Tasmania will be represented by more than 20 elite young sailors in the invited classes at the ISAF Sailing World Cup regatta on Melbourne’s Port Phillip early in December.
Most of them showed their skills in a special lead-up regatta on the River Derwent for Melbourne’s international regattas and their class national championship on mainland waterways.
Many scored impressive race wins against their peers on Hobart’s River Derwent to lead their class in the PJ Super Series.
Conditions were perfect for the 70 boats, involving some 130 junior and youth, sailors contesting the PJ Super Series and conducted by Sandy Bay Sailing Club.
The International Cadets, Optimists and Lasers were out in force and after two races today, Will Cooper, skipper Impulse with his new crew, world champion Hugo Allison, took out the strongly competitive Cadet class.
Hugo’s former world champion skipper in Cadets, Sam Abel, is leading in his new class, the 420s, while Jasmin Galbraith and Chloe Fisher have followed up their success in the Showdown regatta with their 29er, Barefoot Bandits.
Sam King, who will contest the Laser Radial class at the ISAF Sailing World Cup, is leading the Laser 4.7 class at the Sandy Bay class.
In the Flying 11s, Wedgewood, sailed by Brendan Crisp and Daniel Maree, had a good opening day to the PJ Super Series, as did Will Sargeant in Lambordinghy and Rupert Hamilton in RSUP in the Optimist Open class.
In the Optimist Greens, Another Brick (Charlie Pavlides) also had a good day on the water as is George Scott sailing Loose Cannon in the Sabot class.
Sharpie newcomers, Oli and Toby Burnell and Josh Brown sailed Bonfire in an important lead-up to the Sharpie Nationals in early January at the Sandy Bay Sailing Club.
The PJ Series, sponsored by Peter Johnston Ship Chandlers, began as a mini-series many years ago and over the years has steadily increased in size. Hence, the upgrade in the name to PJ Super Series.
“This regatta is designed to support many young sailors from several sailing clubs in the Hobart area, giving them a great chance to prepare for their Nationals in various classes over the Christmas-New Year period,” SBSC Vice Commodore Felicity Allison said this week.
“More immediately, many will be sailing in the invited classes at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne on Port Phillip from December 7-13.”
The PJ Super Series will run over two days, with up to four races each day from the Nutgrove Beach-based club.
– Peter Campbell
