MARTIN JURAT REAR COMMODORE SAIL

THESTART OF THE YEAR has been fantastically busy, and generally fantastic. The Contender Nationals and Worlds held in January are covered elsewhere. Four boats from RFBYC attended the Dragon Nationals at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron over the new year achieving great results: 5th Wizzardry (Ray Chatfield), 6th Mirage (Robert Campbell), 7th Saphira (Ian Malley) and 11th Plum Crazy (Sandy Anderson).

Etchells National Championships were sailed at the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia in early January with two teams from the Club: Animal House (Dirk Van der Struyf, Nick Deussen and Ethan Prieto Low) and Forte (Mark Crier, Andy Fethers and Robbie Gibbs) placing 11th and 12th respectively.

The Jess Cup was cancelled due to insufficient entries and was replaced with a match racing training session. Typically, this is a lead up event to the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta in early February, with three entries from RFBYC; Ethan Prieto-Low (1st), Marcello Torre (6th) and Lucy Alderson (8th). Will Boulden coached the teams. The outstanding result with chess move precision by Ethan Prieto-Low with Adam Brenz-Verca, George Boulden, Raffe Torre & Louis Schofield defeating the open world match racing champion Nick Egnot-Johnston.

Couta Boat State Championships were sailed in early February as a one day event, with some frustrat- ing racing in variable and light winds. Championship results: 1st Roulette (David McDonald) 2nd Swift (Andrew McMillan) and 3rd Ajax (Marty Jurat). Consistency results saw Roulette retain 1st with Hero (Duane Hand) gaining 2nd place and Swift 3rd place.

Etchells State Championships were held in mid-February: 1st The Rat (Highlander) (Grantham Kitto, Ethan Prieto-Low and Chris Pratt), 2nd The Cure (Raymond Smith, Michael Hughes and Alan Smith) and 3rd Screaming Plum (Greg Kerr, Luke Paterson and Richard Rowell).

Dragon State Championships were held in late February, Championship results: 1st Scoundrel (Willy Packer, Julian Harding, Jack Packer), 2nd Gordon (Richard Lynn, Ethan Prieto-Low, Adam Brenz-Verca) and 3rd Akula (Peter Bowman, Steven Cole, Jeremy Shellabear, Rowan McFarlane). Consistency results: 1st Aeolus (Jennie Fitzhardinge, Mat Selby, Daniel Arndt, Peter Hood), 2nd Blue Marlin (Sandy Anderson, Susan Parker, Caroline

Gibson, Fred Haes) and 3rd Sea Joy (Gerry McGann, Robyn Johnston, Shane Attwell, Jill Darby).

The National and World Flying 15 Championships hosted by RFBYC have just been sailed off Fremantle. This and the summary of races above illustrates the incredible capacity the team of staff and volunteers have for running state, national and international events. However, exhaustion can set in, and the time is right for new volunteers to become involved in race management to help spread the load for next season. Programs are being developed to facilitate this with training, mentoring and participation and we are reaching out to those who have expressed interest and anyone else; please contact our YOM Debbie Blaauw.

Part of the incredible team are Sharon Skinner (Sailing and Power Administrator) and John Anderson (mark layer, arbitrator and any job that needs doing) pictured below at the Dragon States.

Pat will report to Andy Fethers and will be responsible for the Dinghy, Training and associated venue areas, which were previously overseen by Debbie Blaauw. Debbie will continue focus on Keelboat racing, Offshore, Power and Regattas. Please join me in welcoming Pat to RFBYC and introducing yourself as he settles in.

Over the summer season, 50 of our junior and adult dinghy sailors travelled near and far to represent the Club and State in National Championships. They achieved great results and had a lot of fun. Congratulations to Axel Fleet and James Randall for win-