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Fourth B14 World Championships, 2003
Updates from McCrae...
Big thanks due to James
Ellis for continuous updates from the Worlds
Tim Fells and Dave
Cunningham (GBR) win the World Championships!
Provisional overall
results:
1. AT&T, Fells/Cunningham (GBR758), 17pts
2. Snatch, Pank/Barber (GBR746), 22pts
3. Buggar the Bone, Bancroft/Bancroft (AUS357), 24pts
4. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR 725), 25pts
5. RayMarine, Jolliffe/Branch (GBR728), 45pts
6. Glashaus, Nelson/Ramus (GBR764), 47pts
7. The Nude, Reynolds/McMillan (AUS368), 50pts
| Day 1
06/01/03 DAY 2 - DAY 3 - DAY 4 - DAY
5 |
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IMPORTANT NOTICE -
CHAIRLIFT COLLAPSE |
| Competitors in the Sail
Melbourne B14 World Championship at McCrae Yacht Club faced a long wait on day 1 as the
racing was postponed from 1230pm until almost 630pm due to lack of breeze. When it finally
filled in from 1100 the fleet scrambled to get a race in before the day’s end. Race 1
Guy & Rhys Bancroft (AUS) lept off the
start line after tacking onto port at the pin end and, capitalising on a late shift to the
left, laid the first mark to lead Jono Pank/Shaun Barber (UK) and Alex Matthews/Ewan
McLellan (UK) in 5-10knots of breeze. On the first downwind leg, the first three boats
held on on starboard tack to pick up some pressure and get a jump on the rest of the
fleet, setting up a three way tussle for the lead. After the race committee moved the top
mark to accommodate the wind change, the Bancrofts slowly eased ahead, upwind & down,
to eventually win easily from Pank/Barber and Matthews/McLellan. Tim Fells/Dave Cunningham
(UK) recovered from 6th at the first mark to take 4th position after slowly grinding down
the leaders throughout the race. Only one of the two races scheduled was sailed with the
race committee deeming 730pm too late to start a second race. As a result they will
endeavour to sail three races tomorrow (Tuesday) in order to catch up. Two races per day
are scheduled until Friday in order to complete 10 races in all. |
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Preliminary reports are that no B14 sailors have been involved or injured.
A chairlift at "Arthur's Seat" near McCrae Yacht Club, the venue for the World
B14 Championships, collapsed this afternoon (Friday 230pm local time). A number of people
(up to 16) have apparently been injured. I have personally spoken to a number of
competitors and the consensus seems to be that no one associated with our event has been
involved.
There are no races scheduled for today, or indeed until Monday. Apparently most of the UK
team has gone to Bell's Beach and were far removed from Arthur's Seat at the time of the
incident. I have just spoken with Tim Fells who has had a report from Dave Cunningham that
none of the UK contingent have been involved.
I have also spoken to people staying at the campsite (Abby, Kieran, Lissa, Richie
etc.)& at "the house" (Jon Perry, Greg, Megan, Martin, Mike, Jo etc)&
they report that the NSW contingent are accounted for. Jon Perry reports that Peter Ray
& Gareth Wells & their families are also accounted for.
Guy Bancroft, Commodore of McCrae YC, has had no reports of injury to anyone associated
with the club. Guy has promised to let me know if he receives any news.
James Ellis |
Placings - Race 1;
1. Buggar the Bone, Guy & Rhys Bancroft (AUS)
2. Jono Pank & Shaun Barber (UK)
3. Alex Matthews & Ewan McLellan (UK)
4. Tim Fells & Dave Cunningham (UK)
5. Old Timer, Simon Nelson & Andy Ramus (UK) |
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| Day 2
07/01/03 |
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| Race 2 of the Sail
Melbourne B14 World Championship got underway this morning at 930am in a 5-10 knot NE
breeze. The right side of the course was favoured in the runout tide with Parkes/Hunt
(AUS350) getting hard right and rounding first at the top mark. 2nd was Jolliffe/Branch
(GBR728) followed by Race 1 winners Bancroft/Bancroft (AUS357). The leaders split downwind
but most stayed left of the rhumbline and at the bottom mark the top 6 boats remained
close together. Parkes/Hunt again went to the right hand layline in an effort to replicate
their 1st beat success. Sophie Hunt noted that they had good speed but seemed to lack
height coming into shore on port tack and allowed the leading group to ease up inside them
as they approached the layline. Ex World Champion, Tim Fells, took a dig into the left
side of the course and subsequently dropped from 3rd back to 6th after gaining on the
leaders downwind. Jolliffe/Branch came out in front by playing the shifts up the right
side of the work. Downwind, Reynolds/McMillan (AUS368) caught the pack to be in a position
to challenge the GBR teams of Fells/Cunningham (GBR758) and Nelson/Ramus (GBR764) and
Parkes/Hunt who again headed for the right side up the next work. At the top mark the last
time the Bancroft team lead Jolliffe/Branch and Reynolds/McMillan who were just ahead of
Fells/Cunningham and Parkes/Hunt. The Bancrofts held starboard tack briefly downwind
before gybing to keep tabs on the following boats. Jolliffe/Branch gybed straight away to
try and get some of the pressure that had been coming off the shore intermittently
throughout the race. This strategy paid off with them threatening the Bancrofts at the
bottom mark. Jolliffe/Branch rounded the starboard side of the gate & headed left
while Bancroft/Bancroft rounded the other end and went right up the short beat to the
finish. The Bancroft boat got the better of this dual to cross the line for two first
places in as many races. With eight races yet to be sailed the Bancroft, father/son team,
have had an ideal start to the regatta but acknowledge that there is still a long way to
go. Further racing has been postponed due to lack of wind and the race committee has
indicated that they will review the situation at 1600. |
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| Placings - Race 2; 1. Buggar the Bone, Guy & Rhys Bancroft (AUS)
2. Raymarine, Nils Jolliffe & Jon Branch (GBR)
3. The Nude, Richie Reynolds & Lissa McMillan (AUS)
4. AT&T, Tim Fells & Dave Cunningham (GBR)
5. Glashaus, Simon & Andy Ramus (GBR)
6. Hunt Leather, Abby Parkes & Sophie Hunt (AUS) |
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Placings - Overall after 2
heats (Provisional);
1. Buggar the Bone, Guy & Rhys Bancroft (AUS), 2pts
2. AT&T, Tim Fells & Dave Cunningham (GBR), 8pts
3. The Nude, Richie Reynolds & Lissa McMillan (AUS), 9pts
4. Glashaus, Simon & Andy Ramus (GBR), 10pts
5. Snatch, Jono Pank & Shaun Barber (GBR), 11pts |
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Race 3
After spending the day waiting for breeze the B14 fleet were rewarded with 18-22knots
(gusting to 25) from 1800. Race 3 got underway at 1630 & the usual carnage ensued for
this strength of breeze. Best off the start line was Matt Searle/Bell Bell (GBR725) at the
boat end of the line and, after keeping tabs on the fleet who were all headed for shore on
starboard tack, they rounded the first mark in the lead. The other UK team of Pank/Barber
(GBR746) were close behind and Gosford boat, Teaz (AUS356) sailed by Peter Ray/Gareth
Wells were chasing them. Searle/Bell were slow to drop their kite at the bottom mark
allowing Pank/Barber & Ray/Wells through. Fells/Cunningham (GBR758) capsized at the
bottom mark as did Hansen/Ellis (AUS362). The Bancroft team (AUS357) fought their way back
into contention up the 2nd work and the next downwind leg saw Fells/Cunningham begin their
move back to the leading group.
A feature of the race was the incoming tide which caused several boats to have near misses
rounding the top mark & many left their gybe too late to come into the bottom gate.
The Bancrofts & Fells/Cunningham capitalised on the mistakes of others to sail their
way into 2nd & 3rd, behind Pank/Barber. Ray/Wells ditched it at the bottom mark the
last time & subsequently slipped back to 8th place after a solid race in the top 3. |
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Placings - Race 3;
1. Snatch, Pank/Barber (GBR746)
2. Buggar the Bone, Guy & Rhys Bancroft (AUS357)
3. AT&T, Tim Fells & Dave Cunningham (GBR758)
4. The Nude, Richie Reynolds & Lissa McMillan (AUS368)
5. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR725)
6. Raymarine, Nils Jolliffe & Jon Branch (GBR728) |
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Race 4
Race 4 started in similar conditions after Race 3 was completed. Fells/Cunningham came off
the pin end with good speed &, despite having to stop to swing their rudder back down
halfway up the work, managed to lead to the 1st mark. They were followed down the first
run by Searle/Bell, Pank/Barber, Bancroft/Bancroft & Ray/Wells. All headed left again
up the 2nd work looking for shallow, flat & less tidal water. Places were more or less
maintained until a brief squall hit the fleet up the 3rd work causing crews to scramble to
stay upright. The Bancroft team showed that they were human by capsizing after the top
mark but managed to get upright in time to lose only one place. Fells/Cunningham sailed
well to win the race from Searle/Bell, Pank/Barber and the Bancrofts who still maintain
their lead in the 10 race series. |
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Placings - Race 4;
1. AT&T, Tim Fells & Dave Cunningham (GBR758)
2. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR725)
3. Snatch, Pank/Barber (GBR746)
4. Buggar the Bone, Guy & Rhys Bancroft (AUS357)
5. Teaz, Ray/Wells (AUS356)
6. Glashaus, Simon Nelson & Andy Ramus (GBR764) |
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Placings - Overall after 4
heats (no discard);
1. Buggar the Bone, Guy & Rhys Bancroft (AUS357), 8pts
2. AT&T, Tim Fells & Dave Cunningham (GBR758), 12pts
3. Snatch, Jono Pank & Shaun Barber (GBR746), 15pts
4. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR725), 21pts
5. The Nude, Richie Reynolds & Lissa McMillan (AUS368), 21pts
6. Glashaus, Simon Nelson & Andy Ramus (GBR764), 28pts |
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| Day 3
Wednesday 08/01/03 |
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| After spending the morning
waiting to be sent out onto the racecourse, the B14 fleet have just been advised that
racing has been cancelled for today due to excessive breeze. The race committee spent the
morning monitoring conditions on the race course and, after consultation with the sailors,
have decided to attempt to run 4 races tomorrow commencing at 930am. |
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| Day 4 Thursday 09/01/03 |
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Day 4 of the
Sail Melbourne B14 World Championship provided an opportunity to resail the two races that
had been abandoned due to excessive wind conditions on day 3.
Race 5
Race 5 got underway in the remnants of the southerly front that had caused the
cancellation of the previous day’s racing.10 knots of SW breeze saw the fleet get
away on time at 930am. Searle/Bell (GBR725) started at the pin end and went left before
tacking to cross the fleet on port up the first work. As a result they led from start to
finish. It was another good day for the UK team with Pank/Barber (GBR746) &
Fells/Cunningham (GBR758) battling the current series leaders, Guy & Rhys Bancroft
(AUS357), around the course. On the last downwind leg, Simon Nelson/Andy Ramus (GBR764)
held on, on starboard tack, to carry pressure into the bottom gate, putting them in 2nd
behind Searle/Bell at the finish. |
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Placings - Race
5;;
1. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR 725)
2. Glashaus, Nelson/Ramus (GBR764)
3. Snatch, Pank/Barber (GBR746)
4. Buggar the Bone, Bancroft/Bancroft (AUS357)
5. AT&T, Fells/Cunningham (GBR758) |
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Race 6
Race 6 was sailed in the same strength of breeze with Pank/Barber getting off the line
well (though later being deemed OCS) to lead Hansen/Ellis (AUS362) into the top mark.
Newcomers to the class, Ross Daley/Brendan Druery (AUS364) were 3rd (but were also OCS),
followed by the Bancrofts, Fells/Cunningham (GBR758) and Nelson/Ramus (GBR764). A feature
of the race was the variation in direction & strength of breeze which kept crews
hopping between the wing & foredeck upwind.
After having a disastrous start & being last at the first mark, Richie Reynolds &
Lissa McMillan (AUS368) sailed through the fleet with their usual blistering downwind
speed to finish 5th. |
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Placings - Race
6;;
1. AT&T, Fells/Cunningham (GBR758)
2. Buggar the Bone, Bancroft/Bancroft (AUS357)
3. Raymarine, Jolliffe/Branch (GBR728)
4. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR 725)
5. The Nude, Reynolds/McMillan (AUS368)
6. Hunt Leather, Parkes/Hunt (AUS350) |
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Race 7
8-12knots from the south saw race 7 underway at 2pm after a lunch break. Two Australians
featured at the front with the Bancroft team leading (though unknowingly OCS) from Gosford
sailors Peter Ray & Gareth Wells (AUS356). The UK contingent were close behind though
and showed their strength downwind with pank barber leading into the bottom mark from
Searle/Bell. Searle/Bell passed Pank/Barber up the next work & the Bancrofts succumbed
to a broken rudder pintle. McLellan/matthews (GBR687) came from 7th at the top mark to
take 4th place up the work after playing the shifts up the left side of the course. On the
next downwind leg the ever-present Fells/Cunningham picked up some pressure to round close
behind Pank/Barber with Searle/Bell in third. Places remained the same with Searle/Bell
& fells Cunningham splitting the bottom gate to tussle for 2nd at the finish line.
Fells/Cunningham crossed in 2nd place but later discovered they were OCS. Local sailors
Ian & Scott Cunningham chose this race to show their hand with a fast finishing 6th. |
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Placings - Race
7;
1. Snatch, Pank/Barber (GBR746)
2. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR 725)
3. Beercan, McLellan/Matthews (GBR687)
4. Masters Apprentices, Plain/Plain (AUS313)
5. Teaz, Ray/Wells (AUS356)
6. Warlord, Cunningham/Cunningham (AUS354) |
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Race 8
Race 8 commenced back to back with race 7 to make for a long day on the water. To add to
the fun the southerly kicked up to about 15-18 knots. Aussie sailors Hansen/Ellis (AUS362)
capsized on the start line at the committee boat end with 30 seconds to go, causing
Searle/Bell & Pank/Barber to scramble and tack away to get a clear start.
Fells/Cunningham started at the pin end & were lee-bowed by Nelson/Ramus (GBR764).
Pank/Barber crossed the fleet after nailing the port layline to round first followed by
Searle/Bell & Fells/Cunningham who had worked up the middle. Downwind, Pank/Barber
gybed first & took good pressure down to the bottom mark to have a lead of 150m.
Searle/Bell & Fells/Cunningham rounded opposite sides of the bottom gate and Fells
worked the shifts up the middle to not only pass Pank Barber, but carve out a 2 minute
lead by the top mark. Fells later described this work as “the perfect beat”.
Downwind again, Pank & Searle headed for the left side & Searle/Bell gybed inside
to lead into the gate. Up the 3rd work Searle had closed on Fells to be within spitting
distance & Pank/Barber headed into shore & lost out slightly. Hansen/Ellis &
the Plain brothers (AUS313) had meanwhile closed the gap on the leaders after being well
back. Most of the leaders went to the right downwind the last time & overlaid slightly
when a squall came through. The Bancrofts, who were holding down 4th position, went left
& looked threatening for a while, but Hansen/Ellis benefited from nailing the layline
on port. Hansen/Ellis rounded on Pank/Barber’s lee-bow & a very close battle
ensued up the final short work. |
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| Placings - Race
8; 1. AT&T,
Fells/Cunningham (GBR758)
2. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR 725)
3. Priority Powder Coating, Hansen/Ellis (AUS 362)
4. Buggar the Bone, Bancroft/Bancroft (AUS357)
5. Masters Apprentices, Plain/Plain (AUS313)
6. Snatch, Pank/Barber (GBR746)
Going into the final 2 races, to be held tomorrow morning, a four way battle has
developed. With the top four boats separated by only 2 points, after dropping their worst
2 heats, some tension is anticipated at the starting line tomorrow morning. |
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Provisional
series results after 8 of 10 races are;
1. AT&T, Fells/Cunningham (GBR758), 14pts
2. Buggar the Bone, Bancroft/Bancroft (AUS357), 14pts
3. Snatch, Pank/Barber (GBR746), 16pts
4. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR 725), 16pts
5. Raymarine, Jolliffe/Branch (GBR728), 34pts
6. The Nude, Reynolds/McMillan (AUS368), 36pts |
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| Day
5 Friday 10/01/03 |
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The final day
of the Sail Melbourne B14 World championship was a tense affair with 4 boats in contention
for the title with 2 races to be sailed. At the end of 8 races the UK team of Jono
Pank/Shaun Barber held a slim lead, after having an OCS decision reversed late yesterday,
over Tim Fells/Dave Cunningham (UK) and Guy & Rhys Bancroft (AUS) who were tied for
2nd position. Another 2 points back were Matt Searle/Rich Bell (UK).
Race 9
At the 930am start time a 5 knot SE breeze saw the fleet underway. Most headed for the
shore which had proved to be favoured throughout the regatta. As the first leg progressed
the wind died and then came back from the right side of the course. Fells/Cunningham were
buried at the start while the Bancroft team worked up the middle tending left. At the
first mark, Tasmanian team, Adrian & John Beswick (AUS104) flew the flag for Australia
rounding on the heels of Nils Jolliffe & Jon Branch (GBR728). Fells/Cunningham picked
the pressure early and headed right to recover to about 10th position at the first mark.
The Bancrofts also recovered well downwind to be 2nd by the bottom mark and initially
headed to the right side up the next work. Ewan McLellan/Alex Matthews (GBR687) and
Fells/Cunningham were the big movers up the 2nd work, playing the shifts to the left of
the course to reel in Jolliffe/Branch. Searle/Bell (GBR725) had also recovered well after
suffering up the first work to be amongst the leaders. On the last lap of the course
McLellan/Matthews consolidated their lead while Jollife/Branch had an altercation with the
Bancrofts at the bottom gate which left the Bancroft team in the drink.
Placings - Race 9;
1. Beercan, McLellan/Matthews (GBR687)
2. AT&T, Fells/Cunningham (GBR758)
3. RayMarine, Jolliffe/Branch (GBR728)
4. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR 725)
5. The Nude, Reynolds/McMillan (AUS368)
6. Buggar the Bone, Bancroft/Bancroft (AUS357)
7. Snatch, Pank/Barber (GBR746)
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Race 10
Fells/Cunningham started the final race with a 2 point buffer in 5-10knots from the SE.
The Bancrofts started near the boat on the lee-bow of Fells/Cunningham, gradually forcing
the Brits to tack away to clear their air. Pank/Barber started in the middle of the line
and tacked half way to the layline to cross most of the fleet. At the first mark
Pank/Barber rounded in front of the Bancrofts, followed by Hansen/Ellis (AUS362) and
Parkes/Hunt (AUS350). The Bancrofts gybed early to head away from shore. After rounding
the bottom gate Fells/Cunningham headed left, playing the shifts to recover from 10th to
round behind Searle/Bell who promptly hit the mark and had to do a 3600. Parkes/Hunt,
Pank/Barber, Nelson/Ramus and the Bancrofts followed close behind with all carrying
starboard tack down close to the bottom gate. Up the final long work most of the leaders
went left while the Bancrofts split to the right knowing that they needed to be at least
two places ahead of Fells/Cunningham to take the series. Unfortunately for the locals this
didn’t pay off and Fells/Cunningham lead to the top mark the final time with a good
minute between them and 2nd placed Searle/Bell. Down the last run several boats benefited
from pressure moving down the course to close the gap on the leaders. Up the final short
work to the finish, Nelson/Ramus capitalised by rounding the inshore side of the gate and
picking up a little shift to the left which allowed them to cross Searle/Bell (as did
Pank/Barber) and finish 2nd.
Fells/Cunningham crossed first to take out the World Championship by 5 points form
Pank/Barber, Bancroft/Bancroft and Searle/Bell.
Placings - Race 10;
1. AT&T, Fells/Cunningham (GBR758)
2. Glashaus, Nelson/Ramus (GBR764)
3. Snatch, Pank/Barber
4. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR 725)
5. Masters Apprentices, Plain/Plain (AUS313) |
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Provisional
series results 10 races are;
1. AT&T, Fells/Cunningham (GBR758), 17pts
2. Snatch, Pank/Barber (GBR746), 22pts
3. Buggar the Bone, Bancroft/Bancroft (AUS357), 24pts
4. Sprint, Searle/Bell (GBR 725), 25pts
5. RayMarine, Jolliffe/Branch (GBR728), 45pts
6. Glashaus, Nelson/Ramus (GBR764), 47pts
7. The Nude, Reynolds/McMillan (AUS368), 50pts |
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Where:
McCrae Yacht Club, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA -
see the images below for a flavour of this venue. Wind & waves cannot be guaranteed
...
     
When:
Australian National Championships:
December 28th (registration), racing on 29th, 30th,
31st. Lay day on 1st Jan. Re-sails on 2nd January if necessary.
World Championships:
Registration and measurement 3rd, 4th January,
racing 5th - 10th (with a lay day on the 8th that may be required for re-sails).
Details:
Tim Fells writes for the benefit of the UK fleet:
"I know it's a long way off but just around the
corner. I've booked my flights.
"To anyone interested in travelling to
Melbourne for the Worlds.I have just been speaking to Austravel re flights to the Worlds.
If you want to travel between Dec 9 and Xmas, be prepared to spend £900-£1000 for the
flight. If you travel between Xmas and New Year costs are around £800. After new
year they drop further. There are some cheap fares available between Xmas and New Year but
they are going fast. For instance, I have just booked my flights. Dep London 26/12, Dep
Melbourne 12/1 with Malaysian. Cost £577 + tax. This fare expires on 20/2 so
you need to move fast.
"Now all I need is a crew !! Cost for shipping
will be max £500. Still negotiating with the shippers and it is also dependent on the
number of boats to share the costs. May get it down to nearer £400 if we get maximum
utilisation in the containers. The boats will probably leave in October and arrive McCrae
between Xmas and New Year. The Aussie Nats are the week before the Worlds so I plan to do
some practice and reconnaissance by arriving in time for them. Also it gives time to tour
the area which is meant to be really beautiful. Boats should be back in March."
Web Sites:
McCrae YC
Sail Melbourne
World's Accomodation Guide
Notice of Race
Now here!
You will need Adobe Reader to view this file. Follow
the link below to get it ...
Online Entry
Message from the organisers .... "just to let
you know that the on-line entry facility for the 2003 Worlds is now available via the Sail
Melbourne website. The link is http://www.sailmelbourne.com.au/olentry/index.asp.
We have the first entry which can be viewed by going to the Competitor Listing under the
Features menu on the left hand side of the homepage and then selecting the class."
Results
Hold your horses, it hasn't finished yet!
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