International Etchells 2023 Australasian Championship will be raced from the Mooloolaba Yacht Club (MYC) with eight races scheduled from 9-11 June 2023.
World Champions and well-known sailors including Australia II skipper John Bertrand AO, who is also the current National Champion, and Martin Hill AM have brought their teams from Victoria and Sydney respectively, and there are teams from as far away as Perth, Western Australia.
The competition is fierce in the one design, or identical, Etchells class, where success is based purely on the skill of the sailors, team work, and consistency over the whole series in a range of conditions to determine the winner.
We expect this to continue this weekend as the class is building up to two World Championships being held in Australia next year, in Fremantle, Western Australia and Brighton, Victoria.
Fast Facts
- The Etchells class was originally designed as a three-person keelboat with the potential of being an Olympic class, but it was never selected. The designer, Skip Etchells could have never dreamed of the class that he would create when they were first launched in 1966.
- We now see Olympians, America’s Cup racers and the top of our sport line up in this one-design class, which really pegs the skill of sailors against their fellow sailors.
- John Bertrand AO, skipper of Australia II, chooses to race an Etchells for some of the toughest, and closest racing that you will see in sailing.
- The Etchells sailboat is 22 feet long with a crew of three or four people. It features a high-performance design with a sleek hull, a fixed keel, and a large sail area.
- The boat’s strict one-design rules ensure that all Etchells boats are nearly identical in terms of design, weight, and equipment, placing a premium on skill and tactics rather than equipment.
- The racing is what is referred to as “around the cans” racing in sailing. The fleet will start over an imaginary start line, do a specified number of laps, and then cross the finish line.
- Etchells class racing is known for its competitiveness and attracts both amateur and professional sailors. The class has a strong international presence, with fleets located in various countries. The Etchells World Championship is a highly regarded event in the sailing community, showcasing the skills of top sailors from around the world.
- The place that you finish, is the number of points that you get, and at the end of what will hopefully be eight scheduled races, the boat with the lowest score will be crowned the Australasian Champion.
- Consistency is king, and no doubt the fleet will put on a fantastic show for locals over this June long weekend.
For video and live updates, head to Etchells Australia on Facebook or @etchellsaus on Instagram.
Contact
Nicole (Nic) Douglass
Media Manager – International Etchells Class Australia
Phone – 0402 454 885
