48th Australian Tasar Championship at Toronto Amateur Sailing Club
by Jenny Sorensen 15 Jan 2023 21:39 UTC
29 December 2022 - 6 January 2023
The Burmans (2942) from reach to beat during the 48th Australian Tasar Championship at Toronto, Lake Macquarie, NSW © Michelle Havenstein
James & Tara Burman take gold in shifty and windy conditions
Very shifty and windy weather made havoc for most of the 33 boat fleet at this year's 48th Australian Tasar Championship which was run over the New Year at Toronto, Lake Macquarie NSW. There was one team however who performed brilliantly, scoring a net 14pts from 11 heats, 18pts from their nearest rival. They were the husband & wife team from Sydney's Northbridge SC 'James & Tara Burman'.
James & Tara are former National Champions, having just returned to sailing after 2 years off to have a baby. James, who has trained with the Australian Sailing team is also a former runner-up in the Laser Radial Worlds. He explained at one of the Class' Q&A sessions during the week, that as a result of his laser training, he's probably 'more dynamic' especially in his downward sailing techniques than most other competitors. Certainly with 'wild' shifts which resulted in many capsizes & waves whipped up by mod-fresh gusty breezes, having a skill for boat handling was a key element in this Regatta.
The next 4 positions behind the Burmans were closely contended by World & National Class Champions. Even these crews relied on utilising their 2 drops during the week, their places frequently swapped as the fluky weather took its toll. Running into 2nd place overall was 1986's Tasar World Champion Rick Longbottom sailing with Darryl Bentley. Together this duo have always been a very consistent & competitive team representing the Royal Australian Navy Sailing Association. In 3rd were our immediate past National & former World Champions Chris Dance & Peter Hackett from Mordialloc & Sandringham YC's in VIC, both fresh from racing recently at Worlds in Seattle. They led just 3 & 4 points respectively from 4th & 5th placed crews. These were former NS14, MG14 & Tasar National & State Champions Hugh & Anna Tait from Northbridge SC, and former multi World Contender Champion Mark Bulka sailing with son Oliver from VIC's McCrae YC.
So, what an exciting week of racing it became for all contestants, who gave it their all! Times between 1st and last finishers were minimal, reflecting the fierce competitiveness of the fleet. Despite lengthy course legs, the mark roundings were tight & quite often the scene for hailing starboards & buoy room, doing penalty turns or just circling to retrieve dropped whisker poles. One crew completely lost their rudder & the odd capsize didn't help congestion either, however the rescue boat was constantly pursuing the fleet to ensure safety on the course.
Fortunately a more harmonious atmosphere was experienced onshore. Sailors lent spare parts and tools to get fellow competitors back on the water for racing, whilst freely sharing knowledge in the boat park & Clubhouse post racing. Buddy Teams were matched up as well with the aim to improve performance, with the top 3 Buddies on HCP being recognised at final Presentation.
Teams came from NSW, VIC, TAS, WA, NT & the ACT to compete, a great achievement still in times of high Covid cases. The youngest team of sailors were Taj Duff & Lucas Schey, two boys from Gippsland Lakes VIC. They sailed exceptionally well in their first ever Tasar Nationals taking out the Youth Trophy. It was great to see six father/children teams too. The youngest crew was 12yo Lorelei Barnes- Smith, sailing with her dad Damien from WA on a NSW charter boat. Damien was chatting with 'Australian Tasar media' after completion of the last race, advising his daughter just told him 'I like sailing with you dad". The perfect feedback!
The Event also enticed many seniors. Included in the Super Grand Masters (SGM) category, were VIC's Heather Macfarlane & Chris Payne, former World & Nat Fireball Champions with Heather this year again, taking out the Lady Helm's Trophy. SGM's & former Tasar World Champions Paul & Bronwyn Ridgway, were also competing. They consistently scored in the top 15 spots despite recovering from recent surgery & Covid implications. In addition, competing in this Division was multi-national 505 champion Michael Quirk, sailing with his wife Marise. Finishing 17th overall they too experienced the thrills & spills of capsizing, as Michael later advised he'd never seen such adverse & taxing conditions ever on Lake Macquarie.
AND there were more thrills even before racing began! Sailors were extremely excited to hear that the skipper of Rolex Sydney-Hobart's Supermaxi Black Jack, Mark Bradford had entered. With Class registrations & weigh-ins concluding on 29 Dec 2022, it was quite a feat for Mark having just celebrated 3rd on line honours, to fly up from Hobart to Sydney, pick up their newly purchased Tasar and drive with his crew & wife Casandra to Lake Macquarie. The pair took out the Event's newcomers prize, a beautifully written & informative book by Elizabeth Kemmis, entitled 'Tasar - A Bethwaite Legacy'. With many high speed reaches enjoyed by all including the Bradfords, they topped off their Regatta with more enjoyment by leading the fleet to the top mark in the final heat, not bad at all!
Thus was the racing at Tasar's 48th Nationals. Off the water, sailors enjoyed daily post race presentations at the Club with sponsored local brews, wines & gifts, plus fun prizes were given for greatest stories of the day. With an assortment of evenings from Lake fireworks at NYE with a fabulous feasting table of local produce, to the pre layday evening of craftbeer, grain & food tasting to the Final night's presentation at the Royal Motor YC Toronto, it was a fabulous week for all.
The Presentation Night was a chance in addition, to recognise the wonderful Race support from the RMYC Toronto and host club & volunteers of the Toronto Amateur SC. Evan, Mark, Michelle & their team were impeccable on & off the water throughout the whole regatta. Appreciation & gifts were also presented to the Regatta's experienced & extremely knowledgeable Juror, Jeremey Atkinson.
A round of applause was made for the Event's Sponsors for without them, the Regatta & the whole sport of sailing in general would not be able to function.
The organising body, the NSW Tasar Association especially sends thanks to all participants. It was a classic 'we usually don't have conditions like this' type regatta, and it was comforting to hear that conditions were extremely challenging even from our top seed sailors, well done all!
Overall Results:
Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | Club | State | Cat | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | Pts |
1st | 2942 | Little Miss Magic | James Burman | Tara Burman | Northbridge Sailing Club | NSW | Apprentice Masters | 1 | ‑3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ‑5 | 14 |
2nd | 2992 | Mirrored Element | Rick Longbottom | Darryl Bentley | Royal Australian Naval Sailing Associati | NSW | Masters | 5 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ‑10 | 3 | 3 | ‑10 | 1 | 32 |
3rd | 2980 | Magic | Chris Dance | Peter Hackett | Mordialloc Sailing Club/Sandringham Yach | VIC | Masters | ‑15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 4 | ‑16 | 3 | 39 |
4th | 2925 | Serendipity | Hugh Tait | Anna Tait | Toronto Amateur Sailing Club | NSW | Masters | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 8 | ‑10 | 4 | 8 | ‑12 | 1 | 4 | 42 |
5th | 2971 | Balance | Mark Bulka | Oliver Bulka | McCrae Yacht Club | VIC | Open | 2 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | ‑19 | ‑15 | 43 |
6th | 2852 | Far Out | Murray O'Brien | Liam O'Brien | McCrae Yacht Club | VIC | Open | 8 | 4 | ‑12 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 6 | ‑18 | 64 |
7th | 2969 | wac | Heather Macfarlane | Chris Payne | Sandringham Yacht Club | VIC | Super Grand Masters | 3 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 3 | ‑17 | 9 | 5 | 7 | ‑14 | 12 | 66 |
8th | 2968 | Rebel Rebel | Claire Medd | Simon Medd | Sandringham Yacht Club | VIC | Grand Masters | 12 | ‑14 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 13 | ‑27 | 73 |
9th | 2903 | Vivace | Brad Stephens | Jennifer Overton | Georges River Sailing Club | NSW | Grand Masters | 7 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 12 | ‑13 | 12 | 12 | 6 | ‑23 | 10 | 87 |
10th | 2780 | Faking Clever | Kerry Fyfe | Michael OBrien | Woollahra Sailing Club | NSW | Super Grand Masters | ‑21 | 16 | 19 | ‑21 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 96 |
11th | 2811 | Definite Maybe | Alan Riley | Jasmine Evenden | McCrae Yacht Club | VIC | Open | 11 | 11 | 4 | (OCS) | 28 | (RET) | 19 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 101 |
12th | 2830 | Oogy Wawa | Stuart Templeton | Nicole Kidman | Somerton Yacht Club | SA | Masters | ‑27 | 8 | 5 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 18 | ‑26 | 20 | 21 | 101 |
13th | 2871 | Ridgididge | Paul Ridgway | Bronwyn Ridgway | Sandringham Yacht Club | VIC | Super Grand Masters | ‑20 | 15 | 15 | ‑17 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 102 |
14th | 2964 | Ratz 3 | Gary Ratcliffe | Robyn Ratcliffe | Georges River Sailing Club | NSW | Grand Masters | 13 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 2 | (RET) | (DNC) | 14 | 22 | 13 | 110 |
15th | 2906 | Sea Major and Minor | Ralph Stanford | Imogen Stanford | Woollahra Sailing Club | NSW | Open | SCP | 6 | 13 | 9 | 17 | 18 | ‑31 | 11 | 15 | 12 | ‑22 | 118 |
16th | 2859 | Windfix | Ross Martin | Natasha Martin | Safety Beach Sailing Club | VIC | Open | 14 | ‑20 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 20 | ‑26 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 127 |
17th | 2951 | Trouble | Michael Quirk | Marise Hannaford | Balmoral Sailing Club | NSW | Super Grand Masters | 9 | ‑25 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 25 | 17 | (DNC) | 21 | 17 | 7 | 140 |
18th | 2793 | Rattle and Hum | Melissa Crawford | David Rose | Somerton Yacht Club | SA | Grand Masters | ‑30 | ‑29 | 20 | 25 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 14 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 147 |
19th | 2617 | Waimukabout | Andrew Martin | Imogen/Aurelia Martin | Safety Beach Sailing Club | VIC | Open | 22 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 15 | 13 | ‑23 | 8 | ‑31 | 148 |
20th | 2883 | SMAC | Peter Davis | Karen Davis | Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania/Hampton Sai | TAS | Super Grand Masters | 19 | 18 | ‑26 | 11 | 18 | 11 | 13 | ‑28 | 24 | 18 | 16 | 148 |
21st | 2956 | The Weekend | Neil Long | Wendy Long | Speers Point Amateur Sailing Club | NSW | Grand Masters | 18 | 10 | 24 | 19 | 13 | 16 | 21 | (DNC) | ‑25 | 15 | 17 | 153 |
22nd | 2844 | Bus Ride | Mark Bradford | Casandra Bradford | Woollahra Sailing Club | NSW | Masters | ‑29 | 19 | ‑25 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 155 |
23rd | 2823 | Goes to 11 | Philip Potter | Monica Tonner | Sandringham Yacht Club | VIC | Grand Masters | 16 | 21 | ‑29 | 18 | 24 | ‑26 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 24 | 19 | 175 |
24th | 2977 | Edge of Equanimity | John Balass | Heather Forton | Balmoral Sailing Club | NSW | Grand Masters | 10 | 24 | 14 | 23 | 23 | 30 | 23 | 20 | 19 | (DNF) | ‑31 | 186 |
25th | 2734 | Something Cool | Malcolm Handel | Oliver Medd | Northbridge Sailing Club | NSW | Open | 25 | 26 | 18 | 26 | ‑27 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 27 | ‑29 | 26 | 193 |
26th | 1839 | Weasel | Taj Duff | Lucas Schey | Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club | VIC | Junior | 17 | 17 | ‑28 | 27 | 20 | 22 | 27 | 23 | 22 | ‑28 | 23 | 198 |
27th | 2898 | Falkor | Meika Wright | Sean Ahern | Darwin Sailing Club | NT | Masters | 23 | 23 | 23 | ‑29 | ‑29 | 24 | 26 | 21 | 28 | 21 | 25 | 214 |
28th | 2819 | Firefly | Derek Hadwen | Laurie Hoffman | Balmoral Sailing Club | NSW | Grand Masters | 24 | 27 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 28 | 24 | 22 | (DNF) | (DNC) | 31 | 218 |
29th | 2777 | Valiant | Tim O'Shea | Jenny Sorensen | Somerton Yacht Club | SA | Masters | 26 | ‑28 | 27 | 22 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 27 | ‑30 | 25 | 20 | 221 |
30th | 2727 | Tango | Andrew McBride | Kirsty Graham | Woollahra Sailing Club | NSW | Masters | 28 | ‑32 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 24 | ‑31 | 27 | 29 | 251 |
31st | 1885 | Elusive | Neil Temperley | David Temperley | Dobroyd Aquatic Club | NSW | Open | (OCS) | 31 | 31 | 31 | ‑32 | 29 | 30 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 28 | 255 |
32nd | 2728 | Tokay | Mark Rayson | Armineh Hassanvand | Speers Point | NSW | Apprentice Masters | 31 | 33 | (NSC) | 30 | 33 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 29 | 26 | 24 | 274 |
33rd | 1812 | Hei Hei | Damien Smith | Lorelei Barnes‑Smith | Mounts Bay Sailing Club | WA | Open | (OCS) | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 29 | (DNC) | 32 | 31 | OCS | 282 |