Over the Easter break, two BYS J70s travelled to Sydney to compete in the J70 Nationals hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Rushcutters Bay. With two SYC boats also making the trip north, the four Victorian boats joined eight Sydney boats for four days of fabulous racing at various different locations on Sydney Harbour. With numerous pro-sailors, an ex-Olympian and America’s cup sailor, the competition was extremely tough to say the least.
In light to moderate breezes virtually every day, the lightweight crews might be thought to have had an advantage but it was still the top pro-Sydney boats that took all three spots on the podium in the open division after 14 races were completed over the four days, with recently crowned Victorian State champion, Tim Ryan (CYCA), skippering Vamos, retaining his National title from the previous Nationals at Blairgowrie over the Easter break last year. In the Corinthian division, once again the podium was filled by Sydney boats with Kevin Nixon (RSYS) skippering The Jackal taking the chocolates.
Best of the Victorians was SYC/BYS boat Joust skippered by Rod Warren in the open division. In the tussle between Corinthian BYS boats, Skyhook, skippered by Mark Haughton, with Tony Landgren, Matt O’Brien and Ethan O’Brien on board (with Ethan basically calling all the shots!), came out on top over Jumpin’ Jack Flash skippered by Martin Kudnig and crewed by Rob Evans, Tom Opie and Elyse Guevara-Rattray (who was brought in late in the piece from RSYS). This was Martin’s first time skippering a J70 on Sydney Harbour and it wasn’t without some trepidation that he undertook the
the task with a crew who hadn’t all sailed together before. But all ferries were successfully dodged, obstinate recreational craft swerved around and broaches avoided. Unlike Skyhook it must be said who broached spectacularly in moderate breezes in one race while on a downwind leg, with Tony Landgren having to assist Matt O’Brien back on board after Matt had decided to take the opportunity to have a quick dip in the warm waters of Sydney Harbour! But at the end of the day, Skyhook had JJF comfortably covered and took first place on handicap – despite, it needs to be said, having no individual race handicap wins whereas JJF in fact had two!
Leaving CYCA early on Easter Tuesday, the JJF team (without its local Sydney crew member) tackled the drive south with the boat in tow with the same determination and concentration as they had tackled the races on Sydney Harbour. They had JJF safely back on the BYS hard stand at 5 pm later that day, though Rob and Tom were heard complaining for some time to come about the miserly 15 minutes lunch break at Glenrowan allowed by the skipper!
Planning now commences for the 2023 J70 State and National titles which are both scheduled to take place at SYC in mid to late January next year.
Photo credit: Nic Douglas www.sailorgirlHQ.com
