January 30, 2010
Optimist Oceania Regatta 2010
12 countries, 140 boats, 46 degree days, no wind. Welcome to Adelaide 2010 for the 2010 Optimist Oceania Championships. After training in 25 knot winds at the High Performance Clinic the weather changed as a major high came over Adelaide and stayed for a week. It was no surprise the Singapore and Hong Kong teams performed so well. Great sailing also by the US team and some individual Australian performances in Nia Jerwood, Lachlan Gilmour (son of champion sailor Peter Gilmour), Jack Felsthenthal a newcomer to the Opti class from Victoria. Also a big congratulations to all the Green Fleet competitors with just under 50 boats competing. Congratulations to the Australian Optimist Team also and roll on Pittwater in 2011.
Full results at http://www.adelaidesailingclub.com.au and select the regatta tab
More pics at http://www.paparazzi.com.au
January 18, 2010
2009-10 Couta Boat Nationals winner Romy - Nigel Abbott
The classic Couta Boat is a magnificent site under full sail. Get 40 of them together and throw in some experts such as Nigel Abbott. Andrew Plymton, Nick Williams, Wayne “Moose” Johnstone, Peter Gale, Col Anderson and the like and you have some very close racing, almost too close sometimes. The Couta Boat Nationals were sailed from Sorrento Sailing & Couta Boat Club as they usually are (why don’t they just call it the worlds and be done with it?) and they were won convincingly by Nigel Abbott and his crew about “Romy” a Peter Gale design from 2003. While “Romy” carries a high handicap, excellent sailing and reading of the currents saw them win the passage race by some 30 minutes and clinch the series on line honours and handicap. A special bonus was for Sailing Shack’s Ben Hartnett and three of his Optimist sailing friends in Jack Abbot (Nigel’s son),Tom Trotman and Anna Philip was they got to ride the rail with Nigel and “Romy” and share the win!
December 27, 2009
ISAF Sail Melbourne 2009 Optimist - pic Leisa Hartnett
The ISAF Sail Melbourne has hit town and is now on the road to Miami. The regatta saw a mixture of winds from strong northerly winds to light shifty conditions. There were some long days with some fleets not starting until 7.00pm and even to coaches getting stressed or was that bored. One 420 crew when asked why they let the fleet go one direction and they took a massive flyer by their coach replied “well we figured the race would be abandoned and our strategy was to be first to the dock and out of here”.
The 49ers were amazing to see and the regatta looked close between Nathan Outteridge/Ian Jensen, the Kiwi’s and the Phillips Boys. The dominance of Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page (fresh from the Masters Games) still continues in the 470’s. Full results are at http://www.sailmelbourne.com.au/results
Again Sail Melbourne had many of the sailing elite present and this was inspirational for the junior classes especially the Optimists who had twice the fleet this year with competitors getting ready for the Oceania Optimist Regatta in Adelaide in January 2010.
December 2, 2009
Just recently I learned that one of the Tasar’s we previously owned “Sneaky Sailing System” is no longer. Not through poor sailing but sitting quietly in its shed at the owners house. The problem was the shed was directly below a massive tree that decided to fall down in some windy Australian weather over the past week. The tree took out that shed and the boat all in one hit. It is a shame when I think of all the work we did prepping the boat which won many trophies for us and all three boys sailed in her at some stage. The line “look up and live” is so important and just as valid when considering where to park your boat. Good luck to the owners in finding a new boat for the summer which is only a few weeks away.
November 16, 2009
RIB & Opti enroute to a regatta
The new Sailing Shack RIB has arrived. We have upgraded to a 5.3m Zodiac that was originally built for the 2000 Olympic Games by Yachting Australia. The boat is very dry and very fast which is a good thing for a coach and photography boat. See you at the next regatta.
November 16, 2009
AUS 506 sailing at Sorrento Ben Hartnett pic Leisa Hartnett
With youngest son Lachie wanting to take up sailing this year and claiming ownership of Opt AUS 531 we needed to buy a new Opti for Ben. Much soul searching was done, reviews, web surfing to look at this purchase. In the end we decided to buy James Brewer’s McLaughlin boat AUS 506. James is one of Australia’s top Opti sailors and qualified for the worlds last year. In addition I have known his father Rob from Rob Brewer Sails for many years since our J-24 days. So the trip to Sydney was made and the boat collected and then an express trip back to Melbourne so Ben could make the Team Sorrento Coaching weekend (stuff we do for kids!).
November 15, 2009
Rob Hartnett Laser Radial at World Masters Games
Last month I competed in the World Masters Games in a Laser Radial. This was a last minute exercise when my 12 year old Opti sailor Ben said “hey dad, you should do this, we’re all at school and you could have some time to yourself to sail”. He entered me and the campaign started. That was in August! So I hit the gym for a 2.5 month campaign, converted our 4.7 Laser to a Radial courtesy of Buster Hooper with the cool new Harken Laser blocks, new Hyde sail. Then the wind blew and in Melbourne we got out only three times over September. The World Masters was a blast. I caught up with many old friends, experienced paparazzi courtesy of Prince Frederik of Denmark who was sailing a Tasar, led a couple of heats, and finished 5th overall in my division. Very happy with that considering it blew 20-27 knots for seven of nine heats. Man do I have to work on going downwind faster! A big thanks to all the master Laser competitors who assisted with their advice and learning through hard practice. Vanessa Dudley was awesome downwind and just proves what time in the boat can do. Mark my buddy from Queensland who won, top job. Camilla Graves from my club Sorrento great work and well deserved second in the women’s division. I am super keen on masters and will be back again in between Opti regatta’s and work.
World Masters Games
September 13, 2009
Well the deep dark cloudy cold weather of Melbourne got to the Sailing Shack team as we bunkered down for a month of two and read about the hot, warm regatta’s overseas. But the sun is breaking through and we had a day of 30 degrees c on Saturday. Many regatta’s are coming up over the next few months downunder such as: World Master Games in Sydney October 12th -16th, Sail Sandy Oct 17th/18th, Sail Sorrento Coaching Weekend Oct 31 – Nov 2, Sail Melbourne and leading into the Christmas Australian and International Regatta’s.
June 18, 2009
Optimists in Venice
Yes this photo sure appears that the beautiful city of Venice is indeed about to be taken over by a fleet of Optimist sailors with their coaches in RIB’s. In fact I don’t think I have ever seen a picture of Optimists sailing without a flotilla of coaches and nervous parents in RIB’s. How amazing is the Optimist. Designed in 1942 this class is having a major growth phase again. The fleets just keep getting bigger downunder and the racing fun if you can believe the smiles in the boat park. Thanks to John Chipp for the pic above.
June 10, 2009
Just caught up with the specs and pics of the new Flying Tiger 7.5. What a great looking boat and the square top mainsail and kite make it look very powerful. The chines on the side are interesting and good to see some more sailing pics of the boat at http://www.hiptrader.com/images/photos/index.php/FT75. Better still can’t wait to get a sail of one in Australia.
