2021 J70 Australian Championships at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron - Day 2

Stunning April conditions met the fleet for day two of the 2021 J70 Australian Championships at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron on Easter Sunday. Prevailing south-westerly offshore breezes were on the menu day two's three races, with wind speeds building throughout the afternoon.

Coming out of the blocks strongly in race four was Celestial, leading the top four from yesterday with a strong port-end start. It was Joust70 and Rod Warren from Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, perhaps with some local knowledge who led around the first mark.

Juno pointing their toes to edge ahead - 2021 J70 Australian Championships day 2 - photo © Nic Douglass / www.AdventuresofaSailorGirl.com

Sam Haynes and his team on Celestial gybed early at the top mark and went on to lead on the first downwind leg and around the bottom mark, ahead of a tight battle for positions two, three and four - Juno, Vamos and The Jackal respectively.

In a massive effort and sign of things to come Laura Harding and the all-female youth crew aboard Spike fought from last place to seventh on the second work. The shifty conditions saw battles throughout the fleet into the finish.

Across the line though it was Sam Haynes taking the honours in his first J70 regatta, with David Chapman, John Warren and Locky Pryor on board.

The start of race five was hotly contested at the line with Celestial looking to back up their race four win leading the way across the line. Local heroes Jumping Jack Flash showed their fighting spirit getting themselves right in the mix, as several boats were spat out the back of the fleet as room disappeared.

At the top mark the first four contenders were within boat lengths of each other, as the middle of the fleet continued to fight close battles. The three youth crews again showed their skill as the breeze picked up.

Vamos edging ahead - 2021 J70 Australian Championships day 2 - photo © Nic Douglass / www.AdventuresofaSailorGirl.com

The story of the race quickly became battles for buoy room, with multiple boats hitting the top mark at the top of the second work. Juno opted to split from the rest of the fleet, looking for an advantage up the right hand side, but in the end the result matched the overall standings, with Vamos crossing first, followed by Celestial and Juno, with Karen Gojnich skippering The Jackal rounding out the top four.

The last race of the day saw the elbows really come out at the start, and our top three contenders were not surprisingly all within striking distance of one another at the pin end of the line.

Around the top mark it was Vamos, Juno and The Jackal that came out on top and they continued to keep the pace on from there to mix up the podium positions. Celestial climbed back to a top four finish, but with one drop now in play, have discarded that race.

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Results after 6 Races: