Felix Grech in Blue Fusion wins 2008-2009 Sabot Nationals

11:47 PM Mon 9 Feb 2009 GMT

'Felix Grech - Champion, 45th Sabot National Champion - 7 - 45th Sabot National Championships 2008-2009' Tom Orr

Felix Grech, representing Hunters Hill Sailing Club and the Southern NSW Sabot Sailing Association, won the 2008-2009 45th Sabot National Championships in Blue Fusion.

Matthew Graham representing the Northern NSW Sabot Sailing Association was runner up.

The Sabot Nationals are the largest junior sailing regatta in Australia. The Whitsunday Sailing Club in tropical North Queensland hosted this year's event.

Junior sailors aged from 7 - 16 years traveled from Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland to compete in the championships. A fleet of 97 boats comprised of 58 competitors in the 1-Up division and 14 in the 2-Up division competed in the eight-day event.

The championships were sailed over ten races in the beautiful Airlie Beach surroundings with blue skies and aqua clear waters. However, the conditions were trying in the humid tropical heat with light to medium winds, shifting conditions, strong tides, a large swell and waves to tackle.

Sabot sailors all geared up in the prerequisite jellyfish stinger suits and safety gear and took to the waters with great skill and enthusiasm. This year's fleet proved to be one of the strongest as indicated by the top sailors from each state finishing up and down the top 6 places throughout the series. The tactical fight for the first place each race was very challenging for the fleet and exhilarating for the spectators.

Felix Grech - Champion, 45th Sabot National Champion - 6 - 45th Sabot National Championships 2008-2009 - Tom Orr

The large fleet and close racing conditions highlighted the talent of all the young sailors and underlined the strength of the Sabot as a competitive training class for young racers.

The racing remained tight and very competitive with no clear winner emerging until race 9. Taking the advice of the local Olympic champion, Felix sailed with outstanding consistency. Placed third overall at the end of day two, he progressed to second overall by the end of day 4.

The first race on the final day started with the moderate south-easterly and flatter water. Felix got a good start, picked up a left hand shift and was first to the top mark. He then sailed the perfect race, picking shifts, covering his competition on the upwind legs and extending his lead on the downwind legs. Then, smart sailing in race ten secured victory by four points in the final heat.

'I knew that to win the regatta, I needed to be aware of where the second placed boat was, and to stay in front or finish no more than one place behind. I therefore covered him for the whole of the last race'.

Grech had displayed outstanding form in the lead-up, by winning the Sabot Class at Sail Brisbane in November. However, a week out from the national championships, disaster struck. Felix managed to suffer a severe ligament tear in his foot. Although he was able to sail, he had to wear a specially prepared air boot and sailed with his foot strapped up. Felix said: 'it was ok, I just had to do more on one leg than the other.

'The Regatta was really fun as I knew the Queenslanders from Sail Brisbane, and I got to know many sailors from other states.'

Grech was also a team captain representing the Southern NSW Team. He received a Lionel Shipway medallion for competing in six national regattas.