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Savvy Navvy 2024

2022 Victorian Sabre State Titles at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron

by Bruce Abbott 9 Mar 2022 07:11 UTC 19-20 February 2022
A big start during the 2022 Victorian Sabre State Titles © Russell Bates

Where would you find 90 one-design dinghies lining up for a series of five races? The answer is - at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron (BYS) on 19,20 February 2022, in perfect 12-15kt sailing conditions.

The breeze built during both afternoons and varied in direction keeping sailors on their toes. The course was well out from shore, away from the normal club course, maintaining similar tidal influence across the course and reducing 'local advantage'.

Close racing was the feature right throughout the fleet. At the front, a ding dong battle between experience in Adrian Finglas, and youth in Hamish Cowell, went right through to the last race where a matter of one placing could have changed the results. A fascinating discussion between Adrian and Bruce Abbott, President of SSAV of this last race can be seen here and here.

Adrian is a well-known international dinghy sailor with a host of world championships, Olympic representation and coaching. He has been a coach to many of the younger sailors who competed. Hamish is a Vic and NSW champion in the 4.7 Lasers and will compete in the Laser worlds in Portugal in August this year.

The top 10 positions showed that teenagers and early 20's have at last taken charge of this closely contested event. In third place came youth Angus McIntyre sailing his father's boat, followed by veterans Alister Danks who just pipped Gary McLennan on countback. Angus is current Vic Champion in Laser 4.7's and Gary is an international and Australian champion in multiple classes and a previous Vic Sabre champion. Four of the placings 6-10 were taken by the younger contingent.

The strength of youth sailing is a tribute to the training and ongoing coaching regime of BYS and of course the ready support of parents, many of whom have been or still are ongoing Sabre sailors. All the 40 Sabres that sail at the club were pressed into action.

As always there was a strong contingent of females of all ages, comprising 20% of entries. Alister's daughter Philippa Danks took the female's trophy followed by Michelle de Blaquiere and Samantha Batty.

Being an open Sabre regatta, despite travel restrictions we were fortunate to be joined by a representative from each of Tas, SA and WA states.

Talking to competitors about their experience of Sabres provided many clues as to why this class is so popular: an inexpensive dinghy well suited to local conditions; big fleets without the need to spend big money on international regattas; strong competition at all levels of experience, age and proficiency; the friendly, supportive and sharing culture of Sabre sailors; a boat that is easy to sail, but difficult to sail fast; the regattas are always well run and fun. Some vignettes of discussions with sailors can be seen here.

Competitors paid strong tributes to the Blairgowrie regatta team and to our hardworking and extremely competent Sabre Vic Secretary/Treasurer, Barry Eastgate.

The regatta concluded with a presentation of many trophies seen here. This covered a broad range of categories which allowed plenty of opportunity to take home a trophy. A great big fun regatta!

Overall Results:

PosHelmBoat NameSail NoClubR1R2R3R4R5Pts
1Adrian FinglasHot Pursuit2134BRYC1211‑75
2Hamish CowellJohn Dick2110BYS212DSQ813
3Angus  McIntyreQueens Bouleverd1881BYS‑123102318
4Alister  DanksDarth1756BYS10‑1264121
5Gary McLennanSubLime2072BRYC7‑1339221
6Alex BoltonZimmerframe1866BYS8‑1546523
7Murray O'BrienThe Bridesmaid2152McCYC5‑14571330
8Ethan O?BrienBalance1918BYS‑1351331132
9Hamish BoltonWayward Wind142BYS111085‑1234
10Lucas JamesBlue Rondo1935BYS1477‑19634
11Chris PritchardSabrage2156PRSC46‑25111738
12Matt McCarthyRebel Yell1729BYS188‑218438
13Sam BackwellZest1950BYS94‑16121439
14Geoff SmithShould Know Better!1895BYS39‑26DPI1543
15Ed WarnerArtful Dodger1834BYS1511910‑3345
16Philippa DanksDamn the Torpedoes!2142BYS23‑2718141065
17Callum BurnsHindsight2020BYS17‑3212201867
18Russell RooneyPresident Who Inhaled2002SYC25181115‑3569
19John PetschelAquaHolic2070BYS2422‑3218973
20Mark HughesLime & Tonic2097BYS16311422‑4283
21Randal GarnhamSelkie2185BRYC20201528‑3283
22Tom WarnerSwing Shift Mob1992BYS621‑44323190
23Bruce AbbottOut of Order2171BRYC302417DPI2394
24Michelle de BlaquiereCan't Stop2181MMYC‑342328162996
25William ManningSlippery When Wet1900SBSC362619‑371697
26Paul SmartCrabman1749BYS331730‑3520100
27Andrew GrahamCrisis ? What Crisis ?2050BYS21‑46202341105
28Martin KudnigWhite Noise2166BYS28‑35313319111
29Samantha  BattyTherapeutic1854BYS3119‑362636112
30Stephen CowellFrog in a Sock2186BYS222546‑5522115
31Jacqui LawsonKnot My Problem2035BYS‑5230233628117
32Kiera BatesOutawood1893BYS‑3734333021118
33Colin WhiteYensid 111903MSCBFD16402144121
34Barry EastgateMobi2178MMYC272829‑4237121
35Lucy TownsonHell bent1740IHYC293635‑5327127
36Matthew O'BrienSerendipity1845BYS50‑53222730129
37Tony CreakFantzy Pantz2048IHYC2629‑693839132
38Peter NeilNeedle2136BYS‑6255381724134
39Liam BattyLunaSea1830BYS19394234‑49134
40Simon PluimHome Before Dark2068BYS38452725‑50135
41Robert EvansUnplugged1829BYS4437‑482443148
42Stephen BradfordBert2175LIND51332441DNC149
43Andrew DixLyverbird2001IHYC4642‑523925152
44Jarka KluthTactigal1946BRYC32383745‑47152
45Warren SmithMy Time1978MMYC45‑69414326155
46Barbara LeesYendys1863BYS35405329DNC157
47Fiona McCullochEscape2066BRYC434145‑4640169
48Geoffrey Geoffrey DresserSalty Dog2054BRYC39443949‑54171
49Ross LloydBAHHRBRA1861ESC47‑49474434172
50Brent FrankcombeDreamboat1585RANYCDNC51434038172
51Jessica BattyPizzazz1801BYS4943‑584745184
52Sean O'BrienBig Day Out1611BYS4064DNC5151206
53Sara Lloyd‑ClarkeSlick2044BYS5947DNC4852206
54Jonas NilssonGuest from North&West2052PDSC4159DNC5265217
55Paul StampPurple Zone1867ESC56‑61575848219
56Faye McKenzieBoats 'n Hoes1653ASC485034DNCDNC222
57Mike EisingSirocco2164CYC53‑66545660223
58Orlando YenRapier1340RBYCDNC68555057230
59Gerard MagnerSpirit of Place1752BYS654856‑6764233
60Andrew JonesSt Asaph2129MMYC58‑62626053233
61John DixonSirius2188Apyc66‑78515959235
62Marcus FakhryPinto1730BRYC61‑74507058239
63Rob DebenhamDickie Knee2177MMYC42707654DNC242
64Erin FitzpatrickJust Fitz1988Bys7054UFD5762243
65John HuttonSea‑N‑Blue 22114MSC64‑65636255244
66Kurt GysiScallywag2090BYS60565969‑70244
67Kirsten Binns SmithZither1735BYS57‑71606861246
68Oliver ZieleznaRed Storm1662McCYC5567DNC6563250
69Stephen MagnerWhistler1575MSC‑7363707346252
70James FordyceLoitering with intent1760BYSZFP52726366253
71Rod CameronReel1724Cyc‑7979646156260
72Hannah DanksBig Baloo1892BYS‑7858657269264
73Fiona MartinHeaven too1917SBSC‑7272616467264
74Ian GouldSheet Musik1831MMYC63‑77716668268
75Wendy WilsonHeart Beat1959SsYC546068DNCDNC272
76Peter ChipperfieldShadow1435SBSCSCP‑76667171278
77Chris ClarkeSmitten2163MMYC717349DNCDNC283
78David O'HaraDark Horse1889ESC69‑82677473283
79Hayden LlewellynBora Blue2120BYS75‑80737572295
80Luis MataTxipiroi2189BRYC77‑81787776308
81Richard DovisonJaffa2118SBSC7457DNCDNCDNC311
82David CarusoUnfinished1327MMYC808374DNF74311
83David JohnsonExcuse Me1649BYS82‑84777875312
84Pamela WebsterAka'ula1908WSC767575DNCDNC316
85Chris YoungTokoloshe1609MMYC81DNCDNC7678325
86Simon KudnigWhite Knight1809BYSDNCDNF79DNF77336
87Peter AtkinsonZen1632MMYCDNFDNCDNCDNF79349
88Andrew TaylorTalking Sheep1958SBSCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC360
88Graham MasonLast Chance2063McCYCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC360

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