Weather may turn Sail Brisbane into Endurance Test

3:59 AM Wed 26 Nov 2008 GMT

A threatening weather map suggests the warm water International Sail Brisbane regatta could turn into a cold wet and windy endurance test over the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron courses on Moreton Bay this weekend.

Commercial rural and marine forecaster Mike Griffin (Weather or Knot) has predicted a robust Southerly wind system spiced with thunderstorms to blow in later today.

This forecast promises to turn the World standard 11 class championship series into the survival of the fittest with the shallow waters of Moreton Bay becoming a 'Torture Track' forcing the sailors to respect the wind velocity or suffer reputation damaging wipe-outs.

Mastering the notorious 'Waterloo Slop' which always prevails when the wind blows against the current will place a heavy demand on the skills of the individual skippers.

They will all need to sail smart or finish up to their neck in the water with time consuming capsizes.

The battle for class supremacy in the Olympic Laser class promises to be the highlight of the regatta when Noosa's Queensland champion Ryan Palk tests his endurance and heavy wind helming skills against the high class fleet including the physically fit and experienced Chilean Beijing Olympian Matias del Soar and multiple Australian Championship Gold Medallist Brendan Casey of Southport.

The modest and likeable Ryan Palk is not one to boast about his ranking as one of Australia's most talented young Laser class sailors and he will not be out of his depth will skill or stamina in this event.

His intensive personal training in the Noosaville Gym and the long periods spent in the hiking straps during extensive training sessions on the Noosa River will ensure he will be race ready for this important regatta.
Ryan Palk's younger Team Noosa training partner Klade Hauschildt is also ranked among the top contenders in the Laser Radial class.

Hauschildt has done the hard yards and like Ryan Palk is physically ready to deal with the wind that blows over the deck.

Both skippers faced a similar gruelling test to win their first Australian championships on the same course three years ago and their recent fleet race results suggest they will be race ready.

Female Mooloolaba Dinghy Club skipper Lauren Calder is also well prepared to withstand the expected tactical aggression from her male rivals when she contests the Queensland SB3 Dart Sports Boat title series.

Calder and her crew of Morgie Stanton, Jessica Watson and Gabrielle Howard have brushed up on their technique under the guidance of Beijing Olympic Yngling class coach Adrian Finglas who has given them a few tips to combat the expected 'bluffing tactics' from their rivals.

The promise of a strong wind regatta will promote exciting racing for the Hobie 16 catamaran class which has attracted a very competitive fleet including the husband and wife crew of Peter and Juliet Bates of Brisbane and Mooloolaba Dinghy Club father and son Gary and Cameron White.

Traditionally both crews have already placed their 'Bundy Bets' to win the best performing family crew against the Sunshine Coast Lake Baroon skippers Murray and Shane Petersen.

by Ian Grant

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