BY Tim Symons, Jindabyne Sailing Club

WITH Lake Jindabyne Sailing Club taking a break from racing over the New Year period, three Nacra Catamarans made the trip to Speers Point Amateur on Lake Macquarie to compete in the 43rd Nacra Catamaran’s National Championships.

This regatta was held from December 30 to January 5, 24. All Australian states were represented and were joined by several teenage sailors from New Caledonia.

Alistair and Lucy cross sailed their Nacra 5.8 Baru in the largest fleet of 25 similar boats. Nacra 16 square sailors Alan Davis on Alotta and Tim Symons on Bean Counter sailed in the smallest fleet. The Jindabyne sailors enjoyed rubbing shoulders with the country’s elite Nacra catamaran sailors and made many new friends.

Twelve races were run over five sailing days during the week. 56 boats competed in six different classes of Nacras split over five divisions. Most of the races were held in very strong winds of over 20 knots with the fourth and fifth days including large waves from a strong Southerly Buster. Many capsizes resulted in an overall tally of over 70. The large waves also caused havoc with sailors being washed from their boats including Alan.

At the completion of the Regatta, Alan won the Nacra 16 square class with Tim second. The local sailors enjoyed the regatta though the conditions were extremely tough. The next Nacra Catamarans National Championships will be held in 2025 in South Australia.

Lake Jindabyne Sailing Club recommenced racing on the afternoon of Sunday 7th January with the running of race seven of the 2023-24 Point-score series. Freya and Hayden Slater manned the start boat while Elizabeth Slater, Thor Slater, Mark Norling and Dudley manned the rescue boat. The North westerly breeze varied dramatically during the race with 12 to 15 knots at the start and only 5 knots at the finish, half an hour later.

Eleven boats rigged up to compete in the two divisions. Andrew and Rebecca Rae and Ross Lawley didn’t start in their races. Three catamarans competed in the Division 2 race. Adam Robinson led the fleet away and was chased by Damian and Zarley Goninan and Tim Symons. They sailed three laps of a Windward / Return course between a start mark near the quarry mark and the peninsular mark.

The lead swapped several times throughout the race between Adam and Damian. Adam slipped past on the final downwind leg to the finish line at the start mark to finish first. He was closely followed by Damian and Zarley with Tim bring up the rear. The yardstick corrected times gave Adam the win from Tim and Damian.

Six Division 1 monohulls completed the race. Three Lasers were joined by Craig and Joshua Rowe on their MG 14 and Jason and Byron Abbott on their NS 14 sailing in a Point-score race for the first time this season. Rod Baillie led the fleet around the two-lap course, though Craig and Josh chased hard with good use of their blue spinnaker. Rod finished first followed by Craig and Josh, Stephen French, Kerry McGaw, Jason and Byron and John and Kim Kleven on their Flying Fifteen. Rod took the yardstick corrected times win from Stephen, Kerry, Craig and Josh, Jason and Byron and John and Kim.