Tough week at the 505 World for Aussies

'Aussie Sandwich - 505 Worlds' Vincenzo Baglione

Tough week if you're a regular sized Aussie at the 505 Worlds in Mondello, Sicily.

Bugger all wind for the last two weeks has meant that a lot of our boofy bloke sized crews have had their heads both physically and metaphorically up their backsides.

Physically, because most of the time we are concertina'd into leeward. Great fun if you're 100kg and 6'4'. Metaphorically, because who knows where the wind comes from? You can look up the course and see 10 boats on the same tack pointing in 10 different directions.

And then, to add insult to injury - if you did ever get clear air most of us were overtaken by some Euro Jockey with a whippet for crew - don't these people eat meat?

Roll on the Nationals in Manly in 15-20 Knot nor easter's, The WA State titles in a solid summer Doctor or the Worlds next year in San Francisco with 30 knots - yee haa!

That all being said - the good guys still shone and the Top five finishers were ALL World Champions - The 505's boast one of the deepest fleets around outside Olympic Classes.

Davis & Duffield - 505 Worlds - Vincenzo Baglione

From the Australian contingent (with 14 boats we were the second largest nation here after the Tchermenz) the best performed was Nick Davis and Michael Duffield from Freshwater YC in WA in 8th overall.

They, of all the Aussies, most resembled a 470 team and strung some solid results together for a great top 10 finish.

Next Aussie, in 11th, was Michael Quirk, himself a whippet, but more than compensated for by his lumpy crew Simon Reffold - both from Sydney's Northern Beaches.

They suffered in the early light air and had to carry a shocker - although they finished with a string of top 10 results which, with more racing and another drop, would have had them in third. But there wasn't, so they weren't.

Kev & Matty - 505 Worlds - Vincenzo Baglione

In 18th were Kevin Cameron and Matt Bowden from RQ in Queensland. They're not exactly Lardy's either but they were consistently up there and impressed with some great speed.

Also impressive was teenager Carrie Smith helming, with her dad Murray crewing. Those who sail these boats know Five-Ohs are not for the faint hearted and are physically demanding, even in the light. The Smiths, also from Freshwater YC in WA finished a solid 77 in the 122 strong fleet. Top Work!

Luckily the Aussies didn't cry and moan about the light conditions at all, taking it all within their stride as you would expect.

When there was no wind, there was always boat Cricket. What better way to hone your light air boat handling skills?

The good news was that Carter Jackson made an impressive presentation to the AGM for Hamilton Island to host the 2011 Worlds.

It met with a round of applause from the meeting and talking to competitors later it was clear that this was an event everyone wanted to come to.

Perhaps the final quote of the regatta should go to Jeff Robinson from Lake Macquarie who was sailing RacingLine.com with crew Bryce Penfold.

Jeff had this to say: 'I've learned a lot about sailing 505's in light air these past two weeks... I've learned I NEVER want to do it again'.