Etchells Winters - Second in world, but still to win in Mooloolaba

12:08 AM Sun 31 May 2009 GMT

'Musto Etchells Australian Winter Regatta 2008' Peter Duncan www.Questphoto.net Click Here to view large photo

This coming Friday morning, a top class fleet of more than 50 Etchells One design boats will start three days of intense racing for the 2009 Musto Winter Nationals off Mooloolaba on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Amongst the favourites in the fleet will be four Victorian sailors ,Damien King, Simon Cunnington, James Ware and Andrew Butler who were second in the hard fought 2009 Etchells World Championships on Port Phillip in Melbourne aboard their boat called Barry.

Why was the boat called Barry? 'It was the most un-nautical name we could think of!' laughs skipper Damien King who co-owns Barry with the mid boat crew Simon Cunnington.

On a cold Melbourne morning this week King was looking forward to the trip north 'We were very pleased with our second place at the worlds. To finish anywhere in the top 10 would have made us happy. Now we'd like to improve on our best Australian Mid-Winters title results which were a fourth in the 2007.

Damien King's Barry - Victorian Etchells Championships 2008 Teri Dodds&copy

'We're chartering a Mooloolaba boat called Fury, which is the same boat that we used last time when we came fourth. It is identical to our Barry. Both Australian built Bashford boats, three hulls after each other out of the moulds.

'I think that the good thing about the Etchells class is that there is a very good depth of talent all the way through. I think that the one thing that brings you to the Etchells class racing is that it has such a significant depth of experience.

'Anyone can pull off a regatta win - if they are on the pace, pick the wind shifts, get clean air and have some luck!.

'We focus on trying to get a top ten result in every race. That's just our process. I think towards the last third of the regatta you start to figure out who you need to not let get too far away from you, but leading into the regatta we had no expectation on who's going to be the favourite. Sp we are looking forward to another great offshore event.

'I'll be getting to Mooloolaba on Wednesday with my wife and three kids.

'Our six year old twin girls can't wait to get to Australia Zoo and the Underwaterworld aquarium. We're staying at the Sirocco Apartments and they can see the racing from there so they enjoy that.

'One of the reasons why Mooloolaba is such a popular venue is - its easy for Dad to be 'allowed' to go sailing up there because Mother and the kids enjoy the area so much.'