conditions suited me flatwater and shifty breezes are what I grew up sailing at Hazelwood, combined with Gippsland Lakes breeze it doesn't come much better for me.

Regards Gary.