Grolsch Australian Nationals 2002 Results
Grolsch International 505 Worlds 2002 – Grolsch Australian Nationals 2002/2003
Hamlin wins the preworlds
Like the Hamlin Pied Piper, who led the populace, Howie set the pace to clinch his win overall. Howie and crew Mike Martin have been sailing together for 12 years, and are also the worlds 18ft skiff 2002 champions. Howie was world 505 champion in 1999. They rounded the top mark in virtually clear and free air, and the rest of the fleet followed in the final two races, 5 & 6 to win in the Grolsch Australian International 505 Nationals, pre-worlds warm up event for the 505 worlds 8-14 December. “The conditions suited us” said a delighted Howie,” there is a nice variety of breezes here, we prefer the moderate winds and we are able to hang on in the windy races”. “This is a great place”
Once again the weather came out smiling, the water was nearly flat, with a low swell, Indian Ocean blue, sparkling in the sun. Again, a great start, with the fleet becoming accustomed to the local conditions and the home town boys having to work harder for their money. Plenty of opportunity in steady 15-18 knots to concentrate on tactics and vie for the top honours. The fleet has become very competitive with over 100 boats competing and the Fremantle doctor giving truly varied conditions, starting with a real buster early in the week and down to light winds towards the end of the series.
Peter Chappel tops Australian nationals honours.
With an almost unassailable point lead over the Australian 505 fleet, home town sailor, Peter Chappell went into the final two races and took the honours, with 18 points, to win the Grolsch Australian 505 nationals 2002/2003. Sandy Higgins racing with Paul Marsh, in Sleek, was 16 points behind in 2nd place and Andrew Beeckman with Ben Benjamin, in Gummi de Milo were third with 42 points. There were a stack of trophies to be taken away – including Australian Ladies Champion, won by Renee de Voogdt and Masters champion Brian Robinson won in “Grumpy old Men”All set for the worlds Top international sailor and 5 time world champion Krister Bergstrom from Sweden will be hard to beat. Howie Hamlin having just won the preworlds will be raring to go. Ian Barker, from the UK, silver medallist at Sydney 2000, has already shown his capabilities, winning race 4 of the preworlds, Tom Swift and Holger Jess from Germany will also be guys to watch. Australian contingent of top sailors to look out for in the worlds event include Sandy Higgins racing with Ian Davidson, defending Australian champion, Chris and Darren Nicholson from NSW.
Grolsch International 505 Worlds - Open Australian Championships – Race 4
Ian Bodged and Scarpered
Tricky conditions were the order of the day in race four of the Grolsch Australian 505 Championships, pre worlds event for the 505 worlds. Light south westerly winds moved south east “unheard of in Fremantle” , where the winds normally stay south westerly.
After again a great start,the fleet bombshelled chasing the wind shifts. Through good luck or good judgement, and the calibre of the leaders having already shown the way in the previous races the old cliché once again proved opposite, the more you win the luckier you get.
From the start to the top mark the first 5 boats that took the left hand side of the course, got there well ahead of the rest of the fleet. The boats on the right hand side then joined in and there were a lot of port and starboard calls and several boats took penalties.
At the end of the downwind run the boats again converged on the leeward mark from different angles, creating some chaotic aggression where more boats took infringement penalties.
On the second beat the wind having shifted about 40 degrees, the top mark was repositioned in line with a true beat. Ian Barker, former 505 world champ and Olympic silver medallist in 49-ers, at Sydney 2000, having scarpered with the wind at the top mark, led the fleet to the finish. Nevertheless Peter Chappell, got out of gaol, meticulously picking the shifts, to cross the line not far behind. Simon Payne, from Britain, racing with former 505 world champion “Billy Boy” Masterman, in Gus First Blood Part 2, finished third.
First 5 placings:
1. GBR 8743 Bodge It and Scarper - Ian Barker/Dan Cripps
1. AUS 8801The Fish - Peter Chappell/Ian Davidson
3. GBR 8773 Gus First Blood 2 - Simon Payne/Bill Masterman
4. AUS 8667 Swing Shift - Scott Olsen/Sean Gregory
5. GER 8775 - Tom Swift/Holger Jess
Flying Fish flies high
After 4 races, more than half way through the series, West Australian legend, Peter Chappell, in The Fish, looks like holding his lead to take the Grolsch Australian championship title? He currently is on 4 points, just two points ahead of hotshot American, Howie Hamlin racing with Mike Martin, two of the three man team that won the Australian 18 footer worlds. Aussies again, Sandy Higgins, defending Australian Champion , and Luke Molloy, are equal 3rd with 12 points. There is still quite a way to go and there will be some very competitive crews aiming to close the gap. The forecast is for some exciting racing with plenty of action. The Doctor will be there.
Grolsch International 505 Worlds - Open Australian Championships - Races 1, 2 & 3
An even better start in race three
In race three, after an even better start with more than 100 boats on the water, Peter Chappell in The Fish, with hyper speed, led at the top mark to finish first over the line. Sandy Higgins was close behind in 2nd place and Howie Hamlin finished 3rd.
Spinnaker reaches with the new larger kites and the solid Fremantle Doctor had the boats skipping across the waves.
The fleet was so competitive that after a two nautical mile beat,20 boats converged on the top mark at the same time from different angles giving the International Jury some after hours work.
Barney Harris and Clayton James from USA,sailing Team Spot, were the recalcitrant boat and paid the penalty, after coming in on a port tack at the mark, and tried to make room for themselves among around 15 boats all on starboard.
First 5 placings:
1. AUS 8801The Fish - Peter Chappell/Ian Davidson
2. AUS 8795 Sleek - Alexander Higgins/Paul Marsh
3. USA 8714 Black Boat - Howard Hamlin/Mike Martin
4. AUS 8395 TIMAAY! - Luke Molloy/Lucas Prescott
5. USA 8762 Nice Wood - Dan Thompson/Andrew Zinn
Champagne sailing conditions - Race 2
Racing went well in ideal racing conditions in the 2nd and 3rd races of the Grolsch Australian 505 Nationals, pre-warm up event for the Grolsch 505 Worlds. Howie Hamlin, from USA, world 18 ft skiff champion, led at the top mark in race two in 15-18 knot southwesterly winds. Howie, and crew Ian Davidson, increased their lead steadily throughout the race, crossing the line in first position, 23 seconds ahead of Ian Barker, silver medallist, and crew Dan Cripps, from Britain, in Bodge It and Scarper.
South Australians Sandy Higgins, defending Australian champion, with Paul Marsh, in Sleek led the Australian contingent finishing third.
The gate starts are working exceptionally well, with over 100 boats starting without incident setting the fleet up for a fantastically even start in champagne starting conditions.
First 5 placings:
1. USA 8714 Black Boat - Howard Hamlin/Mike Martin
2. GBR 8743 Bodge It and Scarper - Ian Barket/Dan Cripps
3. AUS 8795 Sleek - Sandy Higgins/Paul Marsh
4. USA 7771 Gummi de Milo - Andrew Beekman/Ben Benjamin
5. AUS 8395 TIMAAY! - Luke Molloy/Lucas Prescott
International sailors meet the Doctor - Race 1
Matt Hansen, sailing Crimson Autograph, West Australian 505 President, commented that the wild conditions in 25 knot winds gusting up to 36 knots certainly tested out the skills of the international contingent from twelve countries. Nevertheless home town hero, Peter Chappell with Ian Davidson, sailing in his Fremantle 505, "The Fish" managed to sneak through and win from Howie Hamlin, of USA, the world 18ft skiff champion with crew Mike Martin in "Black Boat".. Australians, Luke Molloy and Lucas Prescott, in "Timaayy!" were third.
The Grolsch International 505 World Championships pre world event, the Australian Nationals, started with an early introduction to the Fremantle Doctor, the well renowned Fremantle sea breeze. The winds this season have been the strongest since America's Cup in 1986 and today was no exception. This is the first 505 world championships with the boats carrying the new larger spinnakers and as expected there was action aplenty. Shore side after the race was a hive of activity repairing broken gear and checking out for any weak areas.
Confirmed entries of over 100 boats with around half being international sailors, many of whom have a string of world sailing trophies, ensure that this will indeed be a memorable regatta and a battle of the giants.