The 42nd Mirror Class National Titles have been completed.

For full details on result tables in the various categories, click here.

Friday , 4 January: The final heat commenced on schedule under a light Northerly Breeze of less than 5 knots. Close racing was experienced under the light conditions, with the positions of boats changing numerous times. A drop in the breeze saw the fleet spread over a wider area, and the course was eventually shortened to finish at the end of the 6th leg.

The two Kamikazes again took out first and second place in the heat. First place was awarded to Jessie Atherton and Katherine Maher in Kamikaze, while Mark Barrington and Earle Westbury followed in Kamikaze II. Coming in Third Place were Quentin Hunt and son Robert in Fizz.

The results of the final race saw the completion of a successful campaign by Jessie Atherton and Katherine Maher in Kamikaze. Not only have they been successful in winning the overall National Title, but they have also demonstrated to all their talent as junior sailors. It has been acknowledged that Jessie and Katherine are the first Ladies in the 42 year history of the Mirror Nationals to take out the overall championship. Congratulations and well done to both Jessie and Katherine!

2nd Place in the Overall Championship went to Stanley Crocodile which was sailed by Lachlan Gilbert and daughter Alice. Lachlan and Alice also took out the Frank Buxton award for the highest placed parent and child crew combination in the Nationals Regatta.

3rd place was awarded to another parent / child combination of Paul and Austin Taylor in Excel-Erate. Paul was also successful in winning the Veterans Category. Other award winners under the various categories that were contested in the Nationals Regatta were:

Junior: Alex Hunt and David McAully in Fox Lady III

Sub Junior: Tara Foster and Paddy Gilbert in Guppy Too

Norm Dean Masters: Roger Orr and Max Davey in All Fired Up

Ladies: Jenny Graney and Daniel McAully in Carpe Diem

Cruiser Weight: Thomas and Rex Henderson in Sky III

Congratulations are extended to all.

The 42nd Mirror Nationals have proven to be a successful and enjoyable event for all those who competed. This has only been made possible by the assistance of many people who have contributed in many different ways to ensure that all ran smoothly.

Our sincere thanks must firstly be extended to our principle sponsor

 

Along with all of our Other Sponsors whose generous contributions have made this event possible.

There was also a small army of volunteers performing a number of roles through out the series. Such roles included performing the PRO function, the manning of rescue boats, feeding the hungry sailor through the canteen operations, organising the catering for after sailing function, recording and publishing of race results, conducting measurement and registration before the start of the event..... the list goes on. In order to avoid missing out any of our dedicated workers, individuals will not be named. However our heart felt thanks is extended to all, and is very much appreciated. THANK YOU!

See you in NSW, 2009 !

Thursday, 3 January: Another 3 races were completed to day with 10 knot south-easterly breeze that shifted to the southwest as the afternoon wore on. The day was free of protests and major collisions. With 9 races completed, two discards are now allowed. Race 7 saw Kamikaze once again take line honours. Second was Stanley Crocodile, and third was Carpe Diem sailed by Jenny Graney and Daniel McAully.

Race 8 was won by Excel-Erate. Mark Barrington who was back on the water today took second place in Kamikaze II and third place was awarded to Stanley Crocodile. The final heat for the day (Race 9) saw the young ladies in Kamikaze win their second heat for the day. Second place was Kamikaze II and third was Stanley Crocodile.

On the eve of the last heat which is scheduled to take place tomorrow morning, it is evident that the overall championship may come down to performances of sailors in the last heat. Over the nine heats conducted to date, line honours have been awarded to four different boats. Tomorrow's racing will also see boats vying for the various other categories that are up for grabs as part of this regatta.

.......Stay tuned for further updates.

Wednesday, 2 January: Sailing resumed today after yesterdays lay day that saw in the New Year. A total of 3 heats were completed, and so the revised schedule to get the maximum number of races completed is going as planned.

The arrival of an early 15 knot sea breeze enabled racing to start on time with out any delays. One notable absence from the day's sailing was Mark Barrington and Earle Westbury in Kamikaze II. Mark had to attend to a prior engagement today....his daughter's wedding.

On the water, close racing was the order of the day. Heat 4 saw the first three places taken by parent / child combinations. Coming in first was Paul and Austin Taylor in Excel-Erate. Second place was Fizz sailed by Quentin and Robert Hunt, while third was Lachlan and Alice Gilbert in Stanley Crocodile.

Heat 5 saw the Taylors in Excel-Erate take line honours, while the Gilberts were up there once again with Stanley Crocodile. Third place was Kamikaze helmed by Jessie Atherton and Katherine Maher.

Heat 6 rounded out a good days sailing for Stanley Crocodile who also took out first place for the final race of the day. Following with a close second were Michael Brown and Josh Davis in Inside Edge, and Kamikaze again coming in third place.

As 6 heats are now completed, the overall result will now be able to be calculated by using one discard. The close racing that has been witnessed to date indicates that there will be plenty of excitement with the remaining heats. Many of the different categories are closely contested, and clear winners of those categories will probably not become evident until the completion of the series.

The results of today's racing are provisional results, and my change subject to protest hearings. Unfortunately collisions with competing boats have seen some competitors unable to complete some races or compete in subsequent heats. A concerted effort is been made to get these boats back on the water in time for tomorrow's sailing.

Monday, 31 December: Heats 4 and 5 were scheduled to be sailed prior to the new year with a forecast of warm weather and strong to gusty northerly winds forecast by the met bureau. The prediction of warm weather proved to be correct however the forecast winds did not arrive, much to the frustration of competitors and the Race Committee.

After postponing the race for a period of time, the fleet eventually commenced Heat 4 in a northerly breeze of less than 5 knots. After the race got underway, the breeze began to drop once more. This saw the fleet split into two main groups. Those that were stranded just short of the first mark and those that managed to get around the first mark and complete the first three legs. The race was eventually abandoned due to a lack of wind.

The Race Committee is endeavouring to conduct three races over the next couple of scheduled race days in order to complete the fully number of scheduled races for the Nationals Regatta. If it is not possible to complete three races on the Wednesday 2nd January, they will also consider scheduling morning races for Thursday, 3rd January prior to the two races that are scheduled to be sailed that afternoon.

 

Sunday, 30th December: Heats 2 and 3 were completed today under 10 to 15 knot South Westerly Breezes. In Heat 2, Tasmanian Mirror Class Association President - Roger Orr was off to a flying start in All Fired Up to have a handy lead by the end of the first beat.

Jessie Atherton and Katherine Maher in Kamikaze however went onto take line honours in Heat 2, followed by Paul and Austin Taylor in Xcel-Erate for 2nd and then Mark Barrington and Earle Westbury coming in 3rd. Heat 3 allowed Jessie and Katherine to once again demonstrate good tactics and crew work to take line honours for the second time in the day's racing. Second place went to Lachlan and Alice Gilbert in Stanley Crocodile, and third to Roger Orr and Max Davey in All Fired Up.

The pleasant conditions have seen some close racing with only a difference of 7 minutes in elapsed time between the whole fleet. All three heats have been completed by all with no retirements or disqualifications.

 

Saturday, 29th December: The Cliff Scott Invitation Race and Heat 1 have been sailed in a pleasant South Easterly Breeze of 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 18 knots.

Western Australians, Paul Taylor and son Austin sailing Xcel-Erate where successful in taking line honours in the Cliff Scott Invitation Race followed by Tasmanians Jessie Atherton and Katherine Maher in Kamikaze.

The first official heat of the series saw another Kamikaze lead the fleet. Mark Barrington and Earle Westbury sailing Kamikaze II took a strong lead to win heat one. Second place went to NSW boat Stanley Crocodile, helmed by Lachlan Gilbert and daughter Alice.

The good mix of place getters in today's heats shows promise of an interesting series of close racing ahead for the remainder of the heats.

For further details on results, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

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