Aust Winter Etchells testing conditions forecast
The International standard fleet of Etchells sailors will face a supreme test of tactical one-design racing when they line up to protect their ranking and reputation in the 2008 Musto Australian Winter championship off Mooloolaba this weekend.
'Musto Winter Etchells off Mooloolaba'
Peter
Duncan www.Questphoto.net
Weather forecasters have predicted a heavy cloud cover and showers suggesting there will be an unstable twist factor in the wind.
This type of winter land breeze forecast promises to test the patience and tactical strategy forcing all crews representing Japan, New Zealand and Australia to remain in phase with the wind or suffer the penalty with poor results.
The even paced nature of the high performance sloop and the combination of the weather factor places a huge demand on the crews to make the right selection of sails on shore and then being mentally and physically prepared to master nature's elements on the race course.
Sure there are a number of skippers like Americas Cup winning helmsman John Bertrand and World Etchells champions Cameron Miles and Peter McNeill who deserve to be listed among the championship favourites but they and their crews will need to produce a mistake free series to protect their reputations in what is promising to be an exciting tactical war on the water.
There will be no blood on the deck however there will be some 'injured' reputations when the new generation of younger crews go hunting for scalps.
This is not suggesting that the strong bond of class fellowship will be impeached but what it really means that there will be no clear cut sailing space advantage out of the starts or at the rounding marks.
Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron's 2008 Audi Australian Summer series champions Jason Muir and his talented crew of Matthew Chew, Paul Wyatt and Darren Jones have the proven major regatta results to earn a place in the top 10 with Racer XY.
The Racer XY crew were the star performers at Mooloolaba in 2007 winning the series on the water but loosing the trophy in the jury room following a protest for a port and starboard breach.
However the Racer XY crew have bounced back and are well prepared to test their speed and tactical strategy in the fleet which has attracted 2007 Americas Cup sailors Adam Beashel (Team New Zealand) and Mark Bradford (BMW Oracle).
Beashel will team up as tactician with John Bertrand while the former World championship Silver Medallist Mark Bradford has improved his Musto Trophy winning prospects by inviting Sunshine Coast Olympian and World championship Gold Medallist Greg Torpy to join his crew.
Current form and crew confidence suggests the Racer XY crew deserve to be ranked in the in the top title contenders with John Bertrand's crew heading a very impressive group of skippers including New Zealand's Alastair Gair, Graeme Taylor and Ian Johnson (Victoria), Peter McNeill and Gary Boyd (New South Wales) and Queenslanders Mark Bradford, Vaughan Prentice, and Mike O'Brien.
Interest will also focus on the results of Noosa's National Laser champions Ryan Palk and Klade Hauschildt who have team up with Brisbane's Neville Willis for their Etchells debut regatta.
by Ian Grant 
nedlands, WA
