What a glorious day on the water last weekend with the dry season making a brief appearance for our racing, which was enjoyed by all 42 boats racing, 89 sailors and everyone on the water.

There was fabulous conditions for the final day of racing for our Club Race Series I, sponsored by our very own Laser Sailor Dr Phil Toonson and NT Surgery, which was also the first heat of the 2022 DSC Championships sponsored by Airpower, our MANTA Sailor Mr Grant Rue.

Lasers have come out in force for the series, with 26 starters throughout the series and 20 starters on Sunday.  The tips, training and inspiration from Laser Olympian Sarah Ogilvie, certainly paid off for some, which shone through on the results. Others of us (me included) benefitted from tips back in the boat park. A massive thank you to Claire Hall, Australian Sailing for organising and Nick McGrath for hosting Sarah on the RHIB.

Dogmatix, Aden McGrath, took home two first places in the Laser division on the day, winning himself the series overall and the Radial Subseries.

Prefrontalcortexless , James McGrath, recovered well from an injury early in the series, to work his way back to 2^nd overall and Hall Laser, Claire Hall made a brilliant return to Lasers taking 3^rd Overall, showing a strong start to her Oceanic Masters Campaign for August.

Snapshot, Jericho Stroud, took out the series double in the Standard Rig, stepping up from Radials this season, with Lets Launch, Chris ‘Bundy’ Batenburg, leading the Lasers around the course to get the first two Airpower DSC Championship Heats for Standard Rigs sub division.

Knotorious, Kira Lesh, went from strength to strength, showing renewed focus to earn 1^st Place Performance Handicap Overall, in close competition in our Laser fleet.

Div 5, Mixed fleet with Tasers and RS2000, were light on the course for the series, but came back this weekend, with a strong 6 boat fleet. Alice, Andrew Scott’s, hard work over the season has paid off to take out two yardstick 1^st, but it wasn’t enough to catch Tequila Sunrise, skippered by Phil Brownscombe taking home the double, 1^st on Yardstick and Performance Handicap.

Our Catamarans didn’t have the numbers for the series results but had a gangbusters and controversial start to the AirPower DSC Championships, with Jack Benson returning to the fleet, only to lose his placing by registering with the wrong sail number, conceding his win to, Dynamite, Simon Cruickshank who led the fleet in the other heat to get two wins. It’s great to see fresh faces in our A-Classes and the return of Tornado Supernova, skippered by Peter Gibb, hopefully this is a sign of a comeback for Div 7.

But, when it comes to division comeback, the Minnows take the biscuit with a strong fleet of 9 young sailors across the series, and 5 Sailors sailing in their very first DSC Championship, the future is looking bright. Leading the fleet is Bubble B, Tiger Batenburg, with a clean sweep of the NT Surgery Club Series 1 and his extra training has paid off, to take out the series double with Yardstick and Performance Handicap. Yknot, Leo Battenburg, won Performance Handicap of the day, ahead of all the minnow sailors who have all really come along in their sailing this series.

The Division 1, 2, 3 & 4, raced this series as a Mixed Fleet, and while there were not many on the course the series resulted in abandoned races, so we missed out on the trophy being up for grabs this time, however like the cats, it’s great to see six starters for the Airpower DSC Championships, and Fast Forward, skippered by Mark Pike taking out 1^st place. Even Karma skippered by our Life Member John Hardy a little lonely representing Div 1 on his own, joining 36 sailors on the water in our mixed fleet. 

Of course none of this cannot happen without the commitment and kindness of our vital volunteers. Lead by our Race Officer David Newman, who is doing a stellar job for his very first series, on behalf of all the sailors I thank you one and all.

The next DSC Championship heat for all Divisions is the 2^nd Classic race Middle Arm, 26 June 22, and registrations are open for the DSC Regatta 15 – 16 Oct. All races at the regatta are heats for the DSC Champions with awesome prizes thanks to our sponsor Airpower!

NT Surgery, our generous sponsor is going back to back sponsoring Club Race Series 2, starting on the 28 August 22, everyone registered in Club Race Series 1 is automatically registered for Series 2 and in the running for the overall Club Series Trophies.

This weekend is our first cruising event, Turnbull Bay and the second heat of the NT Shade Sprint Series, generously sponsored by Michelle and Bundy Batenberg. The first heat showed some great close racing. The short sharp races give you the perfect chance to hone your racing skills. If you didn’t see it check out the prize up for grabs for sailing in the Patron Trophy, donated by our sensational Commodore Lucille Panting.

As always your feedback is welcome, thanks for those who have taken the time already, feel free to send me an email or a chat at the club.  

Wishing you great days on the water, see you out there.

Deb Negus
Rear Commodore Sailing